posted on 24 May 2024

The Giant at Number Two by Emily Wensley, illustrated by Helen Morgan

Giants generally get a negative press in traditional children’s stories although their reputation has been improved with the like of ‘The BFG’ by Roald Dahl and ‘The Smartest Giant in Town’ by Julia Donaldson. I am pleased to see that this is another one that emphasises the gentler nature of these impressively large creatures. It also suggests that being physically huge can lead to feelings of loneliness and that other people need to develop some sensitivity.

The front end-papers show a pleasant street scene with a row of similar sized houses that is interrupted by one that is very tall with a big red door and massive windows. When I showed it to some four-year-olds, they were keen to point out that this was probably where the giant lived!

The story opens with a young girl and her cat being understandably startled by the giant wearing a flamboyant carnival mask waving at her from over the garden fence.  Presumably she runs inside without responding because we next see her with her family as she explains that:

‘You see, my mum, my dad and brother

never believe me when I say

I’ve dreamt or heard or seen things;

They just chorus,”Oh, Daisy May!”

Luckily, she has a very sympathetic and adventurous gran living nearby who seems to be more on her wavelength. This means that she immediately believes about the giant and together they set out to find out more about him. They decide that Daisy May should help to solve the mystery by watching his house from her tree house. She tells gran that he seems to have an array of crazy masks that he puts on when he goes out and that he loves eating baked beans.

I especially liked the illustration that shows them hiding by the hedge later that night watching for him to be lured by a huge bowl of beans. The children wondered how many tins had been used and also why they didn’t just knock on the door with the gift of food. When he eventually comes out, they jump on his legs and start bombarding him with questions which we agreed might be quite frightening for him! 

We soon learn that he is very wary about his new neighbours and blames ‘that boy Jack’ for making people dislike giants like him. Here there is plenty of scope for reminding children about that famous tale and talking about why we perhaps need to treat people as individuals. 

I strongly recommend this positive and delightfully illustrated story about welcoming new arrivals into the community and getting to know one another. Published by Tiny Tree Books, you will be able to buy this picture books from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

Karen Argent

May 2024