Picture Book, Andre The Artistic Apron

This picture book is all about Andre and yes, he’s an apron.

Andre’s favourite colour was BRIGHT! – Bright blue, bright pink, bright anything – just so long as it was BRIGHT!

But Andre wasn’t very bright.

“Why can’t I be like you?” he asked his colourful friend Timmy the tea-towel, “Then I’d get invited to parties like you do!”

“But I’m always in the kitchen at parties,” replied Timmy glumly.

“Drying out.”

But looking on the bright side – at least Andre had a pocket.

A great big pocket that held absolutely everything.

“Got any toffees?” asked Dorothy and Andre pulled out a bag-full.

“Are my socks in there?” asked Wally and yes, there they were…

…well, one of them.

While he was rummaging, Andre found a big box of paints.

“Hey! I could paint myself with these lovely bright colours THEN I’d get invited to lots of parties!” he exclaimed.

He’d feel very at home in anyone’s kitchen.

Fedora, the pretty pink flamingo, wasn’t sure. “Try out a few ideas first,” she advised and found some clean sheets of paper.

“Now what should I paint first?” said Andre clasping his hands gaily.

“I’ll paint the town,” he decided. “And I’m going to paint it red.”

Andre was busy creating his masterpieces when Morris the mop arrived.

“Let ME paint YOU,” he volunteered, but Andre wasn’t too sure because he knew Morris was terribly messy.

But Morris took no notice and as a result, Andre was soon splattered in paint…

…along with everything else.

“No worries!” said Morris brightly, “Harry the hose pipe will soon clear all this up!”

But despite Harry’s best efforts, no water came out?

So Andre did….

“WHOOOOSHHH!!!” laughed Harry as out gushed a torrent of water.

It went into Andre’s eyes and into his ears and poor Andre was soaked, wet through and dripping as all the bright colours drained from his face, “I’ll go and hang out on the line,” he said dolefully.

“I’ll come too,” said Timothy, “I’m always up for a blow.”

So, they both hung out – dripping – until a big gust of wind snatched poor Andre clean off the line….

…and dropped him right next to Mole.

“What are you doing here?” asked Mole.

“I got blown away,” explained Andre and explained too about being dull, about the painting and about the soaking.

“Oh dear,” said Mole.

“But why want to be something you’re not when it’s far better to just be yourself?”

“Because I look boring,” answered Andre, “And I don’t want to be boring.”

“I see…” replied Mole thoughtfully, “Or rather I don’t see. You see I can’t see, you see… if you see what I mean. I live in a tunnel deep underground where everything is black, more black, and black…

It’s what’s on the inside that matters and clearly, you’re a most bright and colourful chap.”

Feeling much brighter by Mole’s kind words of wisdom, Andre returned to find everyone admiring his pictures.

“Zey are fantastique!” said Ernie the easel trying his best to sound French.

“It is an ‘honneur’ to meet such a great ‘artiste’!”

“I’m not sure about being pink,” he worried then realised, he didn’t want to be pink or blue or yellow or orange or green or purple or even a mixture of any of them.

He just liked to be himself – plain old Andre with all his colours on the inside.

And with that, he pulled a huge rainbow from out of his pocket and threw it up into the sky where it stayed and brought joy to all those who touched it.

The end

BoodleBobs, picture book, Andre the apron written & narrated by Jo Kemp

A is for Andre: Andre the Artistic Apron
The whole point of this ANDRE story is that it doesn’t matter how you appear on the outside, it’s what’s on the INSIDE that matters. Andre sees himself as being nothing more than a plain and ordinary apron when in truth, he’s a very colourful character who also proves to
be extremely artistic.

It takes a visit from Mole “…I live in a tunnel deep underground when everything is black, more black and black.” to explain there is more to life than appearances.

Too often we’re swayed by the bright and shiny – the pretty things – when the real gems are those who perhaps make a little less noise about it.

Andre’s name meaning: Andre is the French form of the name Andrew and is now also used in the English-speaking world. It’s a variation of the Greek-derived name Andr meaning ‘man or warrior’ Andre on Wikipedia

Can you tell which news show was used as a reference before the final clue at the end?

Granny Annie’s ‘Ultimate Alphabet Book’ is a different approach to alphabet books insofar as it’s written to expand children’s vocabulary and their imagination. Every letter of the alphabet is catered for with characters that are engaging and lasting; in situations that young people can relate to in their everyday lives.

B to G picture book collection from Granny Annie’s Ultimate Alphabet Book

This is a story all about Boris and yes he’s a book.

This is a storybook all about Cameron and yes he’s a cabinet.

This is a story all about Dorothy and yes she’s a doughnut.

This is a story all about Eva and yes she’s an egg timer.

This is a story all about Frank and yes, he’s a frisbee.

This is a story all about Glenda and yes she’s a gherkin.

Hourglass Book Series

Jo Kemp (Granny Annie writer & voice) new sci-fi book.