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Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea

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Lee is a pea. All of his friends are peas; except Colin. Colin isn't a pea.

And so begins the deliciously funny story of two very different friends: a small green pea and a tall orange carrot stick. Colin the carrot can't do everything the peas can, but he has some special carrot-y qualities that make him a very good friend to have.

All about the beauty of making friends with people (or vegetables) who are different from you, boys and girls alike will love Colin and Lee's clear shapes, bright colours and the playful approach to everyday objects that make this book an instant favourite. Enjoy in this lovely and durable smaller hardback board book format.

Made using just a collage of supermarket plastic bags and painted facial expressions, Morag Hood has created a timeless picture book with unique and engaging artwork that is brimming with warmth and humour. With the bold simplicity of Herve Tullet or Dick Bruna's Miffy, and a dry wit and charm all of Morag's own, it is a fantastically funny story that appeals to the very youngest child - and makes adults laugh out loud.

Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea is a brilliant debut from Morag Hood, runner-up in The Macmillan Prize for Illustration.

Book Description:
The delicious story of an unlikely friendship between vegetables.

About the Author:
Morag Hood has a unique voice. Her idiosyncratic, wry humour permeates everything she does, creating books of style and irresistible charm. Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea was a runner-up in The Macmillan Prize for Illustration, marking a glorious picture book debut. Morag spent her childhood writing stories, painting, and dreaming of having a pet duck. Following a degree in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art, and an MA in Children's Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art, Morag returned to live in her native Edinburgh with her husband. She still likes making stories, printing, cutting and sticking, and freshly sharpened pencils. The pet duck is yet to make an appearance.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read

About the author

Morag Hood

48 books33 followers
"I'm an award-winning children's book author and illustrator from Edinburgh. I love making up stories, print-making and cutting and sticking. My favourite things to draw are eyebrows.

I have an MA in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and a BA in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art. I used to work in theatre, but now spend my days in my Edinburgh studio with views of the hills.

One day I will manage to write a book about my very favourite animal - the duck.

I am represented by Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton."

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5 stars
64 (46%)
4 stars
57 (41%)
3 stars
12 (8%)
2 stars
3 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
159 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2021
A fun and quirky story with simplistic illustrations.
Profile Image for Helen White.
944 reviews14 followers
February 24, 2018
Sweet little book about the friendship between a carrot and a pea. Celebrating their differences. Lovely illustrations
Profile Image for Nicola.
3,639 reviews
June 3, 2019
A lovely simple story about feeling different and celebrating those differences.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
18 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2019
'Lee is a pea. All of his friends are peas; except Colin. Colin isn't a pea.'

In essence this book is a tale of an unlikely friendship between two vegetables, a pea and a carrot stick. Once you look deeper you can see that it is a story of differences and acceptance. Hood uses humour to soften the potentially sad message that Colin the carrot can't do everything the peas can, off setting this message with the observation that he has some special carrot like qualities that make him a very good friend to have.

This book is perfect for lower KS1 as its bright colours and simplistic illustration style appeal to a young audience. However, the message of the book, that despite peoples differences everyone should be accepted and appreciated, is universal and could be applied across all key stages
Profile Image for Laura Brandon.
117 reviews1 follower
February 5, 2020
Colin and Lee are I likely friends as they’re so different; lee’s friends think Colin is strange because he is different. Lee helps Colin to see why his differences make him special, and why this is key to their friendship
Profile Image for Portable.
310 reviews42 followers
June 9, 2017
Simple and lovely. Colin is a carrot, and Lee is a pea. They're very different, but they are best friends. That's it, and it's gorgeous: diversity in a nutshell. Or a peapod, perhaps.
Profile Image for Kiran.
149 reviews8 followers
December 9, 2018
Lovely little story about appreciating the differences between us all. My 3 year old really loves this book. And do you need a fast, right before bed and short on time book....this is it.
Profile Image for Meg.
1,739 reviews
March 6, 2019
A cute (and very short) picture book on why playing with others different than us can be wonderful. I like that the carrot's name is Colin.
Profile Image for Alberto.
280 reviews32 followers
May 3, 2019
e' diventato in fretta uno dei favoriti di casa tra i libri in inglese, adattissimo ai primi approcci.
Profile Image for Marcela Zuluaga.
40 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2019
I really liked the illustrations, simple geometric shapes in secondary colours.
This book will support children's learning of diversity and respect.
Lovely
51 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2020
A lovely story about how an unexpected friendship grows between a lonely carrot stick and some peas!

