THE GO-AWAY BIRD

by Julia Donaldson Illustrated by Catherine Rayner

(Macmillan £11.99, 32 pp) ThIS is the perfect pairing of two multi-award-winning authors and illustrators.

Donaldson’s rhyming story echoes with repetition as the bad-tempered Go-Away bird rejects all overtures of friendship, preferring to be alone. But when danger threatens her, the solitary bird learns that isolation leaves you vulnerable, while friendship and collaboration make each individual stronger.

Rayner’s stunning illustrations of animals are a joy, and here, her vibrant colours and creative expressions are in full flight. Incidentally, the Go-Away bird, so called for its distinctive call, is a real South African creature.