The Frumpling
Age 4+
Picture Storybooks
A fresh and irresistible read-aloud tale of friendship from the creators of The Terrakeet
The Frumpling lived a lonely life, this book will tell you why.
He smelled and looked so squaffy, every beast just walked on by.
Except for one . . .
When the bossy Poppletort instructs the Frumpling to clean himself up, it takes a whole day. But then all he'll have to wear again are his old smelly clothes. The beasts of Pontin Poole feel terrible for turning their noses up at him for so long and come together to donate bright clothes, scarves and bangles, even shiny rings. When the Frumpling emerges from his bath, everyone is mesmerised by his new look!
An endearing tale of help from unlikely friends . . . and the transformative power of a good wash!
Creators
Jo van der Borgh grew up in South East London and spent most of her holidays on the coast of South West Ireland in walking boots and boats. She has always had a passion for nonsense poetry and moral tales, so when her job in the commercial world of property lost its appeal she packed it in to pursue a Masters in Creative Writing and Children’s Literature at Kingston University. She says this was the most indulgent and enjoyable year of her life. Jo still lives in Greater London with her husband and two teenagers, and teaches young adults, which she finds hugely rewarding. She can be found on Instagram at jo_vanderborgh.
Jo Beasley grew up in England and worked as a graphic designer before going backpacking around Australia in the nineties and ending up in New Zealand. She now lives in Auckland where she works as a freelance illustrator. Jo has two grown-up children and an utterly spoilt dog and cat. She is mad about animals and animal welfare and loves long walks through the bush with her dog Winnie. She keeps a watercolour sketchbook on the go for capturing the simple beauty in her everyday life. Jo can be found on instagram @jobeasleyillustration
Reviews
The Frumpling is a playful rhyming picture book about a lonely creature whose life begins to change after an honest conversation and a very long bath. The story unfolds in a lively verse, filled with invented creature names and absurd humour. Young listeners will likely enjoy the sillier moments, particularly the bath sequence and the cheeky ending, involving an embarrassing smell at the celebratory feast. Beasley’s illustrations add warmth and personality throughout. The images carry much of the humour and emotion, especially as the townsfolk reconsider how they have treated the Frumpling. The Frumpling will particularly appeal to children aged 4 to 7 in storytime settings or to readers who enjoy traditional animal fables or singsong verse.
Books + Publishing
