Big Bad Bill on the Naughty Step by Mark Sperring and Tom McLaughlin
| Big Bad Bill on the Naughty Step by Mark Sperring and Tom McLaughlin | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Ruth Ng
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| Summary: I'm certain there aren't many parents in Britain who aren't aware of the 'naughty step' or its uses in parenting! This is a rather funny tale about who joins a little boy on the naughty step and how they make amends. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: July 2012 |
| Publisher: Ladybird Books | |
| ISBN: 978-0141342863 | |
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We have a roaming naughty spot in our house, rather than a specific step. It means, usefully, that I can say the spot is wherever I want it to be, whether that's in the library, on the street, at the park or here at home! My daughter used to play 'naughty spot' with her toys when she was a toddler, and I would find hoards of stuffed animals sitting somewhere together, awaiting the timer to go off to signal they could apologise and get off now! Anyone nodding their heads at this will certainly get some enjoyment from this story, then, of Sam who has to sit on the naughty step but is soon joined by an old friend, Captain Buckleboots (who Mark Sperring has written about before) and by a new naughty person, Big Bad Bill who is a very naughty cowboy!
Big Bad Bill has done lots of terrible things. He rustled some cows, he held up a boy for his lollipop, and he refuses to take his boots off in the bath! Most importantly, he's never been known to apologise before for anything. However, he's on the naughty spot now, and Sam and Captain Buckleboots start to explain the consequences that might occur if he never apologises, such as having treats taken away, walking the naughty plank or even, worst of all, Father Christmas might find out and put you on his naughty list! Big Bad Bill of course reconsiders his position and decides that he will say he's sorry, and he will change his ways in the future, and whilst he goes off to be a good cowboy, Sam is also allowed off the naughty step having apologised wholeheartedly, and he's back on the sofa, cuddling up to mum for a story.
We really enjoyed this story. It's a fun take on the process of understanding naughty behaviour and being sorry, and more importantly, mending your ways in the future. It's told with lots of humour so you don't feel as if you're being lectured, and I really like the ending of Sam being welcomed back into his mum's arms after apologising.
The colours are bold and bright, and the illustrations are fun. I did have to explain what rustling cattle meant, but that just allows for a discussion about cowboys! Neither the cowboy nor the pirate are too scary, just humorous, and I like the picture of Father Christmas looking worried about amending his naughty list!
A fun read to share with older toddlers who are well-versed in the ritual of the naughty step!"
For more naughty step mayhem you might enjoy We Are Wearing Out The Naughty Step by Mick Inkpen - and for more from Tom McLaughlin, we can recommend The Accidental Prime Minister.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Big Bad Bill on the Naughty Step by Mark Sperring and Tom McLaughlin at Amazon.com.
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