Hilaire Belloc

Mini Grey

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Mini Grey has taken Hillarie Belloc's classic cautionary tale of Jim and illustrated it in her own inimitable style. She really has done justice to this wickedly funny poem.

The enduring popularity of Hilaire Belloc's most famous Cautionary Tale combined with award-winner Mini Grey's lively and generous illustrations make this a true winner.

The quality shines out on every page, blending the text and pictures seamlessly. The sight of Ponto looking bashfully over his shoulder as he sits by a dismembered leg is absolutely hilarious, and on the other side of the page, Jim's little head with Xs for eyes will strike a chord with every child who's ever pulled the head off a Lego man. It all sounds horribly violent, but in fact it's spot on, however sensitive or squeamish you and yours might be. Jim is the sort of book that you'll treasure for years to come.

There is a lot here to make reading this book over and over again a lot of fun. The poem is fun to read, and the pictures will last a long time. And if it can prevent any more boys being eaten by lions, then it will have done a good job.

The clever lift-the-pages format and pop-ups make it unmissable.

The talented Ms Grey peppers the pages with so many rules, byelaws and Instructions That Must Not On No Account Be Ignored that Jim's misdemeanor is obviously the result of poor parenting or even a 'lack of literacy'...Hate the sin but love the sinner - that's wot my Nanny used to say.

Award-winning illustrator Mini Grey (named after the car she was born in....no really!) turns her inimitable hand to Hilaire's classic cautionary tale of Jim: who ran away from his nurse. And was eaten by a lion. Oh yes, this is our kind of story!

Her treatment of the Victorian's verse is typically colourful, and the book is full of eye-catching illustrations and pop-ups.

... re-imagined with all her customary flair, invention, wit and zest by the magnificent Mini.

...a picture book that not merely gives the original Belloc a new lease of life but also challenges its lucky readers as to what exactly a full "reading" of a picture book might involve.

Mini Grey's dramatic paper-folding illustrations add an extra dimension to Belloc's original. Her fold-out plan of the zoo, complete with warnings and comments, is witty and charming while also standing as an incisive warning about a world in which health and safety has become a make-believe all of its own.

Hilaire Belloc's classic cautionary tale has been updated in a special new edition, illustrated by award-winner Mini Grey*, whose completely brilliant pictures depict Jim's tale with amazing detail. The fold out map of the zoo is like a mini book of it's own, there's so much in it!...My two-year-old also loves the picture of 'chocolate, with pink inside' and the part where the pop-up lion jumps out and starts nibbling on Jim's ankles. Yes - it doesn't leave much to the imagination! 
The interactive pull out maps and flaps all help to make this a really enjoyable read and a real treat of a book. 
'Jim' gets a very big thumbs up from us. Keep an eye out for this book - it would make a lovely gift and a great addition to your bookshelves.

Bringing the book to life is illustrator, Mini Grey, and she does an absolutely marvellous job...The quality is fantastic.

...Mini Grey has created a highly inventive illustrated edition of Jim, one of Hilaire Belloc's cautionary tales. ...This looks like the perfect gift for both kids and health-and-safety officers.

There's nothing like an old fashioned cautionary tale to upset lily-livered adults and enthral imaginative children - so Mini Grey's masterly treatment of disobedient Jim, who slipped his nurse's grasp and was eaten by a lion, should be an absolute winner with young ones. Distinctive illustrations, a pop-up snarling lion, lift-up flaps and some additional jokes do justice to Belloc's classic castic poem. A dark delight.

...the cautionary tale of the wayward boy - has been given an engaging pop-up makeover by Mini Grey.

The appeal of Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales endures, and Mini Grey's illustrated Jim Who Ran away from His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion embellishes this dark, satirical gem with visual and verbal playfulness, including flaps and fold-out maps...Grey celebrates Belloc's wit while adding a new layer of meaning. A delight, and an incentive to read more of the same.

Good clear text with well designed pull-out pages and pop-ups.

Brought to life in magnificent style through Mini Grey's illustrations, the pop-ups, flaps, fold-outs and added extras provide a joyous celebration of bad behaviour.

Distinctive illustrations, a pop-up snarling lion, lift-up flaps and some additional jokes do justice to Belloc's classic caustic poem. A dark delight.

You would not have thought it possible to improve upon Hilaire Belloc's cautionary tale of Jim but it lends itself beautifully to Mini Grey's insouciant illustration style. Pop-ups and gatefolds complement the rhythm and comic timing, making Belloc's timeless and deadpan humour accessible to even the youngest child.

It's a thrilling book to read, with pop-ups, pull-puts and a full fold-out retro zoo map with funny signs in the elephant enclosure like "no trumpeting" and "no stampedes." An absorbing read that will have your child holding on to your hand tightly - to avoid the lions.

A traditional tale of Jim who was eaten by lion because he ran away from Nurse, is brilliantly reinterpreted by Mini Grey.

There are also some old favourites which are well illustrated in new versions with all the lavish flaps and bright colours now expected. Jim, one of Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales, has been printed without the grisly wording being changed (although some rather good health and safety notices for the zoo have been added.)

This is a hard backed, nice quality, beautifully illustrated book, filled with imaginative pop-ups, interesting flaps and lots of imaginative and engaging detail.

Jim's wonderfully wicked tale is certainly a breath of fresh air and a timely reminder of how children's books used to be before political correctness took over.

Award-winning illustrator Mini Grey turns her inimitable hand to Hilaire Belloc's classic cautionary tale of Jim: who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a Lion! 
 
First published in 1907, Belloc's wickedly funny poem describing the sad end of Jim is fabulously illustrated in a magical picture book edition. This is darkly comic, word of warning about the dangers of being spoiled is the perfect tongue-in-cheek corrective for little ones who have been a little overindulged!

WARNING: CONTAINS A DANGEROUS BEAST AND A MISERABLE END

Mini Grey was given her name after being born in a Mini in a car park in Newport, Wales. She studied for an MA in Sequential Illustration at Brighton under the tutelage of John Vernon Lord. Mini also worked as a primary school teacher in Oxford, where she now lives.

Jim

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Hilaire Belloc

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