Hugo is in no doubt as to what he and Bella should go as to the Hippo-Bird Fancy Dress Party. They will go as the princess and the pea and he will be the princess (of course!) leaving poor Bella to be the pea. Indignant, Bella refuses. She has a better suggestion - they will go as a mermaid on a rock and she will be the mermaid (of course!) leaving a huffy Hugo to be the rock. Hugo is not happy. But neither is Bella. They just can't decide on a costume and things reach a crisis when they both flounce off saying they don't want to go to the party at all. After time to consider, both Hugo and Bella calm down and (privately) both choose to dress as a pea as a gesture of making it all up to each other. So when they both arrive at the party as peas, Hugo and Bella announce proudly that they are 'two peas in a pod, just as it should be' underlining the message of the book that friendship is all about give and take. With wonderfully absurd illustrations from new talent Simon Rickerty and a great read-aloud text, this is a made-for-sharing picture book.

 

This book was recognised in the Picture Book category by the Waterstones Children's Book Award.

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2012 by Oxford University Press .

Alan writes lots of different styles of books and for a wide age-range -- from teenage thrillers to picture books. He also writes poetry for children and adults. Simon Rickerty studied illustration at the Royal College of Art in London, recently graduating with a Masters degree in Communication Art and Design. His first book for children was 'Peas' for Puffin. He lives in rural Bedfordshire. Ann Bonwill grew up in America. Her mother worked as a children's librarian so Ann was always surrounded by books and she loved to read and write stories throughout her childhood. After gaining a psychology degree and a master's degree in social work, Ann worked in a variety of social care positions in schools and hospitals and taught at a Montessori school. Ann lives in the US with her husband and young son. Simon Rickerty has been drawing pictures and creating characters ever since he can remember. He studied illustration at the London College of Communication and graduated in graphic and media design. He then went on to complete a masters in communication, art and design at the Royal College of Art. Simon lives in Somerset.