posted on 07 Sep 2022

The Baddies by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

All of the picture books published so far by this creative pair are big hits with young children, their parents and teachers. I have used them successfully with children aged from two to seven but realise that I have never reviewed one in detail although I have written about the almost magical effect of ‘The Gruffalo’ at an event several years ago.

This one follows the winning formula with an eye catching, densely coloured cover, depicting all the main characters, that promises an exciting story. We want to follow the smiling girl along the path but there is the added frissant of a witch, a troll and a ghost who are presumably the three ‘baddies’ lurking in the trees behind her. If we open up the cover to include the back page, there are some reassuring animals in the familiar Scheffler landscape. This is clearly going to be an eventful adventure described on the flyleaf as ‘a rollercoaster of slapstick fun and nonsense’.  

The three baddies positively bask in their horridness and like to boast about their various scary qualities. It might be that they even scare one another to some extent, but when a girl moves into a nearby cottage, they are thrilled at the thought of what they imagine will be an easy victim. They fight amongst themselves about who will be the scariest until a wise little mouse gives them the challenge of stealing the girl’s blue spotted hanky. I can hear children shouting out which one that they think will be successful (although we more experienced adults know that it is unlikely that anyone will outwit the girl). 

The troll makes the first attempt and lurks beneath his traditional bridge convinced that when he surprises her with a roar, his vast size and ghastly appearance will do the trick. She is completely unfazed and he ends up in the water looking foolish. I liked the clumsy witch and her cat trying to cast a wicked spell that completely backfires and leaves her with a toffee stuck on the end of her long nose. The ghost tries to frighten her as she lies reading in bed, but she is just concerned that he might need a hot bath to help him to sleep. All three baddies take evident delight in the failures of the other two each time they are thwarted. When they realise that they are defeated they pack their bags and go off to stay with a fierce looking ogre ‘and none of them ever came back’.

At the centre is a competent girl who knows how to de- escalate potentially difficult situations and to take control, which is a familiar theme in other stories by this author and illustrator. She is a strong, relaxed character who is determined to enjoy life living in her new home. She is completely independent with not an interfering adult in sight, and is also very considerate and kind when faced with a family of white mice who need some protection from the cold.

I can pretty much guarantee that this will be another much- requested favourite because there is so much detail to look at in every double page spread. The simple rhyming text is reassuring and encourages joining in. The scary characters are silly and gullible who get their come-uppance and the heroine is wise and likeable – just perfect. 

         

Karen Argent

September 2022