Once you start it, you won't be able to switch it off!
Advantages:
Exactly what our little mosters are looking for
Disadvantages:
Not great to read on a ful stomach
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Author/Illustrator: M P Robertson Date of Publish: August 2005 Genre: Children’s Picture Book Age Suitability: 4 to 8 (I suspect children over the age of about 6 might find this book a bit dull) Number of Pages: 32 pages RRP: £5.99 (Softback) £14.99 (Hardback) Amazon Price: from £9.52 (hardback only)
What is it about ****************** Hieronymus Betts has the most unusual, gruesome, collection of pets ever seen. With a Sabre-toothed Rhino Toad, a slimy Slugapotamus, a Bog Hog named Stinker and even the rarely seen whatchamacallit amongst the collection, it will take some doing to find anything horrific enough to top them. But Hieronymous thinks he may just have found a beast even more fierce, even more, stinky, even more noisy and even more disgusting than all of his pets put together.
What did we think of the story ********************************** Hidden underneath the disgustingness a child loves is a sweet, tender book about siblings. Hieronymous, appears as an affectionate if not somewhat annoyed older brother who deep down wouldn’t change his little pesky brother despite his many, many faults for anything in the world.
. t is sometimes easy to get lost in the name calling, mud slinging, pushing and shoving between siblings. It is nice to have a book that reminds us how to see through all that and recognize the genuine love and companionship which allows brothers and sisters to treat each other so abysmally.
As a parent, particularly with boys about the same age as these two, I appreciated the sentiment of their relationship perhaps more than my own monstrous little one did.
Kyle instead, was overcome with glee at his ridiculous mum trying to pronounce the wonderfully absurd names of each of the pets. He seemed to delight in the weirdness. He also appreciated the repetitiveness of the text – the pet names are repeated three times and each time I struggled to read through them smoothly (I managed it eventually!) I like a repeated theme in a kids book as it gives them an opportunity to join in and participate. Kyle was able to associate names with the pictures when they came around a second or third time and like a trooper, he did his best to name them all out loud. If asked, I would say he did a better job then I did!.
What did we think of the illustrations ***************************************** Please parents, don’t jump up in arms ranting about stereotypes when I say this, but this is a typical boy’s book, specifically thanks to the illustrations.
Although the slightly retro-style artwork is very detailed and the people are drawn with a delicate sketch and paint style that softens their features and makes them into the adorable and lovable being that all kids are (no snickering!), the creatures are far less delicate.
The hideous beasts are exactly that and I must confess to overting my eyes on a couple of occasions. Slime oozes from the awful giant slug and the smell from the bog hog seeps from the pages he is so revolting. This is page after page of stomach-turning, oddball creatures with all the grossness that little boys love!
Although parents may not enjoy them my son assures me these fungus-infested creatures are the best bit of the book.
Who is M P Robertson ************************** Mark Robertson, born in London during the 60’s studied graphic design at Hounslow Borough College and after a taking a year off, earned a degree in illustration through Kingston Polytechnic in 1988.
His first Children’s picture book, Seven ways to Catch the Moon was published in 1999. Since then he has gone on to write and illustrate a number of successful children’s books, mostly with a “mystical creature” theme with a real focus being on Dragons.
Other books by M P Robertson ************************************ The Egg Sandcastle Big Brave Brian Dragon Snatcher The Great Dragon Rescue
Would I recommend it ************************** This book is for those with a great imagination and a strong stomach. If your child is made of “snips and snails and puppy dog tails” and are into all things disgusting and gross, they will enjoy this book immensley. If your child is more “sugar and spice and all things nice” don’t bother with this book.
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How does it compare to similar audio books?
Quite good
How does it compare to audio works by the same author?
Not applicable
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