What Planet Are You From Clarice Bean?

Lauren Child does not put a foot wrong in this latest Clarice Bean picture book in which Clarice becomes an eco-warrior by helping to save a tree. A classroom project on the environment introduces us to Clarice's teacher and class mates - all sharply and wittily delineated by the delicious combination of Child's exuberantly wild and scribbly artwork characterisations and Clarice's comments ('This is my friend Betty Moody, without her glasses I am utterly a blur.' And so forth.). Clarice is musing on the ecology theme at home ('I am sure there is a big hole above our house because my sister Marcie uses too much hairspray and is causing pollution.') when her usually inert teenage brother, Kurt, rushes in with the terrible news that a tree in their street is to be chopped down. Action is required and even Mrs Wilberton, Clarice's stern class teacher, has to approve. Reminiscent of Posy Simmonds' brilliant strip cartoon depiction of the Guardian-reading Weber family in the '80s, this latest addition to the Bean family saga is superb social commentary on generational difference de nos jours as well as a picture book that will delight Clarice fans of all ages.