I have always loved Quentin Blake’s illustrations, as my father read me the Roald Dahl books he illustrated when I was a child. They are fantastic, but the ones I know are a bit macabre for my 3-year-old.

I didn’t know that Quentin Blake has himself written and illustrated books for younger kids. In fact he has written many! We have just gotten our hands on a copy of Mrs Armitage and the Big Wave. The story is about the eccentric Mrs. Armitage and her trusted dog Breakspear who decide to go surfing; they figure out that they need lots of bits and bobs to comfortably sit around waiting for a big wave. It’s charming, playfully written and, of course, beautifully illustrated. It is the kind of book both you and your child will not get tired of reading…. or, at the very least, it will take a long time.

– Emilie