posted on 17 Oct 2018

Not Yet A Yeti by Lou Treleaven illustrated by Tony Neal

What happens when you realise that you are a bit different from the rest of your family? Maybe you don’t look like them or maybe you aren’t interested in doing what they like doing?

Well, that’s the dilemma facing young George who lives in a family of Yetis. He’s a bit puzzled about why it is that he doesn’t seem to be growing up to be a Yeti like everyone else. One by one he asks the family what he needs to do to become a Yeti himself – but he doesn’t really like the answer. They tell him that to become a Yeti he has to learn how to terrify and chase ramblers and mountaineers in the snowy cold mountains - but he just knows that’s not really his thing.

One day he asks his mom what he should do and she asks him what he would like to be if it’s not a big, frightening Yeti. George gives it a bit of thought and suddenly comes up with the answer – a unicorn!

Not Yet A Yeti is all about how a family can deal with difference and finding ways not to be judgemental when someone wants to take their own path. It’s also about having the courage to acknowledge what you really want to be as you grow up and the need to be true to yourself in finding the way of life that suits you best.

It also has a gentle message for parents about the way a family can support their child’s decision to be who they want to be. If you’re open minded and flexible there’s always a solution to be found.

As with almost all books published by Maverick Publishing, the quality of design and production is top notch. Lou Treleaven writes in an accessible way for younger readers and doesn’t overload the story with unnecessary text and Tony Neal’s illustrations are a delight. He uses big bold colours that fill the larger format pages and add nice extra detail to the story.

I can see how this book would be a favourite for younger readers at home – one that would be great for children and parents to share some time reading together – but it would also be a good one for teachers in early years settings.

The book was published in September and you will be able to buy or order it from your local independent bookshop – or direct from the Maverick Publishing website.

 

Terry Potter

October 2018

( Click on any image below to view them in a slide show format)