First printed in the UK in 1952, the My Naughty Little Sister series is real storytelling. Charming, fun and oh so naughty, Dorothy Edwards' stories are the epitome of cheeky fun. With a goodie-two-shoes big sister narrating each chapter, kids will be constantly entertained with what her naughty little sister and her cohorts are getting up to next.
Of course a four-year-old gobbling too many cakes at a kiddie birthday party is not really considered 'rude' nowadays but it's still charming to see how horrifying such behaviour was deemed to be back in the 1950s.
But what struck me most about these books, despite their delicious dated-ness, is their almost modern take on the text's voice. Edwards writes with a childlike candour that's so real, you could close your eyes and hear a six-year-old speaking. Writing in this way (at least since Lauren Child and her Charlie and Lola series took the reigns) has become a contemporary way to entrance young readers - and in this regard, Edwards was well ahead of her time.
Superb, traditional cross-hatched ink sketches by Shirley Hughes make this series pure retro delight, and I guarantee one book will not be enough. The books are an easy, thoroughly entertaining read - but be warned, you'll be battling your daughter - or son - for a peek into the naughtiness.
Title: My Naughty Little Sister
Author: Dorothy Edwards
Author: Dorothy Edwards
Illustrator: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, A$12.95RRP
Publication Date: 1 December 2010
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781405253345
ISBN: 9781405253345
For ages: 6 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction
More books in this series:
