Quick Booktalk
Illustrated by Quentin Blake, this rhyming book is a tribute to the work of Roald Dahl.
About the Illustrations
If you like Quentin Blake, this book will not disappoint. His signature style is on every page of this book, portraying all the experimentation, exploration, and energy of childhood.
Story Time Possibilities
The rhythm and rhyme of the text in this book beg to be read aloud, but the content isn't for every family. This book celebrates misbehavior and disobedience in a way that runs counter to a lot of parents' plans for discipline. Though the message that we should maintain childhood wonder throughout our lives is a good one, it seems to be accompanied by the idea that we should also continue to behave as children forever, which is not something I really want to teach my kids.
Readers Advisory
This book is not written by Roald Dahl, and that is obvious. It does have a similar tone and point of view to his work, but it's just not as charming or original. I think the appeal of this book is largely to adults who are strongly in touch with their inner child and perhaps have a persona when they work with kids that reflects that. I could see kids enjoying hearing this book-length poem, but I would hope it would be used only as a means of opening the door to Roald Dahl's actual books.
Disclosure
I received a finished review copy of Never Grow Up from Viking in exchange for an honest review.
