Penguin Australia

April 2024

ISBN: 9781761347832
Imprint: Puffin
RRP: $19.99

Twenty years ago this was a brand new sparkling book that was a huge hit in my library lessons. Now it’s an iconic staple of our Oz Kids Lit picture book canon, still sparkling, and still a huge hit with little readers. As soon as it was available I had my green sheep soft toy and the honoured child of the lesson was allowed to hold it – a highly sought after privilege. Before the soft toy came about, we had so much fun making our own coloured or wacky sheep.

At the time it was a delightful segue from the Year 1 activity we used to run with innovating on Baa Baa Black Sheep, with all the colours and I still got to ‘play’ with entertaining sheep, even though I was no longer in the classroom.

Here is the blue sheep, and here is the red sheep.
Here is the bath sheep, and here is the bed sheep.
But where is the green sheep?

There will be many young adults and some of them already parents themselves who will have similar fond memories of this relatively simple but oh-so-amusing and delightful title from this hugely talented pair of creators. [Side note: the couple of occasions I’ve had the opportunity to meet and interact with Mem Fox are vividly imprinted – moments I will never forget especially the hilarity!]. It has every hallmark required for classic status for Smalls’ consumption: rhyme, rhythm, humour, repetition and predictability.

There is really no need for this one’s recommendation except to say, you know you need a new copy especially with this gorgeous gold-foiled cover – so rush out and get it now!