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Sorry Tony, we've both made mistakes

Crocodile Tears arrived and as soon as we started reading it, I realized that I made a mistake in my last post. Of course, it was not Ark Angel, the last Anthony Horowitz , it was Snakehead. Of course, one of the kids reminded me that we listened to that one in Italy too. It was a trip we took from Rome to Naples to Pompeii and back. It had the nastiest, scariest parts of any Horowitz yet and we loved it.

Crocodile Tears starts out with a classic, jump you right into the story sort of first chapter. But one thing bugged me. I am an American living in London, surrounded by people who can name King Henry VIII's wives in their sleep. So, that is why I feel a need to mention that although I revere Horowitz as a great children's writer, he has slipped up. Ravi, the main character of the first chapter, is an Indian Engineer who wants to take his children to Disneyland in Florida. But there is no Disneyland in Florida. There is a Disneyland in California, Tokyo, Paris but there isn't one in Florida. There is a Disney World in Florida. It is no big deal and a mistake anyone could make but one his editors should have noticed. If Dan Brown had made such a mistake about a French landmark, Europeans across the globe would have kicked up a front page fuss.

So those of you who have not started to read it yet, get over the mistake now. Then when it comes to the exciting beginning, you won't be bogged down with the detail.

Once again, happy Horowitz reading.

The New Anthony Horowitz is Out

Yes, Crocodile Tears is out and has been for about two weeks and we still don't have a copy. I guess the publishers never got my email. Nonetheless, we are about to read it, have waited what feels like a long time since the last in the series, Ark Angel.

Gone is the day that I could buy the new Anthony Horowitz and have the children meet me on the bedroom floor every night for weeks until the no doubt exciting conclusion a few weeks later.

Once it arrives, someone will claim it, read it night and day in a day. Then the next dominant child will grab it, read it, they'll begin to chatter. Then the third one will grumble as he takes it and reads it a bit slower than the others. And then that will leave only me and Alice. I will start reading it to her while she takes her occasional bath or in an odd moment at the weekend. We'll put A Tree Grows in Brooklyn aside, so we can whirl through Crocodile Tears. The others will, little by little, notice we are reading aloud and gravitate to us. Because the best thing about Anthony Horowitz is you can read them again and again and get caught up in the plot afresh each time.

I just can't wait to go through that experience with Alex Rider again.

Big Pants, Burpy and Bumface

Russell Ash, who actually has a pretty interesting name himself, will probably put many grown ups off from buying this book. His title, Big Pants, Burpy and Bumface, does not sound the sort of book you would want to buy for your child, nephew or friends' daughter. But in fact it is a great book which has many uses.

Is everyone tired and down post holiday? Take the book to the supper table and have everyone search for a name they particularly like. It might be Olive Branch, a play on words such as Walter Cress or just outright ridiculous like Driver Bus, Free-gift Lulham or Lyonella Fredegunda Cuthberga Ethelswytha Ideth Ysabel Grace Monica de Orellana Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache.

This is a great book for long car rides, waiting in queues at museums and at slow restaurant tables. Everyone around you will wonder why you seem so cheerful (especially if you live in England).

An added bonus is that he writes where and when the person with said name lived, lives and died. There are also funny couples names (such as Charles Sargent marrying Lucy Pepper), palindromes and people who have the same names as characters on the Simpson's television show.

Makes you think again about the power of the name and the namer.

Rosemary Wells in Amherst

Across the English speaking world of the United Kingdom, there are children who have never met Max and Ruby. They have never delighted in my Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie, the godmother of stories and Rosemary Wells, the Queen of the illustration. Massachusetts is very far away from England but if you have never seen New England leaf colour, then get thee to Amherst and Eric Carle's Picture Book Museum because Rosemary Wells is going to be there later this month. You won't regret it, even if Ruby is there to boss you around.
Rosemary Wells Celebrates 30 Years with Max and Ruby!
November 22, 2009
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free with Museum Admission

From interviews to interactive activities join us in celebrating these lovable bunnies and their creator.

1:00 - Presentation by Rosemary Wells
2:00 - Book Signing
3:00 - Special Max and Ruby Storytime

Throughout the day participate in special Art Studio activities. In the Auditorium enjoy screenings of the top-rated Nickelodeon television show inspired by Rosemary Wells' bunny siblings, Max and Ruby!

For more information about Rosemary Wells visit www.rosemarywells.com.