Review: Lenny and Wilbur by Ken Wilson-Max

Lenny and his dog Wilbur are inseparable. They play, laugh, eat, and, even, sing together. They are the very best of friends and when it's time for Wilbur's bath — with a little guidance from Mummy — Lenny is in charge.

In this gorgeous inclusive picture book from author-illustrator Ken Wilson-Max, the special bond between a preschooler and his furry friend is brought to life with exquisite care and attention to detail. 

Wilson-Max is highly experienced in creating books for children and it certainly shows in this first title from the much-adored Lenny series, republished in 2020 by Alanna Max.

As a sturdy hardback with thoughtfully rounded corners, the book has been produced entirely with small hands and mouths in mind. Additionally, the strikingly bold artwork, handpainted with thick acrylic brushstrokes, is instantly warm and engaging for preschoolers. Each double-page spread is predominated by a four-colour palette of blues, yellows, reds, and greens to subtly support recognition of colours and their names (CAL, UW).

Gentle repetition and short simple sentences ensure the text is perfect for shared reading with an adult. The home-based setting is also purposefully familiar so young children can instantly connect with Lenny's experiences. They will learn about the importance of listening to and following instructions, taking care of themselves and others, as well as the benefits of special friendships (CAL, PD, PSED, SMM).

Wilson-Max masterfully captures moments of movement in many of the scenes. Water flowing from a jug, cuddly Wilbur's wagging tail, and, best of all, his vigorous shaking dry, causing water droplets to spray all over Lenny in the central-page spread. It's a multisensory experience — we see the glorious water spray but we almost hear it and feel it too!

Wilson-Max skillfully portrays a caring, sharing, fun-loving dual-heritage boy with depth in just a few pages, and, equally, Wilbur is charmingly characterful. And, although we see Lenny's white mother offering a helping hand throughout, there are no grand statements about ethnicity. It's just how all good picture books should be — uncontrived. 

Reading about Lenny's joyful everyday experiences supports brilliantly our youngest readers understanding of their place in the world and how they relate to others within it. It’s a superb quality picture book — an absolute must for all preschool settings. 

Lenny and Wilbur by Ken Wilson-Max is available at Bookshop.

Other books in the series:

Where's Lenny? by Ken Wilson-Max is available at Bookshop.

Lenny, Gran and Granny by Ken Wilson-Max (publishing in 2022)

Lenny Has Lunch by Ken Wilson-Max (publishing in 2022)

Guide for teachers and parents

Genre	Narrative: Simple story with familiar settings/themes
Child-led interests (EYFS)	my family, pets, home corner/role play, water play, ourselves
Age group (EYFS, KS1, KS2)	EY and EYFS (toddler/nursery)
Curriculum links/topics (EYFS/NC)	CAL  Maths PD  PSED UW
Suitability	storytime, class/school library, home library
General features	simple sentences, sequencing (first, then) repetition, supporting illustrations, names, instructions

All the Black children's books that I review are checked against my Jericho Benchmark.