The School – Dick Bruna

There are some children's book authors and illustrators whose style you instantly recognise and has become completely iconic – and Dick Bruna is one such person. Most famous for his Miffy books, he has written a staggering 124 titles in total and it all started 60 years ago with The Apple
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To mark this anniversary Tate have republished The Apple, along with two other titles: The School, which has been out of print until 1968, and a new title On My Scooter, which I am sure will appeal to all the children like Little Miss C that I see going round on scooters. We were sent a copy of The School to review and so excited was LMC to see it that she insisted I read it to her whilst I ate my lunch today. 

What really goes to show how recognisable Dick Bruna's style is, is the fact that LMC instantly said that the book was just like her Miffy ones. As she's just started pre-school in an infant school which really integrates the pre-school class with the rest of the school it was a very appropriate book for us to be reading right now. 

With artwork consisting of Bruna's signature bold black outlines and blocks of bright contrasting primary colours the illustrations in the school were also fantastic at holding Master C's attention whilst I read the book to both of them. 

Having been originally published in 1964 I just love the vintage feel of the book as a whole and also the way in which today's children can so easily relate to what children get up to at school, just as much as they could back in the 60s. It's simply adorable.

Little Miss C described this book as being "sweet" today and I think she's spot on. What a perfect gift it would make for a child starting school too.

Discalimer: We were sent a copy of The School for the purposes of this review.