The fierce little woman and the wicked pirate by Joy Cowley

This re-vamping of Joy Cowley’s 1984 reader, with superb new illustrations as blue and green as the socks the feisty heroine knits for wetfooted sailors, should surely be a strong contender for 2011 children’s literature awards. As we have come to expect from a Gecko book, the presentation is outstanding. This salty tale of love, loss and unrequited ferocity is quirky enough to appeal to independent readers of all ages, as well as being a great read-aloud.

Angelina and the royal wedding by Katharine Holabird

What could be more topical than this latest adventure of Katharine Holabird’s appealing little mouse? As one who obviously moves in the highest of mouse-circles, Angelina is thrilled when asked to be a Royal Bridesmaid, and manages to avert a serious wedding catastrophe through her good sense and enterprise. A good read-aloud, and guaranteed to be of particular interest this year. (However, similarities to any other Royal Weddings, past and future, are entirely co-incidental…)

The cat’s pyjamas by Wallace Edwards

(Not to be confused with Catherine Foreman’s 2010 New Zealand book of the same title, which will be reviewed in a future Cecily’s Shorts.)This riotous sophisticated picture book by Canadian Wallace Edwards should appeal to all ages..and I do mean all. Similar to Graeme Base in the quality and complexity of his illustrations, Edwards has here added a puzzle element to his clever literal depictions of well-known idioms. Never before have so many adults pored over a picture book in search of the camouflaged cat on every page..