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October picture book of the month: Herman's Letter by Tom Percival - Apply for free copy (CLOSED)

44 replies

RachelMumsnet · 02/10/2013 13:27

Join Herman the bear as he embarks upon one epic journey to deliver a very special letter his great friend Henry the raccoon who has moved a long way away.

Herman's Letter is Tom Percival's first picture book his wonderful story, beautiful illustrations and lift-the-flap letters will captivate children of all ages. Download free activity sheets, watch a video of Tom as he illustrates Herman and Henry and learn how to draw them and then apply for one of fifty free copies of Herman's Letter on the book giveaway page. We'll notify everyone whose names are selected on Wednesday 8 October. Don't forget to post your feedback on this thread.

OP posts:
boatclub · 02/10/2013 16:53

I hope we win this one it looks fab

femjh · 03/10/2013 08:11

This looks really exciting.

Georgethesmartestgiant · 04/10/2013 17:22

Done - it looks like a lovely book

mummyto2boys01 · 08/10/2013 23:38

Sounds like a lovely story and one my little boy will love too. The illustrations look fantastic. Have applied for a copy, thank you.

PrincessRomy · 08/10/2013 23:53

Book looks really good, I think my dd would absolutely love it. Please pick me!

happystory · 09/10/2013 08:33

This looks lovely, and I adore the illustrations, just right for my preschool class...

sweetiepie1979 · 09/10/2013 08:56

Looks great

MNHQ
RebeccaSMumsnet · 09/10/2013 10:38

The book giveaway is now closed. We'll email the 50 people who have been selected to receive books as soon as we hear from the publishers that they have been sent out.

MummyBtothree · 14/10/2013 14:04

Received our copy this morning...thank you!!!. What a lovely book, I read it to my little boy straight away and we both loved it. He especially loved lifting the little flaps up on the pages. A lovely story will beautiful pictures. This book will definitely get a lot of use in our home and will be treasured, thank you again.

countingdown · 15/10/2013 09:51

My boys (aged 4 and 3) loved this book. Beautiful pictures and a really lovely story. They enjoyed lifting the flaps. Lots to talk about, especially since we have recently moved to a new house, far from their friends. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is going to be moving home.

PeterParkerSays · 15/10/2013 09:56

Our copy arrived last night. Being a bit "miserable mum", I'm not sure why you'd keep writing letters to a miserable bear who never replied to you, but DS loved it, particularly the flip-up letters, and read it both last night and again this morning so it's a hit with him.

cornflakegirl · 15/10/2013 10:34

We got our copy yesterday, thank you. I'm afraid to say that we didn't think it was especially good. I think that the story was maybe trying to do too much. The idea of a friend moving away, and the sadness and jealousy and loneliness would have been a good story. The idea of a friend delivering a letter by hand would have been a good story. The idea of a friend arriving but accidentally being in hibernation and being really annoying, but worth it in the end, would have been a good story. But all three in one meant that, for me, none of them really got the attention they deserved. It also meant that the characters were quite one-dimensional and not particularly engaging.

Having said that, DS (4) likes it, the flip-up letters are a winner and the illustrations are lovely.

AugustRose · 15/10/2013 10:35

Our copiy arrived this morning thank you - I'm just annoyed at the postman who didn't knock and bent it to get in the letterbox and has broken the spine and creased it up.

I think this is a lovely story, a little over the head of my 2 year old at the minute but DD will love it as she is 6 and her best friend is very important to her. The pictures are lovely with lots to look at and talk about and the flaps for the letters are a good idea. This will become a very well read book in our house, thank you again!

telsa · 15/10/2013 13:03

My 5 year old was thrilled with this book. He loved the little flip up letters and was captivated by the story. It led to discussion about his friend who has recently left the school and moved away and how we could write to him and keep in touch. It was great as a book for launching a discussion about friendship. It was also a good occasion to talk about hibernation and animals in winter. My DS was very glad that it had a happy ending as it was quite an emotional story.

My 8 year old read it afterwards and loved it too. She liked the old stamps on the envelopes, as she is a stamp collector. She liked the portrayal of friendship and how it can endure over time and across distance. She thought the raccoon was really cute.

Both wondered if they stayed living together after this and DS wondered where the bear's family were.

I enjoyed reading it and looking at the details in the pictures. It was engaging and having the little letters was a great idea, even if the old stamps made them seem like they come from a different age - because we all email now. It was a rather timeless quaint story and there could have been a little more detail. For youngsters - under 4 years old - this was probably enough.

