10.Feb.07 book of month : Pumpkin soup

HELEN COOPER was born in London in 1963. After qualifying as a music teacher, she became interested in children’s book illustration and used the library to teach herself about art.
Her first book, Kit and the Magic Kite, was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1987. Her work has been translated into 15 languages. Among these are The Bear Under The Stairs, winner of the Smarties Young Judges Prize, and The Baby Who Wouldn't Go to Bed, and Pumpkin Soup which both won the Kate Greenaway award.
She lives in Oxford with her husband Ted Dewan, and their daughter Pandora.

This is a story about friendship and sharing. Three friends, Cat, Squirrel and Duck do the same things each day like making pumpkin soup. Everyone has his own job to do, everyone is happy or so it seems. Like all good friends these three argue about who does what and why. After a falling out Duck leaves the little white cabin and gives his friends time to think. They worry that Duck has found nicer friends and is not coming back. Instead Duck returns, all three swap around their chores and order is restored again, at least for the time being. A clever funny story is made all the more interesting by striking pictures. The story will resonate for any child who has known the difficulties that come with friendship.