THE QUIGLEYS
by Simon Mason; illustrated by Helen Stevens
Dell Yearling Books
ISBN: 0440418984
Ages 5-12
160 pages

The Quigleys are a pretty ordinary family. There is Mum, Dad, Lucy and Will. They each have a story in this little book, and the stories are sort of … well … ordinary. And yet these four stories manage to be funny and special in their own way.

For example, in the first story, Dad wants very much to watch a football game but has also agreed to babysit his best friend's children. He sees no conflict between watching his game and babysitting. However, he does not factor in the sheer determination of the children to be as difficult and obnoxious as possible. What follows is a comical series of events, a tussle of wills between Dad and the children. Finally, Dad decides to ignore the kids and their shenanigans. He watches his game and things settle down. It is only later when he checks on the children that he discovers one of them is missing. Who would have thought so much chaos could ensue from something as simple as babysitting and watching a football game?

The other stories are similar in that a very simple idea grows into something so much bigger than it was before --- something funny and memorable. The little girl of the family, Lucy, decides that she is going to participate in a wedding dressed up as a bee instead of wearing some silly bridesmaid dress. Will, her brother, wants a Harpy Eagle for Christmas, while Mum has what appears to be a truly awful birthday. But somehow, by a miracle of sorts, the day turns out to be not so bad after all.

With that gentle tongue-in-cheek and classic understated humor, Simon Mason has created a family we can easily grow to love and laugh with.

   --- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber (mjansengruber@mindspring.com)

Back to top.