If I Were Prime Minister

Originally published in Norway, and translated by Rosie Hedger, this book explores the possibilities of being Prime Minister as seen by a thoughtful and imaginative young child narrator. Wide-ranging ideas are presented from paving the streets with trampolines and ensuring that every tree has a rope swing attachment, to keeping libraries open day and night, with ‘friendly old people’ available to read to children, to changing the role’s name to team captain, filling the oceans with plastic-gobbling water and giving anyone who wanted a friend at least two.

I love the notion that play would be a ‘subject; taught at every school (actually I’d rather it were seen as a means of learning) and that grown-ups would have to go to nursery once a month to learn how to do it. ‘Because playing is for everyone, even the people who have forgotten how.’ – a great line that!

This really is a feel-good picture book that encompasses vital socio-political themes including the environment, education and health in a child-friendly manner and readers are encouraged to feel that anything is a possibility so long as it contributes to a kinder, happier world.

Ella Okstad’s illustrations are bursting with energy, scattered with fingerprints and every one makes the reader want to pause and explore the details; children will enjoy tracking the activities of the dog and cat that make frequent appearances throughout the book.

A book that is sure to trigger lots of lively discussion in the classroom.