Petunia by Roger Duvoisin

We have our upstairs bookshelves and our downstairs ones. Bedtime reads are usually taken from the upstairs ones, so every now and again I have to remember to grab something from the sitting room on our way up - just for a change. Last night it was Petunia. Such a lovely, funny, beautiful book.

Petunia is a silly goose. She knows this, but after finding a book whilst out strolling one morning - she believes she has become a wise goose.

After all, she recently overheard Mr Pumpkin telling Bill "He who owns books and loves them is wise." And Petunia was more than happy to own and love this one.

So she takes it upon herself to offer free advice to all the other animals in the farmyard.

Straw is told that he had too many teeth, and they really should all be removed. After all, Petunia has no teeth. And when Ida, the hen is having trouble counting her chicks, she asks for help too. 

"Hm. Let's see. Three chicks at the fountain. Three at the feeder. Three about your legs. Now- three times three? That makes six.."

"Six?" asked Ida. "Six! Is that less than nine?"

"That's more than nine, not less." Said Petunia, "Lots more my dear!"

And so, Petunia spreads worry and upset throughout the farmyard, culminating in the discovery of this box, labelled "Danger. Fireworks"

"Glad to help." said Petunia. "Now, let's see...Why, CANDIES. That's what is says on that box. Yes, candies. You may eat them. Yes, of course."

She is a pain, but there's no denying, you can't help but love Petunia. She does eventually see the error of her ways, and looks again at her book. And realises that learning to read it is the real, next step towards wisdom.

There are a few more Petunia books too - Petunia, Beware!, Veronica on Petunia's Farm and Petunia's Christmas, although Petunia and Petunia, Beware! are the only ones I can find easily new.

Petuna. A brilliant read-over-and-over-again book.