Winnie Under the Sea

Winnie and Wilbur have had many adventures together over the years and this new underwater story is full of their usual humour and discovery. Together Thomas and Paul have created a likeable character and a picture book format that rewards rereading.

Paul’s illustrations are distinctive. Winnie is, as ever, brilliantly drawn. From her straggly hair to her witch style flippers she is full of detailing that makes her a constant point of interest. She is central to every spread and in one particularly amusing page, appears in the style of Boticelli’s The Birth of Venus.

The background is equally detailed and amusing. You will find a witch style ipad, an underwater clothesline and a nine-storey witches house just for starters. Thomas’s text is simple and direct, bringing Winnine and Wilbur through the story with some nice alliterative touches.

The end papers, designed by young Portuguese readers are a fun element to this new addition to the Winnie the Witch series.