Book Review - 'Madame Badobedah' by Sophie Dahl (Writer), Lauren O'Hara (Illustrator)

Well, Sophie Dahl suddenly keeps surprising me! First 'The Worst Sleepover in the World' and now this. What a positive new outlook - and reading - to start 2024 on! Maybe I'm more into Ms Dahl's children's picture books than anything else by her. These are wonderful, unique, and deep.

I love the colourful, cartoony illustrations by Lauren O'Hara, too; I've always admired her work, collaborating with her sister, Natalia O'Hara.

'Madame Badobedah' (I keep thinking "da-ba-dee-da-ba-die" whenever I read that) is sure to become a classic. It is a funny, sweet, creative, introspective, and even a little sad tale, set in a hotel (the Mermaid Hotel!) by the seaside. It is a mystery detective story, as well as a slice-of-life comedy, and magical realism. It is about not judging people before getting to know them, not jumping to conclusions, how imagination is a good thing but you mustn't let it get away with you and think negative things, and an unlikely friendship - between a mysterious rich old woman who seems to have everything and have been everywhere, and a young wannabe-spy girl, who is flawed like all children are.

Little Mabel's parents own the Mermaid Hotel. It is her home and whole life. She becomes suspicious of, and fascinated by, a stuffy, rude, private woman who shows up one day with dozens of suitcases and jewellery, and some pets. Mabel calls her Madame Badobedah, and a Villainess. Who is she? Is she in hiding? How long does she intend to stay at her beloved hotel? Mabel is sure the unusual guest is a criminal. Investigation time!

Read 'Madame Badobedah' to find out more. It grows into a heartwarming series of holiday-like snapshot pictures of... but I'm getting ahead of myself. Just read it.

A beautiful, crystalising friendship, and a fast tortoise, dogs, cats, oh and mermaids and pirates - these are all included in 'Madame Badobedah'. I can't recommend it enough. Ms Dahl clearly wrote this for adults as well as children. It is meant to transcend age, and age gaps. Anyone can live life to the full, and tell their relatable experiences to others, and be imaginative and creative, and play.

No one can truly be alone. They mustn't be alone, no matter how old they get, and life and people keep drifting further away from them.

Final Score: 4/5

Book Review - 'The Worst Sleepover in the World' by Sophie Dahl (Writer), Luciano Lozano (Illustrator)

I gave this a lower rating at first, and put it aside to forget about it. But I found I couldn't forget about it. I became nearly obsessed. And days later, I reconsidered my rating and boosted it, and bought my own copy.

Because 'The Worst Sleepover in the World' is one of the funniest and most realistic picture books I have ever read. It's a children's picture book that has no clear moral at any point. It's like a classic sitcom episode, told with cute, colourful drawings. It just depicts life; moments between a parent and little children, while making every character three-dimensional. They are true reflections of real people, thus making them relatable to both littluns and adults. So 'The Worst Sleepover in the World' is for everyone. It is incredible.

It tells of what a real sleepover for young girls would be like (not that I would know personally, never having been invited to one *sniff*), and the mum's laudable attempts for it not to turn into a complete disaster. She is trying her best at everything, from meeting snack demands to reading a story to airing out the dog's farts to preventing tantrums by playing birdsongs on her phone to offering her own bedroom for her guest to sleep in, and it is so commendable. It's for her daughter and her daughter's friend - not to mention there's her second, five-year-old daughter who joins in - and she is constantly on high alert. Of course she is absolutely knackered in the morning!

I love portrayals of loving and caring mums who are still very human. Who, even when they manage not to lose their temper and cool, it is transparent that they are not some saintly picture of what motherhood should be like, entirely invented by the patriarchy. These mums do the best they can, and are not penalised for making mistakes, for no one is perfect, and everyone is their own person, with their own characteristics and quirks. In this picture book, I found I related to this adult the most, even though I am not a mother (yet, one can only hope).

Bonus points for the mixed race family representation.

No male characters in sight, as well (apart from Dad in a family photo frame in Mum's bedroom).

It is a surprise how much I enjoyed 'The Worst Sleepover in the World', as I've hated previous works by Sophie Dahl. But this is a hilarious (and very British!) treat. Cute, too, and not really cynical, annoying or meanspirited, when it could easily have been. I kind of wish for a sequel - I adore these characters, especially Mum! (Oh but she's not the protag - that would be her kid, Ramona, plus the little sister Ruby, these two I also love.)

Thus concludes my first new review of 2024. How uplifting and promising to begin the new year with a laugh. From a slice-of-life piccy book.

Final Score: 3.5/5