Children's Book review

Halibut Jackson

By David Lucas

Published by Andersen Press

Halibut Jackson is so shy that he skilfully designs all his outfits to help him blend in to the background. He has a suit for the park, a suit for the shops, a suit for the library, and a suit for indoors – where he spends most of his time.

One day he receives an invitation from the Queen to a party at the palace and starts work on his most ambitious outfit yet, a bejewelled suit of silver and gold, which he thinks will go unnoticed amid the splendours of the palace.

Unfortunately, Halibut doesn’t realise that it is to be a Garden Party... Shortlisted for the Booktrust Early Years Awards, this warm and enchanting tale is beautifully conceived and executed, with illustrations as colourful and imaginative as one of Halibut’s own suits.

The endpapers artfully depict Halibut’s personal transformation, with the pale pink suit with which he shyly blends into the sunset in the opening pages, being replaced at the end with a bold red and blue one.

Illustrator: David Lucas
Reading age: 6-8
Interest level: 4-8