EDGAR AND THE SAUSAGE INSPECTOR, by Jan Fearnley. Reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

Jan Fearnley's latest picture book for Nosy Crow is a hoot. Edgar and his sister Edith live at the end of an alley. Edgar loves Edith very much and one day sets off to buy her favourite treat. Sausages!

Sadly, coming out of the butcher's, Edith is waylaid by a food inspector, a rat, who pronounces the sausages tainted and makes off with them, presumably for further inspection in a lab. The same unhappy meeting keeps repeating itself on further shopping sprees and it soon becomes apparent that the inspector is not all he claims to be. This pushes the otherwise peace loving Edgar over the edge, with fatal consequences for...but no spoilers here.

Fearnley's story is a delicious tale of sweet revenge.  Told in a fast, edgy style with gorgeous retro illustrations that remind me of the ever-popular Madeline books. It's one that I'm sure will prove popular with many readers. The ending would also be great to engender discussions about the nature of revenge and 'getting your own back.' A treat in more ways that one.  Let's hope there are more adventures of Edgar and Edith on the way. They are an adorable pair.


Saviour Pirotta's latest picture book, The Unicorn Prince, is illustrated by Jane Ray and out now. Follow Saviour on twitter @spirotta.

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ENORMOUSE, by Angie Morgan. Reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

Hardback: 32 pages

Written and Illustrated by Angie Morgan

Publisher: Frances Lincoln

ISBN: 9781847804488

Pub. Date: 3rd October 2013

Enormouse lives with the other mice in the cosy mouse house.  He's the odd one out because, as his name suggests, he is enormous.  Still, his size comes in handy when hauling giant lumps of cheese or reaching for food in hanging cupboards.

Then one day disaster strikes!  Enormouse finds out he is really a rat. An identity crisis ensues and Enormouse sets off into the big wide world to find himself and his fellow rats.

Angie Morgan's delightful follow up to Daisy's Big Dig not only dishes up an entertaining story but deals with the issue of identity in a subtle and humorous way.  The simple text flows easily from spread to spread and  the illustartions, often laid out in comic book style, hum with bright colours.  The mice, who are all given names in a spread at the end of the book, all look terribly cute.  The rats too come across as loveable creatures, making this book the perfect springboard for classroom discussions about belonging and acceptance.   Not that Enormouse should be confined to schools and libraries.  Above all this is an entertaining story that wears its big rodent heart on its sleeve!

Saviour Pirotta

www.spirotta.com

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