As soon as I heard that Giles Andreae was involved with a new book, I couldn't wait to see what he would have dreamed up this time, because the girls (and now even 2-year-old Pierre, but he's more laughing because his sisters are, not because he has a clue why !) are still giggling and feeling deliciously naughty for reading the semi-rude and gross bits in Morris The Mankiest Monster (that we reviewed here).
Well, when an email pinged into my inbox asking if we'd like to review it, I jumped at the chance - especially when I saw the title, called to the girls that we'd be receiving a book called Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants and they dissolved into fits of giggles ! I could just tell that this was going to get a good reception !
Giles really manages to get into the mindset of a child (I'd say the target age is about 5-10 but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and I'll be 40 this year !) and knows exactly which words to use and what to put in the illustrations to have them erupting into infectious laughter at what they deem to be naughty and rude. The king with no pants, the giant with the pants on hs head, the king showing his bare bum to the queen and the word stinkpot all had the girls - in particular 7-year-old Juliette - in hysterics and she soon had us all laughing with her !
The silly tale and rhyming make it a fabulous book to read aloud but you'll have to keep stopping to look at all the funny things in the detailed illustrations too. There is a (slightly) serious message too - the brave knight who takes on the naughty giant and wins back the golden underpants for the king is only 6 years old so never think you're too young/small/weak to take on a challenge. (I hope that one doesn't come back to bite me on the bum the next time I use the line "no, you can't, you're too little" !)
You can see Giles telling you all about his book in the video below :
It's a fabulous book to read together for a moment of silliness and hilarity but don't read it at bedtime or they'll be too excited and giggly to sleep !
star rating : 5/5
RRP : £6.99
for more information : http://www.puffin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141330693,00.html
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Oh this sounds such a fun book!! I bet my little boy would enjoy this, I love books for him that are full of adventure!
ReplyDeleteThis is a corker of a book - I've read it with the kids at school and it's gone down so well (I did "warn" the teacher in advance that things might get a big raucous!)
ReplyDeleteI like this book myself, and it seems like my little miss moo is taking after her mummy, she enjoys reading a book every night. lovely review hun, x
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