Home > Categories > Books > Kids - General > Giraffe Attack review
Jack is fearful of the dreadful 'giraffe' that everyone talks about, thumping and bumping around the house, trying to get in.
His imagination knows no bounds...
So why does Mum laugh and tell him he's being silly?
Product reviews...
Brilliant book! Engages the children and keeps them on the edge of their seats. This is exactly what a good story is supposed to do. What a great way to introduce the idea that imagination can get the better of you.
Use this wonderful book as a discussion tool. Talk about other words that they don't understand and tell them stories about the words you may have confused as a child. Talk about things that worry them and help them understand that life is not really so scary!
If your children aren't sensitive to scary pictures (mine are) and can get their heads around the play on words this is a book about a little boy who's imagination goes wild at a throwaway comment his mother makes..
However Giraffe Attack wasn't for us.
It begins with mum saying "there's a nasty old giraffe outside trying to get in" on page 3 which is supposed to be a play on words but because the word "giraffe" is written I felt it was a big jump to expect children, especially if they are learning to read, to understand the premise (which is a great idea) of the book. Miss Three and Miss Four didn't get it and when at the end I tried explaining the story Miss Four said but the mum said "giraffe"....... A fundamental flaw! If the beginning of the book had been slightly rewritten then I think the rest of the story may have made sense to the age group it is aimed at.
The pictures are also quite scary in the middle section of the book and Miss Three was quite scared and a week later is still worried about the monsters outside.
I won't be rereading this book to my girls for a while which is a pity because the idea of the story is brilliant.
Wow ... where to start with this book! I think i have read this everyday, if not twice a day since we received it. Its such a hit with Mr 3. The first time i read it i was getting rather frustrated as it totally did not make sense! Until the last couple of pages and it even had me laughing out loud! Its so clever and witty, id love to have other books by the same author!
The alliteration is fantastic and i love the placement of words on the pages, they build suspense really well. The thumping and bumping around the house really makes this a fun book to read aloud. Personally i found a few of the pictures a little scary, although mr 3 has never alluded to this.
I do think that 3 is too young for this book, although my son LOVES it, he does not under stand it ... and (i wont ruin it for others!) but its a hard concept to try and explain when both words sound similar, never the less for some reason he totally loves this! He always wants to know when the giraffe will be visiting our place. But i know that this book will grow with him and his younger brother and one day he may find it as funny as i do!
I totally recommend this book, it will be on my list to buy as gifts for other childrens' birthdays.
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Also available in Maori.
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