Title: The Glump and the Peeble
Author: Wendy Meddour
Illustrator: Rebecca Ashdown
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Teacher and pupil review

The children and the staff in Quails class were all very excited when another book arrived at school for us to read, think about and discuss. We opened the envelope together and immediately our eyes were drawn to the interesting illustrations on the front cover and the rather unusual character names.

Rebecca Ashdown’s illustrations are colourful, detailed and very interesting. The more the children looked, the more they noticed and started to talk about: faces on mushrooms, crabs and frogs. More interestingly, there were creatures we didn’t even recognise. The illustrations alone were enough to totally engage the children and within moments, they were keen to know more.

It was at this point, as an early-years teacher, that I decided to make the most of this book. So, as well as enjoying it together, we would use it to develop the children’s imaginations and ideas, as well as supporting our work around friendships.

‘The Glump is a lump’

We challenged the children to have their own ideas about what the story’s characters might be. Alice said: “I think the Glump is a lump who is cross because people keep tripping over him.”

Thomas decided that: “A Peeble is a sort of yellow duck with dark spots.”

And Kodi’s idea was about a Peeble “who might be a multi-coloured lizard with black spots”.

The characters in the book are unusual-looking, but their different emotions are clear from their facial expressions and how their colours change.

Wendy Meddour’s uplifting story is about friendship, and what happens when the Glump meets the Peeble. One of our school values is friendship, and so the children latched on to that word and were immediately keen to suggest how the two characters might show friendship.

Zach drew on his own experiences and suggested: “They might share each other’s things and take turns.”

Kodi thought they would “dance and sing together”, while Olly thought: “Maybe they have hard things to do, which they do together as friends to help each other.”

Showing friendship

The children were very keen to talk about their ideas, so we worked in groups and created our own book of possible ways the Glump and the Peeble would show friendship. As a teacher, I was already getting lots of learning from this book and I knew, having read the book in advance, that there would be lots more to come.

Through this story children learn about friendship, fitting in, trying new things and being happy to be different, which are themes shared with lots of children’s books. The difference with this story is the refreshingly different approach using the unusual characters and their differences to teach children about situations they will find themselves in throughout life.

The Glump and the Peeble is a story book which would suit a wide primary-school age range; there is a lot to learn from it. The language choices are appealing and give us an insight into the characters, as well as how they stretch and twirl when they dance.

A book to share with your mum

I hope you will read this book with your class, so I don’t want to reveal the surprises it holds. But I will share with you some of the children’s thoughts, after they’d read it a number of times.

Zach said: “I like the part when the Glump invites the Peeble into his cave.”

Daisy said: “I like it when they become friends and dance together.” And Bella asked to take the book home to share with her mum.

Based on the children’s responses, I think I will need to buy Wendy Meddour’s How the Library (Not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel to read with my class next.

Reviewing this book has reminded the staff in our class of the importance of taking our time with stories, allowing the children to think about what happens and returning to them over a period of time, during which their understanding and thinking develops.

Matt Perrett is early-years foundation stage class teacher and head of learning at Netley Marsh CofE Infant School in Southampton

If you or your class would like to write a review for TES, please contact Adi Bloom, on adi.bloom@tesglobal.com

Want to keep up with the latest education news and opinion? Follow TES on Twitter and like TES on Facebook