A heartwarming and uplifting story to read with children!!
Profile Image for Chihiro N..
Author 2 books
September 4, 2023
Illustrations are too cute! The message is also solid. My daughter was so proud she was able to read it. Great read for bedtime.
Profile Image for Fatima Seraj Alam.
931 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2024
Minimalistic books like these are sometimes needed for little ones. This book teaches to celebrate diversity through Lee, the pea and Colin.
15 reviews
September 16, 2019
A book for reception children when they transition into school setting from early years to show that despite differences you can still fit in
Profile Image for Sue Mosher.
677 reviews15 followers
March 7, 2017
Loved this board book! A fun way of looking at differences between people (or peas and carrots) and how they are valuable because of their differences.
Profile Image for Leilah Skelton.
152 reviews39 followers
June 24, 2016
Colin and Lee are clearly very different, and difference can be confronting. Colin isn’t described as a carrot inside this book. It is simply pointed out that ‘Colin isn’t a pea.’ Their differences initially seem to limit their friendship, but we are soon shown how embracing ‘other’ enriches us.

This is one of the best picture books I’ve come across in a long time, and is certain to be one of my favourites for the year. Its brilliance comes from its simplicity. There are just two colours on the page – vivid collages created from green and orange supermarket carrier bags. The expressions are minimal dot-and-line faces, and the tone switches with the simple turn of a line. The word count per spread moves between just 2 and 12 words. In fact, everything about what we see is engaging but uncomplicated, which leaves plenty of space for the message to seep in…

There is an artistry to saying a lot with a little, and Morag Hood does just that with this debut. It’s OK to be different. It’s OK to like different. With kindness and acceptance, we can build bridges (in Colin’s case, as a carrot baton, quite literally. And a fantastic one, too.) This is one of those endearing, fun stories that quietly influence young readers to be better grown-ups, and to like vegetables too if you’re lucky. Radiating humour, charm, wit and warmth, it is truly, truly first-rate.
151 reviews3 followers
August 11, 2018
A seemingly simple but on closer inspection surprisingly deep picture book about personal difference and acceptance, using vegetables young children will easily recognise. Children love to personify inanimate objects, an approach Morag Hood adopts here with humour and empathy. Initially it appears Colin the Carrot is not like all the peas - nor able to do anything they can. Gradually however, all the useful abilities he has - which they don't - come to the fore. The artwork on the face of it appears simple, yet a closer look reveals clever texture built into the drawings; even Lee is a slightly different colour from all of his friends (providing a 'Where's Wally?'-style activity for children on every page as well). Similar in theme and approach to 'Odd Dog Out', maybe this book doesn't quite hold attention as long on the basis of its considerably less detailed illustrations. Nevertheless, it's fun, imaginative and certainly inclusive in its message and example for young children to follow. Could there be lessons based upon food science in D&T as a result?!
Profile Image for Paige M.
259 reviews
April 12, 2017
on valuing the individual for his or her own unique qualities :)
Profile Image for Ashley.
621 reviews14 followers
April 14, 2017
A cute offering focusing on what sets us apart, and what qualities make us special even when we're different. A great pick for a friendship storytime.
Profile Image for Jo.
987 reviews26 followers
April 14, 2017
Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea
By Morag Hood
Synopsis
Lee is a pea. All of his friends are peas; except Colin. Colin isn't a pea.
And so begins the deliciously funny story of two very different friends: a small green pea and a tall orange carrot stick. Colin the carrot can't do everything the peas can, but he has some special carrot-y qualities that make him a very good friend to have.
All about the beauty of making friends with people (or vegetables) who are different from you, boys and girls alike will love Colin and Lee's clear shapes, bright colours and the playful approach to everyday objects that make this book an instant favourite. Enjoy in this lovely and durable smaller hardback board book format.
This book is so cute, its simplistic, colourful and a wonderful look at a very unlikely friendship.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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