[[mem-fox-rev]]Once upon a time, Mem Fox wrote a picture book called Good Night, Sleep Tight. It was illustrated by Helen Semmler and was a favourite of two little girls called Kat and Lou.

Twenty-four years later they still recite it with much pleasure and fond memories of Skinny Doug. That edition has long been out of print, but with a few tweaks by Mem and a new illustrator in the wonderful Judy Horacek, we can once again enjoy the exuberant tempo of these well-loved verses.

As Skinny Doug babysits Bonnie and Ben, he captivates them with the rhymes he learnt from his mother and so, with this oldest and much-loved of oral traditions, he charms his young audience. Horacek’s colourful and simple pictures highlight Fox’s marvellously lilting rhymes – they are a perfect fit.

So once again we have a classic in the making, a tribute to the everlasting joy of nursery rhymes by two of Australia’s master storytellers. To share such fun will be something I hope your children remember as fondly as mine still do. For ages 18 months and up.

[[alexathumb]] Alexa Dretzke