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chrissiemwright's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Love and adore
katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
Short, imaginative story about digging beyond first impressions.
3.5 stars
I listened to this with a 6 and 12 year old on three school runs. Read by the author, it had a fairly nostalgic feel, though could have been set in any time period really.
A girl who lives in the hotel her parents own and run lets her imagination run away with her a little, with a new resident. Rude and unusual, she calls her Madame Badobedah and surely she must be a villain with her jewellery and coins?! Mabel has some truths to learn however, when she of course, spies on her and ends up chatting to the old lady. And finds out that everyone has a hidden story and life behind their demeanour.
Too long for a picture book and too old for toddlers, my 12 year old looked a bit miffed at this, the 6 year old liked the imagination parts where the characters make up adventures together. While the lessons learned here are good ones, I felt it could have been quite a good longer novel rather than the short book it is.
Dahl reads her own work, and from the interview at the end, seems to have created Mabel to be like herself as a girl. She reads well, sounding a lot like Isla Fisher reading Marge in Charge.
I'm not really certain what age group will best appreciate this, probably around ages 5-8.
3.5 stars
I listened to this with a 6 and 12 year old on three school runs. Read by the author, it had a fairly nostalgic feel, though could have been set in any time period really.
A girl who lives in the hotel her parents own and run lets her imagination run away with her a little, with a new resident. Rude and unusual, she calls her Madame Badobedah and surely she must be a villain with her jewellery and coins?! Mabel has some truths to learn however, when she of course, spies on her and ends up chatting to the old lady. And finds out that everyone has a hidden story and life behind their demeanour.
Too long for a picture book and too old for toddlers, my 12 year old looked a bit miffed at this, the 6 year old liked the imagination parts where the characters make up adventures together. While the lessons learned here are good ones, I felt it could have been quite a good longer novel rather than the short book it is.
Dahl reads her own work, and from the interview at the end, seems to have created Mabel to be like herself as a girl. She reads well, sounding a lot like Isla Fisher reading Marge in Charge.
I'm not really certain what age group will best appreciate this, probably around ages 5-8.
fern17's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annetjeberg's review against another edition
4.0
A longer story picture book. Not really one that you read in one setting, which was a great change of pace.
Boys enjoyed the story, but were a bit mehhh afterwards. Can't pinpoint why? (could be a mehhh day overall! :D)
Boys enjoyed the story, but were a bit mehhh afterwards. Can't pinpoint why? (could be a mehhh day overall! :D)
jess64au's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is a fantastic story. The power of imagination, multi-generational friendships with a strong young female character and an interesting strong older female character. Read it for yourself. It lost half a point because I will struggle to shelf it in the library. It looks like a picture book, but it reads like an early reader chapter book. That said I love it and will be recommending it to lots of students.
msgabbythelibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
Intergenerational friendship is HUGE in my book. I advocate for it all the time! But this book was weird.....just weird.
optimaggie's review against another edition
5.0
This is an excellent picture book. I love Mabel's voice and what's not to love about an adventurous, opinionated, suspicious and imaginative little girl living by the seaside in an awesome B&B? And Madame Badobedah, what a character, she has a tinge of Miss Havisham to her.
anneke_b's review against another edition
4.0
A longer story picture book. Not really one that you read in one setting, which was a great change of pace.
Boys enjoyed the story, but were a bit mehhh afterwards. Can't pinpoint why? (could be a mehhh day overall! :D)
Boys enjoyed the story, but were a bit mehhh afterwards. Can't pinpoint why? (could be a mehhh day overall! :D)