So Much - Tapa dura

A picture book about the birthday celebrations of a black English family written in lilting West-Indian rhythms - ideal to be read aloud. Mum and baby are at home, doing nothing in particular, when the doorbell rings. It's Aunt Bibba. With her arms outstretched she says, "I want to squeeze the baby, I want to squeeze him SO MUCH!". So she sits him on her knee and plays with him and reads him a book. Then the doorbell rings again. It's Uncle Didi. "I want to kiss the baby, I want to kiss him SO MUCH!". Nannie and Gran-Gran are the next to appear, followed by cousin Kay-Kay and Bid Cousin Ross, and they all want to hug and play with the baby so much. The last to arrive is Daddy. "Surprise!" everybody says and they wish him a happy birthday. Then Mum brings in the food for the party. Later, playing in the cot, Baby remembers how everybody wanted to squeeze, kiss, eat and fight him - because thew loved him SO MUCH! Trishe Cooke is also the author of "Mr Pam Pam and the Hullabazoo", and "When I Grow Bigger". Helen Oxenbury won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1979. She has also illustrated two Smarties Book Prize-winning picture books - "Farmer Duck" in 1991, and "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" in 1989, both of which were highly commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1992 and 1989 respectively. She has also illustrated "Its My Birthday".