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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:
PodeTheBogeySlayer · 25/07/2014 10:28

Thank you for our copy! DS (3yo) loved the pictures and the most part of the story but, as seems a common response from other mums with young children, he didn't really understand the ending. I think I'm going to keep it in a cupboard for a couple of years until he's a big older and read it with him when he 'gets it'. Really loved the illustration and storyline though.

serendipity1980 · 26/07/2014 13:33

We really enjoyed this book, it had a funny twist, and a great sense of humour. We all laughed at the end! Beware babysitters! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to read this. BTW my DC are 4.5 and 6 yrs old.

Jenni2legs · 26/07/2014 18:26

My kids like gruesome stuff so they loved it.

Zuzi · 28/07/2014 17:30

Thank you for the book. We read it straight away as it made it out of the packaging. I think my younger children (nearly 5 and nearly 3) didn't get the joke and my eldest - 8 just stoically accepted it. We kept going back to it so I guess it grabbed their attention. It is beautifully illustrated.

kath2 · 28/07/2014 21:17

My girls were so excited when a book was posted through the letterbox! They insisted on us reading it straight away. As with some others, my 4 year old really enjoyed the pictures and earlier pages of the book but was a bit confused by the ending. My nearly 6 yr old enjoyed the whole book. Very pleased to have been picked to receive a book. Thanks Mumsnet.

emylou1982 · 30/07/2014 23:03

I must say I wasn't entirely impressed with this book. The text and length of the book is aimed at young children but I think the plot and twist of the story is aimed at older children as my DS who has not long turned 5 was a little confused by the ending and I had to explain it to him. On a plus point, the pictures were lovely and my children did enjoy looking at those. It's a shame as I was looking forward to reading this book with my children and the title and blurb sounded like something they would like. I think if I put it away until they are a bit older and they are able to understand the plot, the length of the book and amount of text will then be too 'young' for them.

Yasmin1 · 01/08/2014 14:11

Took this book on holiday and my 5 yr old loved it had to explain the ending as she didn't quite understand were the babysitter had gone!! However she did have a smile on her face and said 'disgusting!'.

Thanks

edwarv29 · 06/08/2014 09:16

What a lovely book with amazing pictures my boy is just over 2 and a half and loves me ready it to him. He loves the pictures !

nushcar · 10/08/2014 08:13

I have an almost 2 year old and 3.5 year old. The book went over the head of my two year old, other than he enjoyed pointing out the pictures of the cakes. My 3 year old daughter was interested in the book and there were things to point out in the illustrations and discuss, however, the ending was totally missed by her and she was perplexed as to what happened, especially as we never see babysitter, so story requires more imagination to put pieces together. That said, she loved the story and asked for repeat readings. I have to say that the illustrations were brilliant and well-observed, worthy of a feature length cartoon.

emmaMBC · 11/08/2014 13:36

I love a picture book with a fabulous twist and a delicious sense of humour ... Rosie Reeve's latest, Rory and the Monstersitter, delivers on both counts.

On the first read out loud, little listeners don't see that twist coming or that fab ending! It certainly led to lots of giggles and a few gasps too. Subsequent readings are rewarded as they pick up on the little clues that are scattered in the narrative - perfect!

Pumbaa · 28/08/2014 11:00

This picture book is fantastic. My daughter is still a bit young (3yr) to get her head around the sense of humour and the plot twist, but this will clearly be a favourite book. I look forward to sharing it with my son in a few years as well.

debjani · 08/09/2014 14:38

I passed this book on to my 3 year old nephew. His mum says: J was very excited. I read it for the first time with him so was as surprised by the twist as he was. Initially at the end he looked at me a little nonplussed, not really understanding what it meant, when I explained he was still a little unsure and needed to be reassured that it was all pretend. That said, the following night he did want the story reading again. The second time he enjoyed it more but did look a little worried that they were really going to eat the post man or really did eat the babysitter. I had to reassure him they didn't as he thought that was a little scary. So all in all interesting,fun, but possibly a little scary for a 3 year old.

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