posted on 18 Nov 2015

Fairytales for Mr Barker by Jessica Ahlberg

Is the ability to write and illustrate inherited or are individuals inspired and influenced by an environment surrounded by wonderful books? As the only child of Allan and Janet Ahlberg who together produced such classics as Each, Peach, Pear Plum , Peepo and 'The Jolly Postman, Jessica Ahlberg was blessed with both. She has collaborated with her father as his illustrator in the past (her mother died some years ago), but this is her own first splendid contribution to the world of picture books.

The cover of the book hints at the wide array of familiar characters we are likely to meet inside the book with a cut out hole showing us an enthusiastic looking dog waiting to meet them all. The story begins with the familiar device of a child talking to a non- human, in this case the dog called Mr Barker. This allows the reader to focus on the little girl, Lucy, trying to get the dog’s attention right from the start as she shows him a book on the free front end page before the story begins.

By the title page it is clear that he is going to be a very distracted listener as he tilts his head to follow a butterfly and this allows us all to travel to the next first page where we are presented with a child’s wonderful bedroom. I would imagine that this is something like the real bedroom that the author had as a child, stuffed with toys, plenty of bookshelves, a toadstool lamp plus a huge picture of fairyland hanging behind the bed (no technology in sight). 

Then we climb with the girl as she follows her dog through an open window as a portal into the world of stories. They climb out first into what is evidently the living room of the three bears of Goldilocks fame. The turn of the page gives us a different view of the room and we see an open door with the bears in the distance – I can hear the shouts of children pointing this out as Goldilocks accepts the invitation to join Lucy and the dog through another door under the stairs. And so it continues with more and more characters joining them on their journey that of course ends with them all back in her bedroom for a sleepover. Not everyone is invited in: ‘No fairies. No giants, no big bad wolves and no bears’ and they all settle down for a safe, comfortable sleepover with Lucy about to read them a story.

The references to familiar stories are numerous and children will love to spot these characters living their lives in different books.

Every page is packed with detail and deserves a long look. The interiors are old fashioned, soft and cosy. This is a familiar, non- threatening, funny storybook version of the world drawn and coloured with real affection and painstaking attention to detail. Whether Jessica Ahlberg’s skill is partly down to nature or nurture – this charming book deserves the status of a classic that will be greatly enjoyed by readers of all ages.

 

Karen Argent

18th November 2015