Review: Alf Red’s Broccoli Rocket

Young Alf Red is a boy who loves to create wonderful things out of ‘leftovers’ – scraps, bits of string, old food – that sort of thing. He is also a boy who dreams of going to the moon, so when Alf decides he’s going to make a rocket from food, he’s enormously pleased of his high-tech creation.

Alf fashions a key to his vege rocket from parmesan cheese, and hides it deep in the freezer… but little brother Ted can’t resist trying the key out in the broccoli rocket – with rocket-fuelled results!

Landing on the moon to a colony of blue rabbits, Ted watches in despair as the bunnies begin to devour his brother’s beautiful craft. How will he ever return to earth now? Fortunately, his big brother Alf is a clever, resourceful fellow, and he is soon on the way to save young Ted.

This book is a little text-heavy for such a simple concept, and I feel it could have been edited down considerably, but rhyming text does help with the flow. While the pictures are cute, I don’t think the typography and design maximizes their effect.

Despite these small flaws, the storyline and pictures are fun and highly imaginative – something kids will quickly gobble up – much faster than a broccoli rocket!

Title: Alf Red’s Broccoli Rocket

Author: Simon Clearwater

Illustrators: Andrew Dopheide

Publisher: Puffin, A$14.95RRP

Publication Date: 22 November 2010

Format: Soft cover

ISBN: 9780143504726

For ages: 3 – 8

Type: Picture Book

This book is available online