Dirty Bertie - Rats product reviews

This is the second Dirty Bertie book we have been lucky enough to review and we were not let down. The first line of the story had the kids in fits, 'Did you know rats eat their own poo?' I think they found it relatively easy to relate to as they are often found to be having such undesirable conversations amongst themselves.

Again the book was broken into three short stories and filled with funny illustrations to keep the kids engaged in the book. My daughter thinks it would be hard work to be Dirty Bertie's Mum. Both of my older children really enjoy the humour in the Dirty Bertie series and my son loves the pictures and the diagrams that Bertie draws for his plans. I love that Dirty Bertie is a series that they can read together. With so many things that are gender specific Dirty Bertie offers a relief from that and offers them a subject to bond over. Even Mr Three is enjoying the menacing ways of Dirty Bertie!

I will be keeping an eye out to add more titles to our Dirty Bertie series, light, funny and well written! Rereadable, over and over so great value and great fun!

This is the first book in this series that I have read. In fact, up until now, I wasn't aware of the series at all and I now see that there is quite a number of books which have already been written. The rest of the titles sound equally revolting and of interest to young children as this book does.

The title Dirty Bertie Rats appealed to me. I looked at the front of the book and immediately thought of my five year old son. I thought the character could be a bit like him and that he would also like the books. The cover gave me a sense that mischief was to be found in the book.

The book is made up of three stories, each with four short chapters. It is a nice easy way for children to get used to chapter books, either as a reader themselves or when it is read to them. Each story is quite readable as a bedtime story as it is fast paced and easy to read.

I found that the stories in this book were funny and very relevant to the thoughts and actions of a young child. I know that Mr 5 loved hearing the stories and related to the way that Bertie acts and thinks. The illustrations are simple and in black and white. They are quite humorous and fit in nicely with the text.

As an adult, I quite enjoyed reading the stories to my son. We had giggles together and I spent my time imagining my son acting just like Dirty Bertie. The first story, Rats, is my favourite and is full of imagination and creativity and they are qualities that I would like my son to have, even if a little mischief goes with it. Children think quite differently to adults and it was fun reading about mice from the perspective of a child who wants and pet and wants to preserve life. The adults in the book didn't see things the same as Bertie and wanted to kill the mouse that was in their pantry.

I look forward to reading another book in the series as I think that these books will fit nicely with the sense of humour that my son and I enjoy together.