posted on 13 Oct 2017

Bonkers about Beetroot by Cath Jones, illustrated by Chris Jevons

I immediately liked this picture book because of its alliterative title plus the slightly manic looking zebra on the cover. In the opposite corner we have an extremely cross looking penguin
who is facing an enthusiastic looking mouse and the three characters are set against the background of a massive purple beetroot. So even before the story begins there is plenty to talk about with young children.

It seems that the animals all live at Sunset Safari Park and Penguin is feeling downbeat because visitors are so scarce. The more optimistic Zebra calls a meeting with all the animals to talk about how they can entice more visitors to come and see them but gloomy Penguin continues to offer his opinions:

' You're wasting your time .... Nobody comes because we're boring.'

But Zebra is clearly an 'outside the box ' kind of creature because he announces that the solution is to grow Beetroot. I rather like the way that Penguin continues to be the voice of reason, because after all a Beetroot Safari Park is a bit of a Bonkers idea.

There is plenty of information about what is needed to make this plan work including a mighty manure mountain and in the book a four panelled double page spread shows the seeds growing with the help of the animals ( even Penguin looks a little less cross as he peers curiously at the seedlings). One beetroot grows to enormous proportions and at first proves to be the necessary crowd-puller. Eventually it grows so big that there is no room for visitors in the park and its size is emphasised by the double page spread which almost pushes the animals out of the book. The ever resourceful Zebra decides to try reducing its size by eating the giant beetroot, once again cautioned by an indignant Penguin:

' Are you BONKERS?.... You can't eat all that.'

He eats so much that he actually turns purple in colour and I can almost hear children gasping with delight when they see his transformation. The only purple zebra in the world draws even more visitors which a now slightly happier looking Penguin admits is BONKERS! After all - sometimes the end justifies the means and so all the animals can rest easy that their home is safe.

This is a zesty action packed picture book with some potential links with the traditional story of 'The Enormous Turnip' which could be discussed with children. When I used to be a teacher that story never enticed any children to try eating real turnip, but I wonder if children might try eating some real beetroot for themselves? Both vegetables are something of an acquired taste and I guess that they might be put off eating beetroot in case they turn purple as well!


Karen Argent

October 2017