Book Sharing Monday

I am at a loss as to why it's taken me this long to discover Book Sharing Monday, but now that I have, I'm very excited to be involved! My pick for this week is Stick Man, by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by the amazing Axel Sheffler. This is the latest offering from the wonderful wonderful people who bought us The Gruffalo, and, like The Gruffalo and every other book from these two, it's a clever story, beautifully illustrated and very fun to read!

"Stick Man lives in the family tree, with his stick lady love and their stick children three. One day he wakes early and goes for a jog. Stick Man, oh Stick Man, beware of the dog..."
Poor Stick Man, an innocent jog turns into a huge adventure as he is picked up by a passing dog and used in a game of Fetch. He is taken further and further away from home as he is picked up by a swan and used in her nest, then floats down the river...

Into the sea, where he is picked up by a family and used as the mast for their sandcastle, and several other things including a boomereang, a hook for a bag, and an arm for a snowman until eventually he ends up in the grate of a fireplace. Exhausted, he falls asleep and dreams of his stick lady love. Will someone wake him before it's too late?

Luckily, our favourite chimney dwelling friend, Santa himself, gets stuck, and Stick Man pulls him out, then gets to ride on the sleigh and help deliver presents. Stick Mans' Christmas wish is to be back in the Family Tree with his wife and kids, and Santa is happy to grant it.

Sorry about the awful pictures (Winter is good for many things-light is not one of them!) but you get the gist. Pretty cool huh?