Pernickety Boo
Sally Gardner, illustrated by Chris Mould
Harper Collins Children’s Books

Let me introduce Pernickety Boo, an umbrella, not an ordinary one, though he started out that way. Then an absent-minded sorcerer used him to stir a magic potion, the result being the umbrella acquired magical powers. However his creator left him on an underground train and at Baker Street station he was handed in to the lost property office where he stayed for five whole years.

One day he’s taken, along with other interesting items, to a sale and there he meets young Sylvie Moonshine and a life of adventure ensues. Pernickety Boo can understand cat, has a particular predilection for gloves, especially those made of soft leather, and an ability to time travel, all of which make him extra special.

Totally delightful are his time travels with Sylvie as are those with Jimjam her cat; so too are the encounters with the pushy journalist Ada Moore who is desperate for a scoop.

What an absolutely wonderful, innocent character Sally Gardner has created in her inimitable way. Equally wonderful are Chris Mould’s pen and ink illustrations and together they make a book that exudes humour and is a joy to read from beginning to end. I truly hope that with Pernickety’s ‘See you soon’ on the final page we’ll hear more about him. Read aloud or read alone, you can’t get better than this.