Natalie Marshall, Millie-Mae and the Lemon Tree, Five Mile Press, March 2017, 10pp., $12.99 (board book), ISBN: 9781760402778
Millie-Mae, a dark-haired, independent young girl, spends the morning picking lovely fresh lemons that she uses to make lemonade.
Millie-Mae and the Lemon Tree is a visually appealing book with a simple story line that reminds me a great deal of books such as Poppy Pig’s Garden. A board book that is read in just five quick page turns, it seems to have been written for very young children and babies. Indeed, it is marketed as a ‘touch-and-learn’ book with some of the bright, block-coloured illustrations combining tactile elements, such as raised glittery lemons and shiny, indented leaves. However, the theme of making lemonade, and the recipe-like text is more suited to slightly older children who might enjoy making lemonade at home and benefit from the focus on sequencing elements within the story.
Reviewed by Rebecca Blakeney
