Burglar Bill (Burglar Bill - Allan Ahlberg)

Member Name: AJ26

Product:	Burglar Bill - Allan Ahlberg
Date:	25/10/05 (763 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice story with a happy ending, lovely pictures

Disadvantages: Some children might find the idea of burglars too scary

Burglar Bill

Burglar Bill is a paperback childrens book written by Janet and Allan Ahlberg it is aimed at children from around 4 upwards. It is short enough that you could read it all to a 4 year old but would also appeal to older children who could read it themselves.

Pictures

There are colour pictures on every page. Each picture has lots to look at, for example there is a little mouse under Bills bed and all the stolen property stashed around the house.

The Story

Well no points for guessing that this is a story about Bill who is a burglar. Now you might think that this isn’t a particularly suitable topic for a childrens book but this was one of my favourite books as a child and didn’t make me turn to a life of crime!

Bill is a burglar living in his house eating his “stolen fish and chips” with a “cup of stolen tea” and going off to work stealing things then comes home for a “stolen breakfast” then goes to sleep in his “stolen bed”. We follow Bill while he is at work where among the many things he steals is a big brown box. Later that morning he hears a noise which sounds like a police car, it gets louder and louder until he realises that it’s a baby which is in the box.

We then witness Bills hilarious attempts to feed and amuse the baby and attempt to make a nappy from a towel. He then takes the baby for a walk in a wheelbarrow! That night Bill himself is burgled by no other than Burglar Betty (original!) who it turns out is the mother of the baby and a widow.

Burglar Bill admits he got a fright when he was burgled and Burglar Betty got a fright losing the baby so they realise they have been bad people and decide to return all the stolen goods. Burglar Bill becomes a baker and they get married and live happily ever after.

What I like

I liked the book as a child and still like it now. It’s a fun book especially when Bill is trying to look after the baby. I think you can also use it to teach children wrong from right and that its not good to steal because it can hurt and upset people. It has a nice ending as Bill and Betty learn from their mistakes and become better people.

Summary: Burglar Bill finds a baby which changes his life, finds a wife and lives happily ever after.