Most enlightened people have become that way only after working hard to un-learn “facts” that they were taught as children, such as ‘humans are omnivores’.  That’s why it is so wonderful to find an early learning book which tells the truth.

How many friends could a Bibbolybob make if a Bibbolybob came to Earth? (aka Wibbolywub and the Earthlings ) is one such book by Edward Benn, illustrated by Juliet Mahoney.

This book is first and foremost an engaging story, full of bright, colourful illustrations, about an alien visitor to Earth who is eager to make friends.  It is secondly a lovely, friendly way to introduce the numbers 1 to 10 to young children.  Numbers (digits) appear throughout the illustrations as Wibbolywub counts his friends and the readers can count with him.  Once he has made ten friends, they play a few counting and measuring games which show how much fun numbers can be.

And thirdly it is an honest and straight-forward illustration of the simple truth that omnivores, carnivores and herbivores have recognisable anatomical attributes appropriate for their particular diet and, as an alien with no previous knowledge of Earthlings would clearly deduce, humans are herbivores.

There is even a fun post script at the end, in the form of a peak inside Wibbolywub’s notebook, which contains three of the charts (those with numbers in) from Dr Milton Mills’ The Comparative Anatomy of Eating – the work which inspired the story.

A lovely big book with a lovely big story that would delight any child and sit proudly on any bookshelf.

Published by Honestly Books

Available from Amazon