"Must Read!"  

"Jumbo Giant Sausages is a children's picture book which immediately strikes the reader for its gorgeous illustrations and the crackling, funny language narrating the story of six naughty sausages looking for adventures. 

The main characters are not fairies, queens, kings or mighty knights: rather, simple, plain sausages, the kind that can be found in any kitchen and a type of food that is certainly appreciated by many children, now coming to life in this book.

As one flips through the pages, the reader can only remain enthralled by the stunning drawings which visually represent, with clean lines and bright colours, this tale of mischief: the images not only enrich the reading experience (as it should always be the case when it comes to children's books) but also present a stimulating opportunity for the child reader to witness the sausages' crazy actions for themselves as all the trouble they create is portrayed on the page. 

The rhymes are very much on the nursery rhyme side and, stylistically speaking, present themselves to the ear as harmonious and tender, pleasant to read aloud, spot on even if at times a bit banal, but never cacophonous in any regard. 

Other than lovely rhymes, there are references to numbers and counting as well, and it is easy to guess how useful this is in a book aimed particularly at younger children.

As far as the content is concerned, the plot is unconventional and very original, as it recounts the wrongdoing of the adventurous sausages and the ultimate, inevitable end they encounter: the moral of the story can eventually be found hidden precisely there, in the finale, humorously concealed and a bit shocking and unexpected at first, adding a surprise effect.

I really loved reading this little treasure for its cuteness and the sweetness of the language, and I can only assume a child would love it even more and be amazed at it for the same reasons I enjoyed it thoroughly! 

I also really appreciated how the owner of the book can write their name on the first page in the box 'this book belongs to...', because it contributes to making the book more special and unique, and it is the kind of thing I really loved finding in a children's book when I was a child myself."

"Everyone loves sausages and in Jumbo Giant Sausages by Julian Hilton, the author introduces children to counting using verses and colorful illustrations. The book begins with six giant sausages crackling in a pan. One sausage had enough being in the pan and he climbed out and ran off. The other two also decided to join the first sausage and they jumped down to the floor. Three took Four and went, and Five lost his way and landed in the fire. Six got out with the help of tongs. The Jumbo Sausages were free and they decided to have fun. They made a greasy mess everywhere and did a lot of mischief. What happened when Doggo came in from the garden? We have to read the story to find out.

Jumbo Giant Sausages by Julian Hilton is adorable and what I enjoyed most is seeing the sausages having their own individuality and personalities that make them distinct from each other. The illustrations are as delightful as the story and will bring a smile to the faces of young readers. Children will have a whale of a time learning to count with all six of the sausages, and the pranks and mischievous behavior are real and tangible. What makes the story unique and fresh is the new approach to counting and it couldn't have been better than this; learning with the sausage characters in the story. Books like this make learning enjoyable for children. The illustrations, verses, and imaginary characters are the best way to teach them new things and get them interested in reading from an early age."

Awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2020 Royal Dragonfly Awards for Picture Books 5 years and younger