How to Babysit a Grandad

How to Babysit a Grandad by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish
(Hodder/Hachette)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN: 9781444915884
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

This tender, humourous picture book opens with the following text:

"Babysitting a grandad is fun if you know how. When your grandad rings the doorbell, what should you do? Hide!

I remember my small granddaughters doing the same thing when their dad arrived home from work until their giggles gave them away. So a great beginning.

The little boy in the story obviously has had a great deal of experience managing his grandad while enjoying himself as well. His how-to tips often smack suspiciously of self-focus. Are ice cream topped with cookies, cookies topped with ice cream, and anything dipped in ketchup the best snacks to give a grandad? The How to Entertain a Grandad list is, of course, an opportunity to show off. Somersaulting across the room is number one.

Tips abound on every page - What to Do on a Walk, How to Play with a Grandad, and What to Draw for Grandad are but a few. Naptime is my favourite part where grandad is the one to sleep, and the tips on how to wake him will make kids laugh.

Illustrator Lee Wildish, the winner of the Red House Children's Book Award 2013, has created comical oversized bodies and drainpipe legs, lively colour combinations and heart warming scenarios which show the fond connection between grandad and grandson. The child-drawn pictures "pegged up" in rows on the second page of the picture book are also appealing, and show what the story is about. At the end of the book, Grandad departs with a similar picture painted by his small charge.

Jean Reagan demonstrates a deep knowledge of children within her simple text and storyline. I liked its length (22 pages of story with extra illustrations to enjoy) and I didn't want it to end.

Full of humour, love and fun, How to Babysit a Grandad will be a firm favourite with both parents and children.

Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles

Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles by Tamsyn Murray, illustrated by Lee Wildish (Simon and Schuster)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 978-184738728-8

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

Harriet Houdini: Stunt Bunny loves being the star of the “Superpets” TV show.  When she is invited to go on tour with her owner Susie, she can hardly wait.  Staying in posh hotels, meeting adoring fans and performing her famous bunny-backflips in front of live audiences is what Harriet was born to do.  But evil Miranda wants her opera-singing poodle, Doodle, to be the star of the show – whatever it takes.  She will even go so far as to hire The Great Muldini to try and kidnap Harriet for his magic act.  Harriet is going to need all her Stunt Bunny ticks to make sure she remains in the spotlight.

Stunt Bunny: Tour Trouble is the second book featuring Harriet Houdini, the Stunt Bunny.  The story carries on immediately from the first book, Stunt Bunny: Showbiz Sensation, however it can be read in isolation as well.  

This is a fast-paced and funny book told from the perspective of Harriet the bunny with her sometimes slanted view of the world.   She is a lovely character: feisty, fun and constantly thwarting the fumbling, ill-natured adults around her.

With large font and wonderful black and white illustrations by Lee Wildish throughout, the book would be suitable for younger readers aged approximately 6 – 8 years.

Overall, I found Stunt Bunny: Tour Trouble a really enjoyable book and I’m sure it will satisfy any Harriet Houdini fans.

Tamsyn Murray lives in London with her husband, daughter and several pets.   When she isn’t at work or writing, Tamsyn enjoys messing about on stage.  Shows she has starred in include Hello Dolly!, Kiss Me Kate and Anything Goes.  She has also written the teen novels My So Called Afterlife and My So Called Haunting.

Stunt Bunny: Showbiz Sensation

Stunt Bunny: Showbiz Sensation by Tamsyn Murray, illustrated by Lee Wildish (Simon and Schuster)

PB RRP $12.99
ISBN 978-184738727-1
Reviewed by Peta Biggin

From the moment the Wilsons bring their new pet home, it is obvious that she is no ordinary bunny – and certainly not deserving of the name Flopsy. After she escapes (the first of many), she is renamed Harriet Houdini and the name suitsher perfectly.

After winning the village pet show, Harriet is whisked into the world of show business and finds herself competing in a talent show. If she wins, she’ll be a national star but there are other pets with their eye on first place. Can Harriet compete with an opera singing Poodle? And who is the mysterious man who offers to buy her?

Stunt Bunny:Showbiz Sensation is a fast-paced and funny book from the author of the teen novels My So Called Afterlife and My So Called Haunting.

Harriet the bunny is curious, feisty and devoted to her young owner Susie, if not completely enamoured with Susie’s dad (who is nicknamed Evil Edward throughout the book). Her never-say-die attitude and irreverent sense of humour will ensure Harriet is a character that kids will instantly relate to.
With the added fun of Lee Wildish’s black and white illustrations, Stunt Bunny: Showbiz Sensation is a really enjoyable book that will appeal to any animal loving young reader.

Tamsyn Murray lives in London with her husband, daughter and several pets. When she isn’t at work or writing, Tamsyn enjoys messing about on stage. Shows she has starred in include Hello Dolly!, Kiss Me Kate and Anything Goes. Occasionally, she auditions for Britain’s Got Talent. The next Harriet Houdini book, Stunt Bunny: Tour Trouble, is due to be released in 2011.