Published: 28th August 2017
Publisher: Viking
Illustrator: Marc Martin
Pages: 40
Format: Paperback Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars
What’s at the top of the ladder? Is it a hat? Is it a cat? Is it a snail on a whale?
Simple, playful and absurdist, this new picture book by Marc Martin is about imagination and creativity.
I love this book. It’s clever, funny, creative, all the great things which make up good children’s books. The story is told in rhyme, and what starts off simple soon descends into nonsense and absurdity which is so much fun to read, especially out loud. What’s Up Top? is just as much fun for adults to read as it is for children, Martin has done a great job to make this a fun experience for everyone, and certainly one you can reread. It’s also an ideal book for invoking children’s imaginations and allowing them to interact with the story as they too can start to theorise ‘what’s up top?’
The text is simple and is on one side, while the opposite side illustrates whatever might be ‘up top’. I enjoyed the illustrations, they are realistic and colourful, but also basic and don’t take away from the story by being overly detailed.
Martin entices you and tells a humorous story and I loved every page. This was a notable Book in the 2018 CBCA awards and I can see why. It’s a fun and engaging book that has humour, mystery, and intrigue all wrapped up in 40 pages.
You can purchase What’s Up Top? via the following
Lost in a Good Book 