Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus Adventure by Emily Bearn

Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus Adventure by Emily Bearn
Buy Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus Adventure by Emily Bearn at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Confident Readers
Reviewer: Ruth Ng
Summary: Another wonderful, cosy tale about our mice friends, Tumtum and Nutmeg. Old-fashioned in the very best sort of way.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 240	Date: October 2010
Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
ISBN: 978-1405254441
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I'm a big fan of the Tumtum and Nutmeg stories. They always remind me of Mary Norton's The Borrowers, with the two little mice scurrying secretly around the human's house, helping the children when possible and trying to avoid being seen. So I was excited to read their latest adventure.

We find Nutmeg and Tumtum, the two little mice who live in Nutmouse Hall, hoping for a nice, uneventful birthday celebration with their friend, General Marchmouse, and canny readers will sense impending adventure as the General arrives at Rose Cottage and discovers a circus in the kitchen. Overwhelmed by curiosity, he cannot help but investigate the big top tent and then the glorious, red circus bus. Tumtum and Nutmeg await his arrival at the party to no avail, for of course the General has gone for a little jaunt in the bus and lands himself in all sorts of trouble!

I find the General amusing and annoying in equal parts. He's so dreadfully conceited and impulsive that I feel uncomfortable each time he's mentioned in the stories for he just can't help but get himself into trouble! This book is no exception, for he finds himself tangled up with a band of thieves. Tumtum and Nutmeg set out, of course, to rescue him but they also find themselves caught up in the trouble, getting the human children into trouble along with them. Along with stolen buses, sherbet guns and village shop break-ins there is a new character helping Tumtum and Nutmeg out, the Chief Constable. He clashes somewhat with the General and there's some high-drama involving a toy tank at the end, but you'll be glad to know there's a happy ending!

Once more there are delightful illustrations by Nick Price. The cover is gorgeous as ever, and inside the simple black and white drawings always help to illustrate the action. The chapters of the book aren't too long, so not too tiring for children reading alone, but long enough to be a satisfying bedtime story read aloud over several nights. This is the fifth story about Tumtum and Nutmeg. I think readers could begin here, but they would certainly get more from the story if they'd read some of the previous stories and knew the characters a little better. Part of the delicious tension surrounding General Marchmouse's actions is that I already sensed what was about to go wrong! I'm so glad there are stories like this still being written. I can't wait for the next one!

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

Further reading suggestion: New to Tumtum and Nutmeg? Then you really need to take a look at their other stories!

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You can read more book reviews or buy Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus Adventure by Emily Bearn at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus Adventure by Emily Bearn at Amazon.com.

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