Book review: The Snatchabook

‘In every house, in every bed

A bedtime book is being read’

There. They’ve won me over already.
Yes, I know that sadly not every child gets bedtime stories, but for the ones who do this is a great affirmation of the comforting bedtime routine. The Snatchabook, by Helen Docherty is a beautifully rhythmical book whose poetry seems to flow gently from page to page. The author’s use of asides - 'Long hours passed without a peep (She'd nearly fallen fast asleep!)' - to deal with trickier words for rhyming is observably smart to an adult, but to the wide-eyed child it just adds to the narrator’s charm and gives a sense of them being let in on a secret.

Now for the bad news. As you may have guessed from the title, The Snatchabook is a story in which books are snatched. Gone. Vanished. The first time we read this story, I had to read it quite fast in order to get to a point that would reassure my indignant children that no such fate would befall their books! But fear not dear reader, without giving too much away, I will tell you that no creature in Burrow Down is left without a book to treasure.

I think that I would love this story if it were merely scrawled on a dog-eared A4 sheet and shoved through the letterbox. But oh my, that is far from the case.

The illustrations are stunning, with richly detailed double page spreads just screaming to be framed and put on the playroom wall. ThomasDocherty brings to life the inimitable Eliza Brown, the titular Snatchabook and the cosy, magical Burrow Down with apparent ease.

This is one of those books that really is a true gift, and since having received it ourselves (Thanks Aunt Claire!) I have bought a copy or two to give to other happy children.

We are very much looking forward to the author’s next bedtime read!

Hitchhiker rating: 5 thumbs up