Giants!

by Mij Kelly

Sweet Pea and Boogaloo are walking and talking through the forest one day. When Swea Pea stops and suddenly 'Giants! Do they look like you and me? Except bigger?' And so begins a discussion about what giants are...until Boogaloo discovers that giants are not at all how he has imagined them!An original and timely story about the nature of stereoptyes and jumping to conclusions.

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2007

About the author

What could be more beautiful than the laughter of children? That's why I write. You can find out more about me and my books, and read essays for children - and adults - on imagination and the craft of writing at my website.

For notifications, give-aways and competitions, like "Mij Kelly's children's books" on Facebook.

Look out for The Bump, which will be published on 6th October. I wrote it when my daughter was expecting my first grandchild - now four years old and starting school! I was so aware, when I was writing it, of what a journey pregnancy is, and how women throw their all into it to help their babies grow. It seemed to me that the boundless love and hope and courage of the mum-to-be wasn't very often celebrated. So that's what I set out to do. But I've got to say, words aside, Nicholas Allan's illustrations make this book. They're so soft and sweet and funny. He hits just the right note.

Reviews

[Charlie White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giants by Mij Kelly
Giants features Sweet Pea and Boogaloo who are walking through the forest for a picnic. Along the way Sweet Pea questions Boogaloo about giants; asking questions about what they are like, what they look like and what they eat. Boogaloo replies; describing the giants as ugly with too many teeth, horrible and unhelpful and that they eat people, like Sweet Pea and Boogaloo. All the time they are wandering through the forest they are being watched by a curious giant, who hears all of Boogaloo’s words, and when Boogaloo finally declares that giants have no feelings the giant falls over, clearly hurt by Boogaloo’s statements. Boogaloo apologises to the giant for his mean words - he had never met a giant before and had simply assumed what they were like. They all then continue through the forest for a picnic.

The story carries a strong moral message of not making decisions without knowing all of the facts, not to pre-judge and to be aware of everyone’s feelings. It also shows children that you should apologise when you hurt someone’s feelings. However, I did not enjoy this book as much as others I have read, as I felt at times that the rhyming became confused and lacked a flow that would engage children. It could however be used as a tool in lower KS1 as a special topic about giants, using the book tasks could be assigned to draw the giants as they think they might look and using their imagination to be descriptive.

[Indy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Pea and Boogaloo are walking through the forest one day, when suddenly Sweet Pea starts talking about giants, "Do they look like you and me? Except bigger?"

An original and timely story with a fabulous twist at the end.

[TwoDrinks · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a book about prejudice and differences. Great theme, didn't really enjoy the story.

[Dom Conlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderfully illustrated by Nick Maland, GIANTS is a slice of simple fun as you might have whilst walking with a child. I still enjoy reading this and still call my son "Boogaloo".