Title: Surprise!
Author: Karen Andrews
Illustrator: Kim Fleming
Publisher: Miscellaneous Press, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-646-48773-1
Suitable Age: 4 – 7 years

When Hamish borrows a book called Surprise! from the library, he discovers that the nicest surprise is a picture drawn by the last borrower and left inside the book for him to find. Hamish is the first in a series of children to discover a special drawing in the book when they borrow it.

The book ends with a special surprise for the reader and includes a pocket on the back cover for children to store their own drawing. The illustrations by Kim Fleming compliment the text beautifully and are very appealing.

Australian writer and mum Karen Andrews has produced a lovely picture book sure to delight young children. I particularly like that the child who draws each picture and the one that receives it get something a little different from the drawing depending on how they themselves are feeling.

I think that Surprise! would be a lovely birthday present given to a child by another child. The giver could include a special drawing with the gift, placed in the back pocket of the book. You could also include a set of pencils and a notebook of blank paper with the gift for extra inspiration.

Surprise! would also work well as the inspiration for a pre-school or kindergarten library activity and classroom discussions about surprises and feelings. Children could also discuss things they do with special family members, as each child in the story shares the book with someone special including a father, mother and grandmother.

Surprise! is available for purchase directly from Miscellaneous Press or through book retailers.