Monty goes Skiing – written and illustrated by Richard Liddle

A funny children’s book about a skiing, talking marmot that lives in the mountains and enjoys going out skiing at every chance he can get. This wonderful story is perfect for young children as it has eye-catching images and characters that are fun and out-going. All in one, it is entertaining, educational and informative.
                                                                      
The book combines reality with fiction, mostly by the use of the pictures.  The pictures that you will see inside the book are unique. It actually merges the photos with the illustration, for example a cartoon skier could be skiing on a photograph of actual snow. The book is full of these pictures from start to finish.

Made-up words within the book makes the characters seem as if they’re having fun, and that always makes a good read for kids. The whole of this book is filled with what kids love to hear when their parents are reading them story at night and will get them excited ahead of the family skiing holiday.

The author is planning on writing a second story about Monty and his friends for children to enjoy after reading this one. The ‘see you next time’ by Monty and Mortimer at the end of the book shows that their story is not yet over.

The ‘Marmot Ski Awards’ at the end of the book will help your Little Skiers with their first time skiing and subsequent holidays after seeing how they have improved.  It will make your children want to interact more within the book making it more fun and enjoyable after the story – so make sure you take it with you on holiday!
                                                                                                                                                  
Richard is a BASI ski instructor himself, which he tells us at the very beginning of the book. It proves that skiing doesn’t just have to be a hobby; it can also be made into a career. He finds it necessary for children to learn about the perks of skiing and also to follow the simple instructions that make skiing easier when having a go and also more fun. It sparks an interest in skiing to those who may not have considered it before. After a first read, it makes skiing look tough but fun, making the story more realistic.

 May Johnson, September 2013