So Much

Product Information

The Library's buildings remain fully open but some services are limited, including access to collection items. We're is reviewed between 08.30 to 16.30 Monday to Friday. We're experiencing a high volume of enquiries so it may take us Helen Oxenbury was born in Ipswich and attended the Ipswich School of Art before moving to London to study at the Central School of Art and Design.Her career has spanned many fields, including design work in theatre, film and television. She started illustrating children’s books in 1964 and has published books across age groups, from classic board books for babies to collections of nursery rhymes for all ages.

She first discovered how much fun writing could be when she started writing in her diary. She enjoyed exaggerating the truth! So Much" By Trish Cooke is a wonderful, multi-award-winning picture book! I have just read this book to a class of thirty year one pupils and they absolutely adored it. This was my first time reading this book, and it was such a lovely, fun and engaging story about a family gathering, with a strong emphasis on the amount of love and care, everybody wants to show this little baby.

I came across this book while in a Reception class this week, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is perfect for the EYFS setting. Both the children and I loved the images and the language used in this story. It is perfect for our current theme this half term of homes, families and celebrations. The author uses Caribbean English and I think this is really effective if expressed well when being read to the children. It is a perfect story for carpet time as it captures their attention and they can all join in with the responses. The images are very vivid and the colours used are warm and exciting. You could use these images to predict who was going to be the next person to ring the doorbell. Trish Cooke has worked as a TV presenter, has written stage plays and has had numerous acting roles in the theatre and on screen. She is also the author of several picture books including Full, Full, Full of Love. She lives in Bradford. All upcoming public events are going ahead as planned and you can find more information on our events blog Her favourite place to write is in front of a beautiful landscape – on a verandah in the West Indies, or looking out on hills from her office window in Yorkshire.

I also love the unpredictable ending that the relatives are not just there to see the baby; they are also there for a surprise birthday party for the Daddy. Through all the different things the family members want to do to the baby and them getting together for a birthday, there is a strong emphasis on love in the book. This teaches children to appreciate their family and how much they mean to them. The book is also multicultural and written in a Caribbean dialect, which not only teaches children about family, but likewise they learn about other cultures.So Much by Trish Cooke, is a fantastic read for everyone, children from early years through to year 2 will greatly enjoy the illustrations and repetition within this book. The text is also brilliant– written in an easy, sing-song rhythm that is fun to say aloud. It's refreshing to see it capture the cadence of an Afro-Caribbean family, with Trish Cooke writing the language as it would be spoken. It's a brilliant way for all parents and carers to talk about different cultures with children. In EYFS this is a good focus book to use in literacy as you can get the children to role-play each of the characters by acting out what each character does to the baby. Extended from this, it can be used as the basis for topic activities for the afternoon to do with celebrations. So the children could write party invitations or have a party small world.