The Zebra's Great Escape

Product Information

What do you think of Sara Ogilvie's illustrations and how the final book looks - any favourite spreads? Known for loving her father but delighting in not playing by society’s rules, Mink decides to stay up past normal bedtime and play in the city park whilst all the other children are abed. Mink soon finds herself face-to-face with an unusual visitor, a baby zebra, and discovers that she has a gift for being able to ‘feel’ animals' emotions and thoughts, beautifully realised by Ogilvie’s artwork in a riotous fanfare of exploding colours. It isn't long before Gabriel the zebra shares his plight with Mink: his parents have been stolen by a man with an ‘unlovely smile’ who intends to kill them and then stuff them in glass boxes for display along with a host of other animals. Voor de gesproken tekst door de dieren is handig gebruik gemaakt van een ander lettertype zodat onderscheid kan worden gemaakt tussen Mink en haar dierenvrienden. De grotere ‘vertel-letter’ is prettig tijdens het interactieve voorlezen. Hond Regenboog en eekhoorn Rodentia hebben een eigen vorm en manier van praten met Mink. Regenboog maakt gebruik van veel kleuren en Rodentia van scharlakenrode en blauwe plaatjes. Een goede vormgeving in taal en beeld maken het één geheel. The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children...

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Publisher

KATHERINE: Zebras seem to me to be so startling and different in their beauty: I wanted to write a book that would salute their loveliness. SARA: Initially it was the appeal of drawing the young Zebra character, Gabriel. But I liked the way Kate Rundell had developed a bond in the story between the little girl protagonist Mink, and Zebra Gabriel, making a strong and surprising friendship. Overall the story plays with clever twists on The 101 Dalmatians. I had illustrated Dodie Smith's book a few years earlier for The Folio Society and the idea of now focusing on stripes rather than spots had exciting possibilities. The story begins with Mink. She doesn’t believe in rules and loves to run wild and free. She is out one night having a swing when she hears a noise. It is a young zebra who is very distressed. In his distress he is able to communicate with the girl. What inspired the story? Do you keep an ideas notebook with you at all times so you don't miss any good ideas? SARA: It was great to finally see it. I think most illustrators have nervous excitement when they open the finished book for the first time. You almost always find a few little mistakes or things you would now do differently as you spend so many months working closely on the images. When the final printed book arrives quite a bit of time has passed, you've caught up on sleep and you can look at it with fresh eyes.

Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark... KATHERINE: Yes, exactly that! - to both ask for help, and to hear the call when it comes. I wanted to say: those who ask for help often create the potential for change: for something new, and more generous, to take shape. I think deciding on the A-Z of animals was some of the most fun I've ever had. X was the hardest: in the end I chose two xoloitzcuintli, a hairless dog from Mexico: 'xolo', for short. With no time to lose, Mink encourages Gabriel to find his inner warhorse and fight for his parents’ freedom. Employing the help of two more creatures, a cantankerous but delightful dog called Rainbow and a ledgerdemain-proficient squirrel named Rodentina, they head off in search of the evil, Terry-Thomas-inspired, Mr. Spit. Can they find the courage, wit and tenacity to win the day?

Format

Mink houdt niet van regels, ook niet als het bedtijd is. Ze schommelt liever buiten. En daar ontmoet ze op een avond Storm, een babyzebra. Ze ontdekken dat ze met elkaar kunnen praten door een soort van kleurenmagie in hun hoofd. Storm is verdrietig en in paniek, want zijn ouders zijn gevangengenomen door meneer Spuug, een échte slechterik die dieren verzamelt.