Hello Twigs, Time to Paint by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood

Title: Hello Twigs, Time to Paint

Author: Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood

Genre: Humour

Publisher: Hardie Grant

Published: 2^nd August 2023

Format: Paperback

Pages: 48

Price: $10.99

Synopsis: The world is big when you’re a twig! 

From the best-selling creators of Real Pigeons comes a joyous early graphic novel series that you can read aloud.

Noodle isn’t just a twig – she’s an ARTIST too. And she knows exactly what she wants to paint. There’s just one problem: the twigs have made red paint, green paint, and yellow paint for her to use – but they can’t find any BLUE.

Noodle is dismayed … until she discovers that true artists can make up their own rules. 

Clever Noodle! She always works things out.

The first four Hello Twigs books will be available in August 2023. Perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly, School of Monsters and Elephant and Piggie.

~*~

The Twigs, Ziggy, Noodle, Stump, and Red are back – and this time, they are going to help Noodle with her painting. They help her make paints in her palette – brown paint, green paint, yellow paint, and red paint – but Noodle also needs blue paint. All the other paints have been made – apart from blue. Where can Noodle find blue paint? Stump and Red look around hurriedly as Ziggy holds up the canvas that Noodle wants to use. But alas, they cannot find the blue paint, and Noodle becomes despondent – can she paint what she wants to paint, whilst finding out that a true artist makes up her own rules!

Art is front and centre in the second Hello Twigs book, and I am loving that each book focuses on a different topic or issue and a different twig in the group as we are introduced to them and what they like to do. The accepting nature of this book, of ensuring that each twig gets their time in the spotlight is what makes this series shine. Art is something we all have in our lives, from clothes to entertainment and so many things – art and design are part of so many things in a myriad of ways. This book shows that creativity is amazing and something that cannot be planned. I loved that the best creativity and artworks come from the heart and inspiration can come from anywhere – especially when you’re looking for the elusive blue paint!

Again, this book is filled with fun and heart, friendship and joy that sparkles on the pages, and help children appreciate art, helping each other, and finding the joy in the unexpected whilst helping children learn to read. I loved the bouncing colour and characters because it makes the story engaging and the series is one that kids can read on their own or with someone else to build their reading confidence.