Boy’s wish to disappear comes true
Have you ever wanted to just blend into the background?
The Unforgettable What's His Nameby Paul Jennings, illustrated by Craig Smith
written for ages 7-10 | recommended
published in 2017 (2016) | Murdoch Books | 224 pages
written for ages 7-10 | recommended
published in 2017 (2016) | Murdoch Books | 224 pages
Have you ever wanted to just blend into the background so that you couldn’t be seen?
Main character Jeremy, or "What's his name", wishes he could. However he did not bargain on the "blending in" scenario actually happening!
Jeremy finds he changes like a chameleon every time he becomes nervous. And so in amusing twists of narrative he becomes a Mona Lisa painting, a huntsman spider, a green bush and a tree, among other things.
Characters are interesting and amusing including "Banana Boy" and the bikie gang. This story does not stereotype people and shows there are many layers to all types of people. The action packed adventure is also highly entertaining for children, so there are no problems keeping them interested.
Beneath the hilarity there is an undercurrent of seriousness. Jeremy’s dad must overcome his fear of spiders after an unpleasant incident from years ago in which he was photographed by the local paper. By the end of the story Jeremy has achieved mastery over his impulses - an important point to emphasize with children in a world where impulse is often made a virtue to the exclusion of self-control.
Vocabulary is quite simple so this would not be a book to choose to extend an older child’s vocabulary. Illustrations are comical and include puzzles in Craig Smith’s inimitable style.
A former children's librarian, Jane Fagan is currently a full-time wife and mother of two.
March 6, 2017
Sheila Liaugminas has written a great post today which personalises the controversial topic of refugees entering the United States after President Trump's executive order. She was involved in welcoming three Christian converts from Iran who had escaped to an Asian country. From there they applied to come to the US and went through endless paperwork which confirmed their bona fides. The sudden slamming of doors came as a ghastly shock to them.
Fortunately, it ended happily and Sheila was able to welcome them to Chicago. But the executive order had caused unnecessary anguish. As Robert P. George says, the US already had "extreme vetting": "There are many things in our government that are 'broken,' but our refugee vetting system isn’t one of them."
Michael Cook
Editor
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