posted on 24 Apr 2016

Big Bad Bun by Jeanne Willis illustrated by Tony Ross

What do you do if you get a school report that's going to go down like a lead balloon with your parents? You could take it on the chin or you could do what Bun (aka Fluff E Jumper) does in this story -  hide with your Grandma and write your parents a letter saying you've run off to become a biker bunny. And the trick is to make the letter as graphic as you can - leather jackets, pierced ears, gang bun fights and a live fast die young lifestyle - just to give your parents the biggest shock possible. Then, when you confess it's all fiction, they will be so relieved thet they'll forgive your terrible school report.

But, of course, there's always a downside. Getting trapped with your Granny and all her horrible boiled cabbage doesn't turn out to be a bed of roses either.......

Willis and Ross are a writing team made in heaven. Willis has an unerring instinct for the just plain wicked and naughty and she seems to have a direct connection to stories that will make younger children scream with delight. Her inventions are deceptively simple but really loaded with layers that will allow the child's imagination to fill in the gaps and  details so that their creativity can run wild.

Tony Ross' illustrations are just so right for the way Willis writes - he can give his characters life and verve with a few bold strokes and he must have a fundamentally wicked streak of his own to capture the essential devilment of the story. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised given that Ross also draws the supremely naughty Horrid Henry. Ross doesn't just illustrate the words, he very much adds to them with his own interpretations but you can't help but feel that because they know each other so well, Willis has the drawings already in her head as she writes.

I can't imagine a child or parent who wouldn't just love this story. In fact I'd go as far as saying that if you don't think this is a laugh-out-loud little adventure it might be an idea to check your pulse - because you might be in need of urgent medical attention!

Terry Potter

April 2016