Sarah BT's Reviews > Bumble-Ardy

I had such high hopes for this one and I don't feel as though they were met. I was expecting a wonderful amazing book and the book I got instead was a very odd just OK read. I read the first page, I liked that the pig newspaper said "We Read Banned Books" which made me laugh. But from there, nothing. I do like the rhyming text which has a very nice rhythm to it. The artwork of course is interesting to look at, even if the masquerade costumes are a bit odd and sometimes a bit creepy. I think they'd be especially odd to young kids. I don't know that I would say this is a kids book, but more a picture book for adults, especially adults wanting a throwback nostaglia picture book.

But it's the story as as whole that's missing something. I can't even put my finger on exactly what it is, it just didn't have that spark of magic or dash of humor I was expecting. It ended too soon and while it's supposed to show the unconditional love between parent (or Aunt in this case) and child, I don't know that that really came across. Instead the Aunt threatens the friends and leaves Bumble Ardy cowering in the corner promising not to turn ten. Doesn't seem like unconditional love to me. The end wrapped up too quickly and it just didn't work for me. I really wanted more humor and a bit more heart. The rhymes weren't enough for me. Odd and strange, OK, but not a classic.