How can you go wrong with Lynley Dodd?
She has an impressive record as a writer and illustrater of the much-loved Hairy Maclary series, though it's her stand-alone books that seem to have caught Mitchell's attention best. Like all prolific authors, there are some titles which stand out as excellent in one way or another, and others that are less impressive.
And I feel that The Dudgeon is Coming, is one of her very best as a read-aloud story.
The news of the impending arrival of the Dudgeon is passed from creature to creature, changing and becoming more alarming at each repetition, until the overwrought atmosphere of terror is punctured by the arrival of the tiny, harmless inoffensive Dudgeon.
The story rhythm and repetiton make it an easy read, though some of the language can be a bit challenging (bombazine, taffeta, omnibus). An easy extension for more confident readers, is to use different voices for the characters, and discuss how the message is changing at each repetition, and even try a game of Chinese whispers.
The colourful full-page illustrations, give a comically entertaining picture of each creature, with the expressions of increasing dismay on their faces as the news becomes more and more alarming. I particularly love the Stickleback Twitch in his Bamboo Canoe, and the penultimate page with all the creatures hiding in fear of the 'terrible Dudgeon'.
Highly recommended for groups of all sizes and ages.
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