The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and twenty-eight

Once, when I was traveling with my parents in Europe, I left my beloved half bald pink teddy bear in a hotel. When I realized that Pinky was missing, I had a major melt down. Luckily the people at the hotel saved Pinky, and they kindly mailed him to us. After a all long snuggle session, Pinky and I had a long discussion about the adventures that we had had when we were apart.

Today's picture book is about another little child whose favorite toy goes missing and what happens.

Raf

Anke de Vries

Illustrated by Charlotte Dematons

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Lemniscaat, 2008, 978-1-59078-749-6

   Ben is a little boy who never goes anywhere without Raf, his stuffed giraffe. Then one day Ben cannot find Raf anywhere, and he goes to bed feeling very sad indeed. The next morning it is snowing, and Ben gets an unexpected postcard from Africa. Imagine how he feels when he reads the postcard and discovers that it is from Raf. Apparently, Raf has been found and now he is traveling across the desert.

   In his second postcard, Raf tells Ben that he is now visiting a big lake. A lot of pink birds live there and unfortunately they are pooping on Raf’s nose. Raf is much relieved when the birds fly away and some elephants arrive on the scene. Raf is not in the least bit frightened of the elephant. In fact he is happy that the elephants helped him have a “nice shower,” even though he has shrunk a little after drying off in the sun.

   In this charming picture book, we meet an intrepid little traveler who has all kinds of adventures and who sends postcards to his little boy describing his experiences. Children will enjoy sharing Raf’s adventures, reading his postcards with Ben as they turn the pages. They will also sympathize with the little boy whose world is a much less enjoyable place when Raf isn’t in it.