Get Real, Mallory!

Nomi loves drawing, but big brother Stephen mocks her picture of Mallory the dog. ‘You’re much better at drawing fish,’ he says, but – as Nomi tells him – that’s because she can look at them in their tank on the kitchen worktop. If they had a pet dog, she’d be able to draw that, too.

‘Get real, Nomi,’ Stephen says. Why should she be special, when no-one in their flats is allowed a dog?

Later, Nomi crumples her paper and throws it away. Why should her drawing be special, either?  ‘Get real, Mallory!’ she says.

And that night, Mallory DOES!

‘I wanted to tell everyone’, Nomi confides. ‘I didn’t want anyone to know.’ So she learns to speak dog instead: ‘Aruff!’

With Mallory beside her, Nomi doesn’t care when Stephen ignores her in the park. There’s far too much to explore! And as for bedtimes, they’ve never been such fun…

Stylised in a way that feels oddly realistic, Daisy Hirst’s cheerful, energetic illustrations capture the camaraderie between a child and her imaginary pet. Colour-blocked shapes with minimal line detail clearly evoke settings, facial expressions and movement, and the warm, rich palette has a gentle mid-century vibe.

Some of the playful interaction between Mallory and Nomi occurs in smaller spot illustrations which pop against a white background, speeding us to the heart of a warm and satisfying friendship (and reminding us how much can happen during one visit to the park!)

Hirst’s ear for dialogue and attention to the cadences of her text make Get Real, Mallory! fun to read aloud. Careful thought has gone into the concept and storyline, and serious messages are there for reflective readers to discover, but the result feels spontaneous and engaging.

Children who live (and don’t live) in flats will enjoy seeing high-rise reality reflected: the night-time/daytime views through Nomi’s bedroom window are especially intriguing, and overall the depiction of family life in an urban setting feels natural and positive.

In fact, there’s an intensely optimistic energy about every aspect of this book. Read it and enjoy!