A badger, Pete is obsessed with cleanliness and eventually understands the impact of his actions.
Badger wants the forest to be perfect and does everything he can to make this happen, such as tidying, scrubbing, and polishing. However, the forest still looks less than ideal for Pete’s liking. Pete goes to the extreme by digging every tree and covering the ground with concrete. As a result, he loses his home and doesn’t have any food to eat. Admitting his mistake, Pete reconsiders his decision and brings everything back to normal with the help of the tiniest to the strongest animal. Does badger succeed in change? That “is everyone’s guess.” (Don’t forget to look at the last two pages before the back cover).
“Tidy” is another beautifully illustrated book featuring animals by Emily Gravett. In parallel, the book looks into ecological and mental health issues, such as the need to control everything and excessive compulsive disorders like excessive cleanliness. It would be helpful text for practising rhymes in EYFS, looking into the changes of the seasons and discussing environmental issues related to the role of the forest.
Accepting your mistakes and finding love in the way things are than should be are two messages that will benefit young children.
Further Information:
If you loved Tidy, check out more information about its author and illustrator:
The Stats:
- Title: Tidy
- Author and Illustrator: Emily Gravett
- ISBN: 978-1-5098-8012-6
- Publication Date: 2018
- Page Count: 40
- Publisher: Two Hoots
- Recommended age: 4-7
- Categories/Topic: animals, cleanliness, environment
Where to Find it:
