If I Had...

Another American book in its setting and illustrations but there does not seem to be a problem with the language involved, even for less confident readers. The text is very simple and the story is certainly one with which many small children identify. 'If I had a gorilla or a snake or a porcupine as a pet,' thinks the young hero, then he wouldn't be bullied or taken advantage of. Luckily, since he has none of these useful supports, he does have a big brother who is almost as good as a 'minder'...even if he does eat half his little brother's lolly as a reward!

Children found this easy to read and well worth talking about. They also enjoyed the amusing illustrations, although several interpreted the big brother's American football gear as an Incredible Hulk outfit!