Chirton Krauss and his sister Myrtle are burdened by the labels their parents have given them. Chirton eats his broccoli, washes his hands properly, goes to bed without argument and cleans out the rabbit regularly even when it isn’t his turn; he is ‘a good child, the very goodest’. Myrtle, however, is a lost cause both to her parents and the babysitter and is allowed to get away with it, until one day Chirton rebels. Just as he discovers the pain and pleasure of being naughty, Myrtle experiences the joys of sharing and being nice and the parents understand their children are more complex than a mere label might suggest.
Child’s deft touch with narrative and dialogue brings both humour and insight. In addition to the story, she includes a comment from the narrator in red on most pages, in the form of a question or comment cleverly designed to get the reader questioning and involved and to consider a different perspective. The busy, patterned collage illustrations have a 60s feel and cleverly depict mood and characterisation. There is a message here, about the pitfalls of labelling, but Child’s light touch means that it is never allowed to overwhelm the fun and enjoyment. There is much to discuss about children’s own experiences, their responses to the names and their own prejudices in Years 1, 2 and 3, (ages 5-7).
Sue Barrett
Orchard Books ISBN 9781408347584 £12.99
