Numerical Street (Hilary Bell & Antonia Pesenti, NewSouth)

The success of Alphabetical Sydney (still an extraordinarily popular book in the bookshop I work in) might seem like a hard act to follow, but Numerical Street is as much fun, with even more appeal globally, as it takes us on a journey down a street full of fascinating, everyday shops. The verbal humour of the rhyming text is matched by the collage illustrations, each resonating with visual jokes and intriguing details, some subtle and some less so. The placement of the number on each page isn’t predictable or obvious, and adds greatly to the enjoyment of reading the book. Numerical Street is more than just a numbers book, as readers are encouraged to look at and find things within the frame of the shopfronts. The illustrations are detailed, with flat, interesting colours and an alternating palette on each double-page spread, which adds to the rhythm of the book. Hilary Bell and Antonia Pesenti have once again created that rare thing: a children’s book that is truly for children of all ages, and one that adults will also enjoy.  

Louise Pfanner is an author, illustrator and bookseller

Category: Reviews