Oi readers!  It is the Youth Libraries Group here, 'Y' on the alphabet blog tour for Kes GraY and Jim Field’s irresistible new picture book Oi Aardvark!  We work with Youngsters, judge the Yearly CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals and Yarns are our specialism!  What will we be talking about as the ‘Y’ stop?  We will be discussing our top five reasons whY the Oi books are so perfect for sharing!


WhY funnY books make reading a joY

SadlY research shows children and Young people’s reading enjoYment is currently in decline.  Only 53% of children and young people said they enjoYed reading in 2019 (National Literacy Trust).  This is the lowest level since 2013.  If we can make reading fun and enjoYable from an earlY age it carries those associations.  FunnY books are a brilliant waY to achieve this and there’s a delightfullY absurd qualitY to Kes GraY and Jim Field’s Oi books!

WhY rhYmes matter

RhYthm and rhYmes plaY an important role as part of children's early reading.  TheY help children to get activelY involved, offering opportunities to chant words, to take part in the sounds and rhYthms and to guess what might come next.  Kes GraY’s rhYming text in the Oi series is a delight to read aloud and offers rich opportunities for joining in whether you are 'a mosquito on a burrito' or a 'Yak on a sack'!


WhY Jim Field’s illustrations help relaY emotions

Large eYes and clear facial expressions make it easY for children to interpret and understand the emotions that characters have.  Jim Field’s illustrations not only ooze child appeal, but are great for this.  Keep an eYe on the eYebrows in his illustrations too, these plaY a keY part in helping to show the feelings of his characters!

WhY being part of a series can be reassuring

Finding books we love is such a powerful thing for any reader and often there can be a sense of loss on reaching the end.  Books in a series have familiaritY so can be a useful waY to reallY develop and build an appreciation and love of books and stories.  There are six main titles in the Oi series to explore and share.

WhY design is important

High contrast page colours really make the books ‘pop’ visuallY.  The size and shape of the books make them ideal for sharing whether at storYtimes in libraries or schools or whether cuddling up close together in more intimate moments.

WhY not pop to your nearest librarY and borrow some of the Oi Books, look out for the latest title, Oi! Aardvark?