MissBartlett · 15/10/2013 13:15

My 5 year old loved it - a v sweet story and as they're not too old to enjoy a lift the flap book, really liked opening the letters.

I loved the illustrations and the whole book is v appealing. My only comment would be that it, like many many other books, perpetuates the idea that you need to have a best friend above all others - and as we are negotiating more complex friendships in the playground, I'm trying to help my DC understand that it's great to have several good friends. But I suspect I'm reading too much into it - it's still a lovely story! Thank you:)

babamummy · 15/10/2013 19:26

Thanks so much for the book- lovely illustrations & story. DS hasn't listened to the whole story but it often takes him a while to warm to a new story. I think at 2.5 it's a bit too long for him- he liked to open the letters but didn't want to listen to them. DS loved Henry the raccoon though.

dinkystinky · 16/10/2013 09:05

Thanks so much for the book - my 7 year old read it as soon as it arrived and said it was good and he liked the lift the flap letters. It resonated with him as he has recently changed schools and is missing his old friends too so it was a good way to introduce the themes of separation and friendships changing and people moving away. My 4 year old enjoyed the story too - especially the flaps and liked the bear being posted to his friend. I thought it was a sweet story.

Georgethesmartestgiant · 16/10/2013 15:46

Our copy arrived this morning. I've read it with DD 2.7 but she found it a bit too long and lost interest part way. I think this is down purely to her age though and once a little older I think she will enjoy it more. She liked opening up the flaps of the letters. Personally, I thought the illustrations were lovely and I like the fact the paper inside the book was matt rather than shiny as it reminded me of an old fashioned story book. I would recommend this book for a child older than 3. Thanks for choosing me to review this book.

Yasmin1 · 16/10/2013 17:24

My 4 year old loved the book. Our postman bent the book too as it was posted thru the letter box! She enjoyed the story line and had questions to ask as to why Henry had to go. She was excited about opening the letters. She loved the story that she took it in to school so her teacher could read it to her class.

Thanks

glenka · 16/10/2013 22:20

I gave this to my nephew to read but he did not really like it very much. Having looked at the book I have to say it was a little bit disappointing, the pictures were a bit dark, to much went on in the story and it also seemed a bit of a quick end to the story as well.

OanaChi · 17/10/2013 09:34

My four year old loved the book! She waited very late for daddy last night to tell him the postman brought a book for her and "read" it to him. She is fascinated with the letters in the book, we have had a long chat about why and when people send letters(in this day and age, she doesn't see many personal letters, unfortunately). She was a bit sad the two friends had to part ways and thrilled when they met again. I think her favourite part was the last page when she discovered all the things they did together once Herman woke up from her winter sleep. Brilliant gift, thank you so much, Mumsnet and Bloomsbury.

petitefemme · 17/10/2013 14:28

Thanks so much for the book! The pictures where lovely and it is a great story. I do agree with other reviews however that the end seems too quick. I would have preferred it to have less postcards sent and an end that was more in tune with the story.
As my little boy is just over 1 he gave very little attention to the story but he loved the bear and the postcard flaps very much! I am sure when he is older he will read it over and over.

lisaneedsarest · 18/10/2013 07:01

Thanks for this book, it's a lovely book that my 6,4 and 2 year old enjoyed, the illustrations were lovely and the kids loved the flaps. I agree with some of the other posts though in that the story ended too quickly and was a bit odd, it did feel like it was doing too much and not getting any bit perfect. We enjoyed but I doubt it will become a favourite.

amapola · 18/10/2013 10:15

Hi, thanks for my copy. DS, age 4, loves it, the adventure, the pictures and now he wants a tree house to play with his friend (sadly we havent got trees in our garden).
Even better, only last week my eldest son's best friend moved away. He hasnt been willing to talk about it. He is 6 and I thought he might find the book little childish but on the contrary he loved it too and helped him to open up and talk about how he feels about his friend leaving.
Personally I loved the illustrations and I think the wording is very appropriate for 4+. I would very happily recommend this book, specially for boys

boatclub · 18/10/2013 21:24

Thanks for our copy which I read with my boys aged 4 and 6. They enjoyed the story and loved the letters, stamps and general look of the book. I have to say I wasn't totally convinced by the story and felt it was slightly a case of style over substance.