Utterly Me, Clarice Bean

Doesn’t time fly! Clarice Bean is already old enough to give us her version of school life. And there’s no doubt it’s her. There she is on the cover; and there’s one of Child’s bendy chairs on the back; and there’s pictures throughout; and the text won’t stay still, or the same size or the same shape; and, hurrah say all the girls, the book’s got its own pink ribbon bookmark. Yes, it’s the same irrepressible Clarice, but there’s less of her domestic life and more of the up and downs of life in the classroom. Now she’s got two main preoccupations, reading her favourite Ruby Redfort mysteries and trying to win the prize of a silver cup for the best school project, both of which come miraculously together at the end of the story. The story has plenty of comedy and some strong characters, not least Clarice herself, who comes across every bit as well when she shares her thoughts directly with us. There are even two stories for the price of one, as Clarice considerately includes the most exciting bits from the Ruby Redfort mystery she is reading. But, for a book that has so much going for it, there’s a sense of disappointment. This may stem in part from the success of Clarice as a picture book character. There, she is unique. And so is Lauren Child’s pictorial vision. In the world of text, although still great fun, Clarice isn’t that different from many others, however gymnastic the typography.