Award-winning Emily Gravett’s stunning picture book is a charming, witty and moral tale about the perils of making the world look too spick and span. Deep in the forest lives a badger called Pete with a mania for tidying up. Pete’s tidies up the leaves as they fall from the trees, then he tidies up the trees themselves. When that causes a flood he sets too to deal with the mud. Tidying up mud leads to putting down concrete. But then, how can Pete ever get back into his own home? Pete realises he must put everything back! Emily Gravett’s woodland folk are delightful and the world of nature that she creates for them to live in is incredibly appealing. Good lessons will be learnt from Tidy!
From the creator of Meerkat Mail and Dogs, comes a very funny rhyming woodland story about the perils of being too tidy. Pete the badger likes everything to be neat and tidy at all times, but what starts as the collecting of one fallen leaf escalates quickly and ends with the complete destruction of the forest! Will Pete realise the error of his ways and set things right?
Lush foliage and delightfully funny characters abound in this dramatic tale of overzealous neatness that delivers its message of environmental preservation with subtlety and humour. The freshness and vibrancy of the illustrations, the endearing charm of the animal characters, and the many deft comic details throughout make this a very special book - once you enter this forest, you'll never want to leave.
Emily Gravett's engaging woodland creatures will appeal to fans of such classics as The Animals of Farthing Wood and The Wind in the Willows and the rhythmic, rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud.
One of our most inventive and surprise-full creators of picture books – Michael Rosen
She has the intuitive grasp of timing, expression and anticipation which marks out the exceptional from the mediocre – Sunday Telegraph
If Gravett isn't the best in the business, it's hard to know who is – Independent
The message is admirable and the cut-out cover enticing, but the greatest joy is in the comic expressions, hand-wrought images and witty detail. Sunday Times
If you haven't discovered the brilliant wit and inventiveness of award- winning Emily Gravett yet, then this superbly illustrated rhyming adventure is a great place to start... Gravett's familiar minor cast of bemused bunnies and dishevelled foxes pop up throughout and the pictures are packed with comic detail. Superb. Daily Mail
This beautiful book, illustrated in warm tones, is full of expressive, characterful animals and tells a charming story. Emily Gravett's place in the world of children's books is already established but in Tidy she excels herself and will delight new audiences. -- Jane Sandell The Scotsman
Funny, rhyming woodland story with an environmental message The Bookseller
Another sure-fire hit Huffington Post
Can you think of a better way to show children the virtues of the forests and the dangers of losing them? I can't! The Book Bag
A quirky rhyming woodland story about the perils of being too tidy Irish Independent
a jolly introduction to taking care of the environment that's filled with humour and charm WRD
Author
About Emily Gravett
Emily Gravett has a rare talent indeed for creating exceptional books for children.
The winner of two CILIP Kate Greenaway Medals, her skill and wit are second to none. Emily first sprang into the limelight with the ground-breaking Wolves in 2005, which has been followed by such modern classics as Meerkat Mail, Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears, Monkey and Me and Again! and the fabulous Bear and Hare series for younger readers, as well as the beautiful Tidy, Old Hat, Cyril and Pat and Meerkat Christmas.
Each book is unique and different from the last – and each features endearing, beautifully drawn characters that touch the heart and tickle the funny bone.
Emily lives in Brighton with her family.
Julia Eccleshare, the editorial expert on Lovereading4kids says, Prize-winning illustrator Emily Gravett’s distinctive illustrations are always full of wit bringing the unexpected into stories and injecting them all with delightful humour. There’s magic in Spells as a frog turns himself into a handsome prince – well, almost!, excellent advice for rabbits on how to spot the danger of wolves in Wolves, lots of useful tips on how to be braver than you feel in Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears, a thoughtful exploration of how home often turns out to be best despite feelings of wanderlust in Meerkat Mail, a celebration of exuberant movement in Monkey and Me and a fresh and delightful look at Dogs.
