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MNHQ

July children's bookclub choice: Rory and the Monstersitter - apply for a free copy

37 replies

NataliaMumsnet · 01/07/2014 16:24

Rory loves to cook. He's always inventing scrumptious recipes like blue pancakes, cheese bats and hairy cakes. One evening, when his mum and dad go out to dinner leaving Rory and his siblings with the babysitter, he decides to experiment a little further in the kitchen…

This is a funny, quirky book with a great twist that will be fun to read for both children and parents. If you’d love to read this with your DCs, apply for a free copy and come back to let us know what they think or post up a review.

July children's bookclub choice: Rory and the Monstersitter - apply for a free copy
OP posts:
HazelDormouse · 16/07/2014 11:20

There will always be some books which do not appeal to some individuals. I am sorry to say this didn't appeal to my son at all. The pictures are excellent. However, the story plot left my son (aged 4 1/2) totally nonplussed. I would suggest the concept of eating your babysitter, even if it is a somewhat horrible monster, is for an older child, and even then, I am somewhat dubious.

Thank you for the copy. I think it is excellent that we get the opportunity to read different books that we would not normally read. Mostly the books (adult and children alike) that I have reviewed for Mumsnet have been thoroughly enjoyable; very few have been a complete miss like this one.

CheeseEMouse · 16/07/2014 10:57

I wasn't keen on the plot to be honest and whilst the illustrations are cheery enough I found it a bit grim. My daughter liked the pictures but don't think she realised what was going on and was upset like other children.

verap · 16/07/2014 09:50

Well, we love the illustrations but my daughter who is almost 5 didn't quite understand what was the story about so I had to explain what happened to the babysitter... it wasn't perfectly clear at all and the fact that someone cooked someone for dinner... she thought it was awful.
We didn't like this book.

edwarv29 · 16/07/2014 09:31

My little boy wanted me to read this as soon as we got it. We have read it every night for 3 nights running!. He loves it especially the pictures and he likes the hairy cakes so much he wants us to make hairy cakes ! He is only 2 and a half lol.

Dolallytats · 15/07/2014 19:06

DS6, although a big fan of monsters in general, did not like the monsters eating every person/being that came to the door.

It also seemed to jump around a bit which didn't make it flow very well.

stephgr · 14/07/2014 23:02

The book arrived today and my children who really enjoyed Rosie Reeves' When Tom met Tallulah and Something Magic in the Night, couldn't wait to start it. I insisted we save it until bed-time which meant they were keen to go to bed this evening whereas it's normally a struggle to get them up the stairs! My 4 year old son absolutely loved this book and my daughter aged 7 thought it was hilarious. My son said he wants to look at it again in the morning! They both adore the pictures and my daughter even thought the bugs were appealing. It was a really entertaining, fun and easy read so I will definitely be recommending it to other mums.

StantonLacy · 14/07/2014 22:21

We received this book just this morning and both DD (4) and DS (6) wanted to read it straight away.

DD was VERY confused by the storyline and by the ending - I won't give away any spoilers, but she was a bit 'Really? Really?!' when I had to explain it to her. She is only four, but can usually pick up on subtleties in plot etc but this just bamboozled her!

DS, on the other hand obviously understood straight away what had happened - his verdict? 'Mom, it was soooooo funny!' So, it clearly made sense to him.

I think it's a nice bright book, the children liked the characters of Rory and his siblings but...DD is not keen on a re read. This is from a child that loves the nastier aspects of the Grimms Fairy Tales etc and is positively bloodthirsty at times in her choice of reading matter - I think it was possibly too matter of fact for her, too 'normal' (the conclusion/reveal) and had it been slightly more 'horrible', shall we say, she would have enjoyed it more.

Anyway, sorry to be negative - we are very grateful for our copy nonetheless Smile It just didn't gel with my (picky) child!

MrsRedWhite214 · 14/07/2014 18:20

Rory is a little monster who is left at home one night with his siblings and a babysitter (Monstersitter). He loves cooking weird and wonderful dishes, so when his parents go out he starts cooking a new dish.

A lovely colourful book for little ones to enjoy. There are little details in the pictures for children to talk around to explain what is going on away from the main story. It is easy to understand with some fun alliterative sentences.

edwarv29 · 10/07/2014 16:06

Looking forward to reading it with my little man George . Thank you

MNHQ
NataliaMumsnet · 08/07/2014 12:18

This giveaway is now closed and the lucky winners will be notified soon. Don't forget to return to this thread to discuss the book and you can also leave a review here.

OP posts:
ChristyanFox · 07/07/2014 15:54

I know Rosie Reeve and saw this book at an early stage of its development. It's a terrific story (I always know it's good if I wish I'd thought of it myself) and Rosie's 'traditional-with-a-quirk' illustration style just keeps on getting better. Great fun for child readers and grown-ups alike.

frazzledbutcalm · 01/07/2014 22:41

Have applied, we also make blue pancakes!!