Baby Brains and RoboMum by Simon James

Baby Brains and RoboMum by Simon James
Buy Baby Brains and RoboMum by Simon James at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: Baby Brains is rather too clever for his own good when he invents RoboMum. Perhaps a little too sophisticated in places for young readers it's nevertheless recommended by The Bookbag.
Buy? Maybe	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32	Date: 3 Sep 2007
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
ISBN: 978-1406302400
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Before Baby Brains was born Mrs Brains ate all the right food to ensure that Baby Brains had lots of, well, brains! She also played him foreign language tapes and read aloud to him, because Mr and Mrs Brains were hoping for a clever baby. But when he was born they were amazed at just how clever he really was. Even the hospital was surprised when Baby Brains had a brain scan.

He didn't want to play with baby toys. He much preferred to work on the computer, or do experiments with his chemistry set. But his favourite pastime was to design new inventions. There was the self-rocking, remote-controlled cradle and the first fully-motorised buggy, but when he saw just how tired Mr and Mrs Brains were at the end of each day he had a brilliant idea. One evening he started work on something to help them. It took all night and well into the next morning but finally he was ready to unveil... RoboMum.

RoboMum was a rather fearsome-looking robot Mum, but she took over all the household chores from Mrs Brains. She ironed. She made the evening meal and then she washed up afterwards. By the next day she had mastered the art of washing the car and it was only a short step to taking over the baby care and that was when the trouble started...

Oh, this is a book that both parents and children will enjoy. Some of the visual puns might be a little sophisticated for the junior reader but each page is a goldmine of details which can be spotted, discussed and laughed at. RoboMum serves a breakfast of nuts and bolts to the family. "I think I'll have a yoghurt" said Mrs Brains as though what was in front of her was actually an option.

It's good to read aloud with simple, direct sentences and absolutely no concessions with regard to vocabulary. Baby Brains would not allow it and you're going to have to keep up with him. Most of the more unusual words will be obvious to the child from the accompanying pictures, or will be able to get there with a little help.

There's a lovely moral in the story - that however clever (or anything else) you are there are still times when only Mum will do. It's neatly done, but not laboured.

The illustrations really lift this book. They're deceptively simple, almost understated and in muted colours but they're packed with detail and a pleasure to look at.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending this book to The Bookbag.

For another book where the baby is rather clever you might like to read our review of Phyllis Root's Rattletrap Car.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Baby Brains and RoboMum by Simon James at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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