Carers vs Crooks


Children - Grade 4th-6th
92 Pages
Reviewed on 04/18/2024
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Afifa Raisa for Readers' Favorite

Carers vs Crooks written by Chip Colquhoun and Pauline Cordiner, and illustrated by Korky Paul, consists of two short stories aimed at young children. The stories, based on Scottish and Colombian folk tales, are retold here by the authors. The first one follows Cauld Johnnie, who becomes the guardian of the graveyard after his death. He had never imagined that he would someday fail to scare someone off, but when a strange young boy shows up one day, he is compelled to choose another way of dealing with the boy. The second story is about a baker’s daughter whose wish to marry a prince comes true, making her older sisters jealous enough to plot against the royal couple. When the princess gives birth, her sisters send the baby away to be devoured by crocodiles, but things soon take a very unexpected turn.

The stories in Carers vs Crooks by Chip Colquhoun and Pauline Cordiner are narrated in a fun and engaging way. The book starts with an unusual warning, where the authors share an interesting perspective on what it means to be scared and what it can lead to. Although the first story features a ghost haunting a graveyard, I love how the style of narration makes it humorous. I find it amazing that the repetition of events in the stories does not affect their quality or make them less engaging. I also like the way the authors play with language in both tales. This book is recommended for children aged four to six.