The Spectacular City

Review

This beautifully illustrated picture book is a tale of an unlikely friendship between a mouse and a bear, and feline villain waiting to snatch the beguiled and unwary…

His head turned by the sights of the titular city, Mouse persuades his ursine companion to leave their home in the wood for the bright, neon lights and towering skyscrapers.

When the glamorous Cat offers to show the pair around, all seems well – until, that is, she proposes dining at the Glitz, a restaurant with a ‘strictly no bears’ policy.

No prizes for guessing what happens next, but the ever-loyal Bear is on hand to literally swoop in and save the day, thanks to his paper-folding skills (and you’ll find instructions on making your own paper aeroplanes at the back of the book!).

While the story won’t alarm young children, there’s plenty of potential here for sensitively exploring what real friendship looks like, and why caution is required when faced with strangers bearing gifts.