Utterly Me, Clarice Bean - Clarice Bean

Format:	Paperback 192 pages

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Synopsis

Lauren Child's best-selling first novel, introducing Clarice Bean to a whole new audience. The story revisits Clarice's wacky family, and introduces Ruby Redfort, ace girl detective and star of Clarice's favourite books. Ruby is always going on exciting adventures, but all Clarice gets to do is go to the local shop on her own! But when Clarice and her best friend, Betty Moody, decide to do their school project on the Ruby Redfort books, they suddenly start finding mysteries everywhere. Why are all the coats on the wrong hooks at school, and where has Granddad disappeared to? 'Very entertaining.' Independent 'Feisty and freewheeling. Hilarious and irresistible.' Financial Times 'Packed with life and fun and fabulous to look at.' Bookseller

Book details

Published
03/07/2003

Publisher
Orchard Books

ISBN
9781843623045

Publisher and industry reviews

Jacket review

"The delightfully wacky Clarice Bean is the star of this absorbing story bubbling with exuberance and vitality." -- Good Book Guide 20090301

UK Kirkus review

Lauren Child's first Clarice Bean book, Clarice Bean, That's Me, was published in 1999 and shortlisted for the Smarties Award. Her delightfully wacky young heroine and her madcap family were an instant hit with young readers; fans of the Bean household will be captivated by her latest escapades in this full-length novel. Once again Child's vivacious prose leaps off the page, accompanied by her trademark sparky black-and-white illustrations. The print jumps boldly from upper to lower case, fonts are juggled with gay abandon and Child delights in swirling the text around on the page to suit the plot. The result is a story bubbling with exuberance and vitality. Clarice can't concentrate at school and her teacher, the dreaded Mrs Wilberton, is on her back. The trouble is, Clarice can't think of anything but the adventures of her favourite girl detective, Ruby Redfort, and spends every spare minute devouring the stories. When the class is asked to do a school project on a book, Clarice and her best friend Betty decide to write about their beloved Ruby. But before they can get under way mysterious things start to happen. Why does Grandad keep disappearing off to the shed? Who is moving the coats around at school? And what has happened to the school project trophy? Then Betty herself disappears with just a tattered postcard as a clue. Can Clarice use all those detective skills picked up from Ruby Redfort and find her missing pal? The story is full of hilarious characters, who are way out yet instantly identifiable - many parents will know only too well what it's like to cope with a soap-loathing Kurt or an eccentric Grandad who won't abide by the rules. Lauren Child has said she doesn't believe in underestimating children - her latest book is funny and absorbing yet full of a witty sophistication which will not be lost on her young readers. Ages 7-10 (Kirkus UK)

About the author

Lauren Child

Lauren Child grew up in Marlborough, Wiltshire. She is the middle of three sisters and both her parents are teachers. She has had a variety of jobs from waitressing to designing exotic, elegant lampshades and working as an artist's assistant to Damien Hirst. Lauren Child is considered one of the most talented children's book author/illustrators working today and has won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, the Nestle Gold Book Award for That Pesky Rat and the Nestle Bronze Book Award for Beware of the Storybook Wolves. Utterly Me, Clarice Bean, Lauren's first fiction title, was a runaway success all over the world followed by Clarice Bean Spells Trouble and Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now. Lauren has now sold over 3 million books in 19 countries across the globe. Notable events in Lauren's career include selection for Quentin Blake's Magic Pencil Exhibition 'British Library' in 2005; the Charlie and Lola TV series winning a BAFTA in 2007; In 2008 Lauren was appointed Artist for Peace by UNESCO and has been spearheading a project to raise money for UNESCO's Programme for the Education of Children in Need, called My Life is a Story. ...