The Best Present Ever (Zoë Foster Blake, illus Lucinda Gifford, Puffin)

The most delightful stories can often stem from the simplest of ideas, as seen in The Best Present Ever, a playful celebration of creativity, imagination and the joy of giving. When deciding what to gift their friend, the book’s narrator walks the reader through their fantastical ideas—from a pixie-sized unicorn riding a dragon to a swimming pool full of candy. Each inventive idea encounters an amusing setback, such as a meteor destroying the amusement park the narrator had planned as a present. When they finally find the ‘best present ever’, they order it, but it will take ‘four or maybe twelve thousand years’ to be delivered. Luckily, they’ve made this book as a gift while their friend waits. This charming story has a clear message: a heartfelt homemade gift can surpass even the grandest gestures (think hundreds of ice-cream-filled balloons). In her latest picture book, Zoë Foster Blake (No One Likes a Fart) channels her inner Dr Seuss, not through rhyming but by exploring the limitless nature of a child’s imagination. Each page bursts with colour and activity thanks to energetic illustrations by Lucinda Gifford (This Book Is a Time Machine, Neil, the Amazing Sea Cucumber) that invite readers aged 3+ to pause and explore every detail.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is the editor for reviews at Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews