Harris Aristotle is a much-loved axolotl. Axel attends to his every wish and want and need and feeds him with the finest cheese and warms him with the warmest of hats.
Harris' fishy feet never touch the ground. But despite his life of ease, Harris has a secret dream and so he hatches a secret and daring scheme. Harris is about to surprise everyone.
Juliette MacIver is the queen of rhyme and she, once again, nails it. It's a magnificent book to read aloud. Couple that with the quirk of an axolotl and you've got a sure-fire winner of a book.
But that's not all. Illustrator Christopher Neilsen brings the endearing protagonist to life with his vintage illustrations. Each character is full of personality and energy, and the love between Axel and Harris is clear to see. The colour palette of Neilsen's artwork is wonderful and he includes lots of little detail to add to the story.
If you've got a younger reader who is turning away from books and reading, this is the book you want to add to your collection. MacIver knows that reading is not meant to be a chore.
This book is the epitome of what every child's book should be - fun. Full of wonderful words, a brilliant rhythm, perfect pitch, endearing characters, adventure, twists and turns, and stunning artwork, Little Axel's Axolotl is a pure delight.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Walker Books