Serious Sas and Messy Magda by Marianne de Pierres and Rachel Annie Bridgen
Parenthood. Isn’t it great? Setting an example. Forming young minds. Embarrassing your kids. Whether it’s Dad dancing or Mum singing in public, most parents do one thing that makes their child cringe. Pity then poor Sas whose Mum is messy Magda, a woman with more than the one odd habit.
| Serious Sas and Messy Magda by Marianne de Pierres and Rachel Annie Bridgen | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Lorraine McDonald
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| Summary: Parents. You can’t choose them. Sas certainly wishes she could. Her Mum is messy Magda, who could not be more different to her. It is ‘bring your Mum to school day’ and Sas is worried. Will she be able embrace her Mum’s alternative life style? Find out in this amiable picture book about one daughter’s relationship with her Mum. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: September 2013 |
| Publisher: Books to Treasure | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781909423046 | |
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Serious Sas and Messy Magda takes a theme of role reversal that will be familiar to anyone who remembers Ab Fab’s Saffy and Edina. Daughter Sas is the good girl in the relationship. Mum Magda is the free spirit. Their different personalities and behaviours are contrasted in a variety of environments including a circus, a netball match and in their own bathroom. The drama comes when Sas has to take Magda in to class for a 'take your Mum to school' day. She is dreading it. Will Sas be able to embrace her Mum’s alternative lifestyle?
The illustrations in this book have the cartoon flavour of the Jacqueline Wilson illustrations by Nick Sharrat. Indeed, the book’s focus on the mother-daughter relationship has shades of classic Jacqueline Wilson, though there is no real angst or dark themes to be found between these pages. The illustrations are bright and cartoon like. There is enough detail to merit close examination, or a re-read, in the form of a mute dog and a cat. They play an admirable supporting role on most of the pages accompanied by a mouse, spider and bird in bit parts.
This book can be enjoyed on a couple of different levels. Younger children will enjoy the humour of an adult breaking the rules, acting like a child and unleashing mayhem. It may take a slightly older child to identify with the embarrassment felt by school pupil Sas and to take away the lesson that different can be good. Given that the relationship featured is mother and daughter, the story may have more of a draw to girls than to boys. It may also appeal to older children who are less confident readers as the drawings are quirky rather cutesy.
Serious Sas and Messy Magda certainly provides some talking points on relationships and character traits. Life would be dull if we all didn’t all have at least a bit of Magda within us. Fortunately my boy is too young to think my singing is anything but wonderful and he has yet to realise that those tights keeping him snug are really meant for girls. Shhhh. I think I have some time left yet before he cottons on to my Magdaisms.
Older children interested in exploring family relationships may enjoy The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson
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You can read more book reviews or buy Serious Sas and Messy Magda by Marianne de Pierres and Rachel Annie Bridgen 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 Serious Sas and Messy Magda by Marianne de Pierres and Rachel Annie Bridgen at Amazon.com.
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