Last week I bought ‘Johnny Crow’s Garden’ for my little cousin, who shows all the signs of being as literary as the best in our family. Despite it being a black and white reprint, I read it again with delight, the language and rhymes soaring off the page, and the exquisite illustrations creating a world of eccentricity, beauty, and disorder, presided over by the kindly and organised crow, who finally sits them all down for dinner in a row.
Most underrated of birds – the crow – if not the most handsome, certainly the most intelligent, creative and resourceful. It’s great to find him the hero of this wonderful children’s book, as well as further stories – ‘Johnny Crow’s Party’ and ‘Johnny Crow’s New Garden’ – books I’ve yet to discover. I hope my cousin enjoys him as much as I did. Long live Johnny Crow!