The Teacup

Readers of The Suitcase can reacquaint themselves with the familiar character of  the fox, rabbit and bird alongside their new friend from a far-off land. Once strange to them, their new friend has bonded with the group, and the foursome now share morning cups of tea in patterned teacups at his cabin. After one such blissful morning, the original trio discover a new creature nearby. Mirroring the group of friends, she is making tea and the group are quick to recognise her patterned teacup … she must be a thief! They automatically assume the worst of this stranger only to discover that they are the ones in the wrong. 

The illustrations are minimal with the characters, their actions and their emotions at the forefront. All of the animals are brightly illustrated with their own distinct colours. Combining this with a simple teacup as the central focus of the tale, there is so much space for the reader to bring themselves and their experiences with them into the story. As with The Suitcase, Chris Naylor Ballesteros does a wonderful job of taking a big concept – in this case unconscious bias – and channelling it into a story that is not just accessible but engaging and relevant for young readers.