The Mummy Shop

The little boy in this picture book is cross because his mummy has made him tidy his room and help with the shopping; furthermore, she insists that he get out of the bath just when he is having fun!  Luckily, the next day he sees an advertisement for The Mummy Shop (which just happens to be owned by a fox).  This shop, like no other, promises to provide mummys to order, and the little boy phones the shop right away.  The fact that all the mums are animals doesn’t faze the little boy at all, but there is something wrong with each one.  The rabbit is excellent at bouncing, but cooks nothing but carrots.  The sheep is a great cook but makes him wear scratchy, woolly clothes.  And so it goes.  Adults will see the end coming a mile away, but children will be too enthralled by the zany ideas and the super-bright pictures to realise that the little boy’s own mummy is the perfect answer.  A nicely-tuned tale to convince children they are better off with the family they have even when they sometimes must  do things they don’t like.