Toby The Taxi: Toby Meets the Queen by Edwin Vaux (Matador, £5.50) (From Gazette & Herald)

Toby The Taxi: Toby Meets the Queen by Edwin Vaux (Matador, £5.50)

9:50am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Books By Bill Spence

WHILE not usually reviewing children’s books in my column, this charming book was brought to my attention.

Aimed at children aged four and over, it is the first in a series of books that tells the adventures of a London taxi called Toby.

In these pages he starts the hot summer’s day in the normal manner, travelling from one place to another, but when he picks up some visitors going to a garden party at Buckingham Palace, Toby’s day turns into something quite exciting.

He is allowed into the palace grounds and he feels sure he will see the queen. However, not being able to stay, he disappointingly has to turn back into the high street. Then an unusual encounter makes Toby’s day very special, indeed.

This book enables children to see the sights of London through wonderful watercolour illustrations by Paul Dilworth that bring the scenes of a hot day in the capital vividly to life. Short sentences enable parents to read aloud, then pause, ask questions and, along with the child, bring fun into the first stages of reading.