I found today’s Perfect Picture Book in London, but I’ve been holding on to it to gift to a lucky grandchild later this month.
Title: Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
Written By: Michael Rosen
Illustrated By: Helen Oxenbury
Publisher/Date: Walker Books/2025
Suitable for Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: rhyming, animals, cumulative, shopping, humor
Opening:
I went to the shop to get me a carrot.
Oh dear, they gave me…
a parrot!
Oh dear, look what I got!
Do I want that?
No I do NOT!
Brief Synopsis: When a young child receives the wrong item at each store, havoc reigns, until things are set right.
Links to Resources:
· Make a list of words that rhyme with common animals and try to follow the pattern Rosen uses in this picture book;
· Check out this fabulous Activity Kit.
Why I Like this Book:
From the talented duo who wrote and illustrated the classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt over 35 years ago, this new picture book is sure to be read, reread, and loved by kids and their grown-ups.
From the cover and the initial spread, it’s clear that an animal that rhymes with carrot will appear on the following spread. What’s less clear is the unnamed main character’s reaction until in the second spread, they ask, “Do I want that? No I do NOT!” A humorous series of unwanted animals follows until the pattern changes, and chaos reigns. Until…
I won’t spoil the ending, but suffice it to say, you won’t be disappointed when your favorite child asks you to “read it again”!
A Note about Craft:
This UK import is, not surprisingly, a master class in picture book writing and illustration. From perfectly placed page turns, to the clever use of ellipses and rhyming words, to a cumulative dive into chaos and an I-didn’t-see-it-coming ending, Oh Dear, Look What I Got! is a picture book for creatives to study and study. Hmmm…I may need to hang onto this one a bit longer!
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 
This sounds like a terrific read aloud. Adding to my TBR list. Thanks for the rec, Patricia!
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This is such a fun read-aloud, especially for younger kids. Hope you can find a copy!
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I heard about this book recently (maybe on Betsy Bird’s blog) and can’t believe they are still around! I think of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt as being a book that’s ALWAYS been there and just figured the duo that created it would be older than me and maybe long gone. I need to pick this one up!
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They have been around forever. From what I saw, they have done other books on their own, but this seems to be their first book together since Bear Hunt. It was recommended by the children’s bookseller at a small London bookstore – always a good sign that it’s something special.
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Anticipating what animal will rhyme has to make this book a great page turner! I can already hear kids giggling with each page. Thanks for sharing this book.
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They ARE awesome page turns. I can’t wait to see whether my grandkids (my oldest is 3) guess the animals once they figure out the pattern.
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