The O’Hare Family Leaving the House

The O’Hare’s are very busy, especially in the mornings. Trying to get everyone ready to leave the house for work or school while the clock is ticking is a daily challenge. Jackson and Harley prefer to play superheroes than be super quick in the mornings. The children are hurried through breakfast, washing and dressing by their harassed parents who have to contend with spillages, missing shoes, complaints and endless questions ranging from ‘Where’s my school jumper?’ to ‘Is everything made of atoms?’

There is a well-rehearsed routine at play here with the suggestion Mummy uses the same familiar phrases every day ‘I can’t do four things at once, I’m not an octopus.’ And ‘Who’s getting a Mummy hug for being first?’

The morning routine moves at a lively pace with gentle humour and appealing language. Although the children are challenging and time is pressured their parents are good humoured and patient. Mummy finds the missing shoes and the children are eventually ready by the door. There is humour at the end of the book when it is dad, and not the children, who keeps everyone waiting.

Although the protagonists are portrayed as a family of rabbits, the situation will resonate for (human!) adults as well as children. The attractive artwork brings the chaos of the morning routine in this family to life with lots to spot in the detailed illustrations.