Titch, by Pat Hutchins

Although this book was first published nearly forty years ago, I only discovered it recently. Pat Hutchins, the author, has written many excellent books, and won the Kate Greenaway Medal for her book The Wind Blew.

Titch is a classic sample of her style. She has said that she likes to write very simple stories that even the youngest child can enjoy, and Titch is a fantastic example of how you can tell a meaningful story without a lot of padding around the story.

Titch is the youngest child of three. Through the book, we are shown through many examples how his older siblings get big, fun toys while Titch is limited to the littlest things. The simple pictures are easy to comprehend: Titch's sadness and longing come through clearly. But in the end, Titch's small item is a seed, and it turns out bigger than anything else.

My kids love this story for its simple language and easy-to-follow story. The pictures are spare but well-done, keeping the characters central in every image. It's easy to see why the story has survived so long.

If you like Titch, check out these other books by Pat Hutchins: