Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
July 1, 2019/in Fiction 5-8 Infant/Junior /by Ellie
BfK Rating:
BfK 237 July 2019
Reviewer: Andrea Reece
ISBN: 978-1471170232
Price: £5.99
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 5-8 Infant/Junior
Length: 192pp
Buy the Book

The Adventures of Harry Stevenson

Author: Ali Pye

There have been quite a few notable guinea pigs in children’s literature, chief among them Olga Da Polga of course, but Harry Stevenson is very much an original creation, and a thoroughly appealing character. His favourite occupations are eating, sleeping and eating some more, though he does enjoy snuggling up to his owner Billy and indeed, the real affection between the two of them is one of the many pleasures of this book. Despite his love of a quiet life, Harry has two daring adventures in this book fortunately emerging unscathed and perhaps slightly wiser from each: when his family move house, Harry finds himself left behind, and has to hitch lifts via various modes of transport to follow the van; settled into their new home, a mistake with the strings of a bunch of balloons sees him flying over the town before he lands slap bang in the middle of local team Sparky FC’s cup tie. There’s a perfect mix of peril and humour in both stories, and running in the background are gentle storylines about Billy and how he’s coping with the move and a new home – readers will appreciate how important it is to him too that Harry makes it back safely. Ali Pye’s illustrations – in black and a wonderful fluorescent orange – serve to break up the text and add to the reading enjoyment. She also sneaks in lots of facts about looking after guinea pigs and their lifestyles and fills the pictures of Harry ‘popcorning’ with happiness with real joy. A very good book for confident young readers.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Ellie http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Ellie2019-07-01 17:14:342021-03-18 17:16:13The Adventures of Harry Stevenson

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

BfK 254 May 2022 Download BfK Issue BfK 254 May 2022
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Peter Bently and Steven Lenton named winners of The Children’s Book Award 2022

June 27, 2022

Shortlist for the 2022 SLA Information Book Award

June 23, 2022

2022 Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Winners Announced

June 16, 2022

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2022 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
King Otter The Happy Lion
Scroll to top