What's the Matter, Aunty May? by Peter Friend and Andrew Joyner
Little Hare, 2012. hbk, RRP $A24.95. ISBN 9781921714535.
'I have some questions, Aunty May.
Why did you shout at me today?
And why were you a little gruff?
Why did you scream, 'Enough! Enough!'
This is the hilarious story of what really happens when your wish
about
getting the kids to help with the housework comes true. It could,
perhaps,
be labelled as a 'precautionary tale', but is definitely an example
of
'Be
careful what you wish for!' It is NOT the story of a group of
out-of-control ruffians - indeed it is the opposite with our hero
dressed in
very dapper fashion, perched on as tool drinking tea as only the
most
well-bred English child might do - but it is a tale of destruction
that
brings the saying 'bull in a china shop' to mind.
Written in rhyming text and accompanied by superb illustrations that
convey
the action and atmosphere perfectly, and tell a quite different
story
to the
text - this is a great read-aloud for little ones. But, beware, it
just
may
give them the perfect excuse for NEVER helping with the housework -
EVER!
A great entertainment, but also a wonderful way to explore how
humour
can be
conveyed in a book where there are no jokes - he is perfectly
serious
with
his questions - and no canned laughter.
Barbara Braxton