Pamela Allen, Alexander’s Outing, Puffin, June 2025, 30 pp., RRP $14.99 (board book), ISBN 9781761355134
Pamela Allen is a New Zealand children’s author and illustrator who has published more that 50 picture books. Many children and adults alike would be familiar with classic titles including Who Sank the Boat, the Mr McGee books, Mr Archimedes’ Bath and The Potato People to name but a few.
First published 32 years ago, Alexander’s Outing is the story of a duckling who becomes separated from his four siblings and mother when on a city walk through Sydney, and falls into a deep hole (there’s always one child in a family!). Alongside the duck family, a growing crowd of people make various attempts to rescue Alexander, until a young boy employs Archimedes’ Principle and Alexander rises up on the water and pops out like the cork out of a bottle.
Pamela Allen’s illustrative style is instantly recognizable. characterized by animated, playful, and colourful artwork that perfectly matches the text, which is so important for very young readers. The text, whilst not entirely rhyming, has some lovely, repeated phrases describing the ducks in their frantic attempts to rescue Alexander. I can imagine young readers excitedly joining in with all the quacking and flapping.
Given that board books are designed for babies and toddlers due to their robust construction and smaller format, I am surprised that Alexander’s Outing was reprinted in this design as the narrative is quite lengthy for a board book and the very young and they may struggle to maintain engagement. It also seems like an odd pairing, when the book is available in larger paperbacks and hardbacks (though these are harder to find).
Reviewed by Bronwyn Joseph
