Design and Features
The Terrible Plop is written by Ursuala Dubosarsky and illustrated by Andrew Joyner. It comes in a hardback A5 size format with a nice, cloth-bound spine.
Its best audience is 3 to 6 year-olds.
Performance and Drawbacks
Here is the story
Of the Terrible PLOP
With a bear and a rabbit
And a hop hop hop.
But what is the PLOP?
And where does it hide?
Open the book
And look inside ...
The Terrible Plop is a rhyming story about how the littlest rabbit in the forest learns the secret of the terrible 'plop'.
Ursula Dubosarsky obviously has a love of language which makes this book great fun to read aloud. The poetic style really animates the story turning the most deadpan parent into a great storyteller.
The illustrations are great fun, I particularly like the large double page spreads. Worth noting are the interesting mix of animals who live in the 'forest' which include a kangaroo, moose, cat, leopard and of course the little rabbits.
My little guy loves how the rabbits dine on a balanced diet of carrots and chocolate cake.
Conclusion
This book is very much enjoyed in our household. Even though my little guy is only two he chants for the 'plop book' and really engages with the characters and the story line.
For a bit of extra fun, download a Terrible Plop coloring sheet on Ursula Duborsarsky's website.
About Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew Joyner
Ursula Duborsarsky is an Australian author of children's books. She has written a range of books for different age groups including another household favorite; Rex.
Andrew Joyner is a cartoonist and illustrates for many well-known newspapers and journals including The Sydney Morning Herald, Reader's Digest and the Sun Herald.
