The three older characters being different to the youngest is firstly recognised on the front cover. The three older characters are all very close to each other, touching bodies. Their fingers against their mouth indicating the "shh". All three of them look straight ahead towards the reader. However, the youngest is a little further away and does not use his finger to "shh". This indicates that he is not in on the plan, he does not share the same views or values as the other three. Additionally, he is not looking straight ahead but watching the other three, this gives a feeling of him/her observing the other three. That the youngest is not in on the plan is very obvious throughout the book, as he does not have a catching net like the other three. Furthermore, he never participates in the act of trying to catch the bird but is a silent observer. The end of the picturebook starts out like the beginning, having a plan to catch another animal. This is interesting as it could symbolise the human nature of greed and wanting more, not seeing what destruction they are causing through their actions. Even though they saw the youngest succeed with his simple non-destructive plan they continue to use their plan that failed the first time. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. As a father of 5 and a Creative Director (who has illusions he can illustrate and write), it couldn’t be more inspirational.

Little Owl falls asleep in his (rather precarious) nest, falls onto the ground with a 'bump' and becomes 'a bit lost'. But Squirrel comes to his rescue... Most of the illustrations use different shades of blue. Could you try to create your own pictures using different shades of the same colour? I was listed in Time Magazine's DESIGN 100for the work I've been doing for fair trade company People Tree and co-founded NODEa fair trade social business with Akshay Sthapit in 2012 My nephew quite loved the book and especially the repeating phrase Shh! We've got a plan. This was quite the giggle fest which is lovely to see on him when he is normally hurrying to finish the book so he can get to the drawing! He could still discern that it was the boy that got the bird! He loved the end where they switch from birds to squirrels and the littler guy seems resigned that they will repeat their same mistakes! We're delighted to announce that Shh! We Have a Plan, our hugely successful adaptation of Chris Haughton’s much-loved modern classic, is available to watch for free on YouTube!Wow. It’s very refreshing and enlightening to be able to see through a window onto your creative process. This book looks at least as amazing as the other two, which are the best modern storybooks we’ve found. You seem to have taken a leap forward even! Make some puppets to represent the characters in the story. Could you use them to perform it to an audience?

Shh! We Have a Plan is a book to fall in love with . . . The characters are so warm and endearing, their antics so gentle and funny that children will take them to their hearts. . . a lovely, lovely book' Armadillo

Kids getting a notion in their head and proceeding with what they believe is a well-considered plan only to have it fail due, in part, to their own limited understanding of the real world. The illustrations. My gosh, the illustrations. You know, illustrators don't get enough credit. How many of us have pictures in our heads that have traveled along with us throughout our lives, and then one day, purely by accident, we open a book, and there it is - it hits like a wall of memory - that picture. So familiar. All the colours leap to life, something that was beautiful and new and full of wonder - or frightening, or disturbing - it's all there. Can you tell me Michelangelo wanted anything more from his fans? This is a beautifully produced book which will take pride of place on my bookshelf alongside Chris Haughton's other books.' In fact, I had been dozing off the food and activities of our Thanksgiving day, when the girls woke me with numerous whispers of "Shh! We have a plan." We laughed over the silliness of the characters and marveled at the success of the little one. Re-read the story, encouraging children to join in with the repetition and fun: ‘ready one, ready two, ready three… GO!’ Tell the story

The truth of one of Bornholdt’s observations – “Reading a book of pictures is still reading” – will become immediately obvious to the “reader” of Chris Haughton’s picture book The humor comes from the futility of the group's plan and the silly results combined with the juxtaposition of the youngest's successful methods. Play ‘What’s the Time Mr Wolf’ to experience, first-hand, suspense, chasing and being chased. Draw and write the next story One of the most exciting new voices in children’s literature, comes a new picture book about a beautiful bird, an unquenchable desire and plans gone awry'

Children can re-enact and retell the tale of the hilarious villains. Using movement and the repetition to build the suspense, swiftly followed by disappointment, will make it exciting and amusing for their audience. Play a game Chris Haughton is an Irish illustrator and author living in London. He was listed in Time magazine's 'DESIGN 100' for the work he has been doing for fair trade clothing company People Tree. His debut book 'A Bit Lost' was first published in English in September 2010. It has been translated into 15 languages and won 9 awards in 7 countries including the Dutch Picturebook of the Year. The first thing I loved was the contrast of the dark blue figures in the dim blue world to the bright and vibrant birds! I think there is a hint here about nature and wildlife compared to the human world. I love that subtle environmental message... first three books, Oh No, George!, A Bit Lost and the award-winning Shh! We Have a Plan. He explains in this blog how, with the latter title, it took him two years to write a book with just 103 words and part of […]

What happens next? Children can draw and write what they imagine happens next in the story of the hunters and the squirrel. A very funny picture book . . . most of the story is revealed in the simple, expressive pictures, making it perfect for new readers' Following the Rule of Threes the older trio creep stealthily upon the bird on the ground, in a tree, and out on a frozen pond, always failing to catch their prey. At last the Little One offers up some bread crumbs and they stalkers are suddenly surrounded by many birds. With the birds so close it seems as if catching them will easy until they realize they are outnumbers and outsized and off the run. Look at the expressions of the characters in the illustrations. How are they feeling? What are they thinking at different points? Is it a lesson in respecting and protecting small creatures? The triumph of innocence over mischievous adventures? A subtle anti-hunting tract?

Pleasingly spare and simple in design and storyline, and ending with a good joke, this is a perfectly executed picture book. ... Chris Haughton plays tribute to Tomi Ungerer’s classic When children hear the story several times they’ll get to know it really well. This helps them to tell it in their own words, using the pictures as prompts. Listen for the ways they use words and phrases from the story. This familiarity will help them to read the story independently and with increasing accuracy. Watch a Trailer What really makes this book shine are Chris Haughton’s superb illustrations: the gloom of the woods at night is captured perfectly by his sombre blue palette, and his expressive depiction of the hunters makes their fear of the dark palpable. A simple, funny and atmospheric story that will delight younger children, and probably their parents as well. Chris Haughton tells a big story in stunning illustrations in his near-wordless picture book… a wittily told story with a strong message about communication' Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton is a children's picturebook about a group of four individuals who have a plan that goes wrong, which involves searching and catching a bird during the night. Haughton uses the juxtaposition of the three older characters against the youngest character. In my understanding the three older characters embody the greed and the destructive nature of human beings, however, in contrast, the youngest embodies being generous, patient and loving towards the environment and everyone who resides there.