The Ogglies Go
to School
by Erhard Dietl (Starfish Bay Children’s Books)
HB
RRP $25.99
ISBN
9780994100719
PB
RRP $14.99
ISBN
9780994100214
Reviewed
by Leigh Roswen
The
Ogglies Go to School is the second title in the Oggly series created by author/illustrator
Erhard Dietl. The Ogglies are green creatures with big noses, horns and
super-strength. The Oggly family live in a rubbish tip and love everything
dirty and stinky. One day Oggly-Grandma takes the Oggly twins to school on
their dragon, Firebottom (complete with rear-end exhaust pipe). When the human
teacher is called away Oggly-Grandma is left to look after all the children.
What ensues is a wonderful day of mud and mayhem. But how will the children
clean up before Mrs Lucy returns? The Mud-Puddle Song forms part of the text
and the music score is included on the last page.
The
Ogglies Go to School is a quarto-sized book. On every
large spread there are busy colourful cartoon-like illustrations. When children
have looked at all the school-children and quirky Ogglies themselves there are
still more creatures in the background to discover.
It
is a little difficult to put an age-range to this story. The text itself is
quite lengthy (over a thousand words) hence would suit an older independent readership
of age 7-10. Also there is occasional bottom humour that this age range seems
to love. However, younger children (aged 4-6) being read to by a willing and
time-enabled adult will enjoy the funny pictures, and the setting which is more
like a pre-school than a school.
The
Ogglies are bound to become favourite characters. They are weird-looking but
lovable, family-orientated but chaotic, fun-loving and happy. The Ogglies Go to
School is a scrumptiously rebellious tale and an antidote to notions of
cotton-woolling, over-scheduling and vanity.
Reviewer
website: www.leighroswen.com
