Gangelhoff

Dramatic presentation tends to dominate this slight tale of a robber getting his come-uppance. The eponymous robber has a catch phrase which is not used often enough for the children to enjoy its repetition. The book does not build sufficiently to the moment of truth. Nemesis takes the form of a little old lady who welcomes Gangelhoff into her house then locks him in the cellar. In this book, rather in the style of Hitchcock, even the nice guys aren't very! Geoff Todd's illustrations and layout are in black, white, red and grey. It is a pleasing book at first glance. The typeface has one serious flaw -- when the text is continuous, as opposed to informally arranged for effect, there is insufficient spacing between words. The book would be well worth riding with a small group. With luck, and a good group leader, questions of a moral nature could be raised. I would be interested to hear the discussion about the morality of the old lady. Her sinister last words --- 'I'll just have a nice cup of tea,' as Gangelhoff mutters in the cellar are distinctly chilling.