The Better Brown Stories

Picking up a book by Allan Ahlberg is always exciting, for children and adults. There is a feeling that one is going to be both entertained and challenged, and this new title certainly lives up to that expectation. Upset by the story in which they find themselves, Mr and Mrs Brown, Billy, Betsy and Baby Brown go directly to the Writer to complain. They tell him they want stories with 'more variety / less routine / more adventures / surprises / more pocket money / more dogs, etc.' and that is what the Writer agrees to give both the Browns and the reader. Putting this book into an age category is difficult. It demands a high level of reading skill as the text is dense and there is a large proportion of description in relation to plot and dialogue. Much of the humour will appeal to older children or even teenagers who are not strong readers. However, it is a book which calls out to be read aloud and as such will entertain a wider audience. I would recommend this to adults as well as children!