Book review and giveaway: There’s No Deer Around Here

Disclaimer: I received a copy of ‘There’s No Deer Around Here’ for the purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

‘There’s No Deer Around Here’ by Andy Hussey and Rosie Venner tells the story of Jacob, who wants to find out what has been eating the vegetables that he and Granny planted. Could it be a deer? Granny tells him, ‘there’s no deer around here’. However, the clues Jacob spots while out for a walk with Granny and Archie-Dog make him think otherwise. Can Jacob put all the clues together and prove Granny wrong?

 

 

The beautiful illustrations in this book capture lots of little details of the things Jacob encounters on his walk. The clues Jacob discovers along the way, include muddy prints, a clump of fur and some poo in the bushes. Naturally, the reference to poo was a hit with my 7-year old and made her giggle. It’s a good starting point for discussions about signs of animals and for encouraging children to look more closely when they are out and about. Sophie is already quite familiar with signs of deer eating things. They regularly eat the flowers that we leave at Jessica’s forever bed!

 

 

‘There’s No Deer Around Here’ is the debut children’s novel from independent publisher Muddy Little Boots. It was inspired from the author’s daily walks and deer spotting during lockdown and is endorsed by the British Deer Society. I love that it states that it was ‘joyfully written by Andy Hussey’ on the inside front page, as well as being ‘beautifully illustrated by Rosie Venner.

 

This book makes a lovely bedtime story to read to younger children or for those becoming confident with reading to read to themselves. There is also a QR code on the inside front cover which links to an audio reading with sound effects. My 7-year-old was able to read this by herself to her little brother. They both particularly loved Granny’s repeated line. “A deer?! Oh no, dear, there’s no deer around here!”

 

 

At the end of the book there are some suggested activities. These activities aim to encourage children to slow down and take a closer look at the world around them. Many of these are things that we’ve been doing recently during #30DaysWild, such as looking for signs of wildlife.

 

We really enjoyed this book. It’s a great story for helping children to learn more animal signs they might encounter while out and about about and encouraging them to look out for them.

 

 

Muddy Little Boots have offered one of my readers the chance to win a copy of ‘There’s No Deer Around Here’. To be in with a chance to win, please enter through the Gleam form below. The competition is open to entrants from the UK only. The winner will be chosen at random after the competition closes at 23.59pm on 18th July 2018. For full terms and conditions, please click the link on the Gleam widget. Good luck!

 

There’s No Deer Around Here book giveaway