Dream BIG, Little Mole; Tom Percival, illustrated by Christine Pym

Little Mole wishes she had a special talent like all of the other animals that can fly and swim and hop and climb. Taking heart from the wise words of Owl, “Just be who you are. Dream BIG, Little Mole, Be brilliant, Be YOU!” Little Mole has a think and realises that she does have a special talent…DIGGING! So she sets about digging the biggest hole ever. But digging is not straight forward and the animals that Little Mole meets on her digging journey are not best pleased to see her. All the animals seem to have special skills that are useful and helpful but digging is just getting Little Mole into spots of bother. Can Little Mole dig her way out of trouble and prove to herself that she does have a special talent…

Tom Percival writes the most wonderful of books for children and this is another one that will become a firm favourite with both young readers and parents. Told in the most enjoyable rhyming prose, readers join Little Mole on a journey of self-discovery as she finds her own special talent. On the verge of tears, Little Mole teaches readers the importance of persistence and not giving up on your dreams. Despite a few hiccups along the way, a delightful resolution sees Little Mole successfully dig the most wonderful of holes that sparks a chain of events that brings all of the animals together. Wise Old Owl happily identifying that Little Mole’s special talent is, “Helping your friends.”

Unusually for a Tom Percival book he has not done his own illustrations. However, Christine Pym’s artwork is absolutely lovely and every page is filled with warmth and charm. The animals are cute, sweet and their facial expressions are adorable. I must also mention the underground burrows with their distinctive animal shapes that I absolutely adored.

Makes for a wonderful bedtime read with its playful characters and gentle rhymes and will lull children to sleep in which their dreams will be filled of an inspirational mole and trying to work out what their own special talent is.

Recommended for 3+.