When crime pays! (Burglar Bill - Allan Ahlberg)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	Burglar Bill - Allan Ahlberg
Date:	23/03/04 (203 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots

Disadvantages: none

I am a fan of Janet and Allan Ahlberg and we have several of their books such as the jolly postman and peepo. So when one fine sunny day I spotted a copy of burglar Bill by these authors for the bargain price of 10p, at the local car boot sale I snapped it up! Burglar Bill has been a firm favourite with my children ever since.


The story
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The story is about a man named Bill who lives alone, and? you?ve guessed it, is a burglar. During the day Bill sleeps in his stolen bed after he has consumed his breakfast of stolen toast and marmalade. His house is full of stolen property. When the rest of us honest folk are in bed Bill gets up and goes to work. He steals such things as a toothbrush, That?s a nice toothbrush I?ll have that and puts it into his sack. He is also partial to tins of baked beans, hats and the odd coat.

One night Bill finds a box with holes in it, and with his usual chant of, that?s a nice box I?ll have that, he takes it home. This proves to be a life-changing event for our hero as he discovers a baby in the box. Bill decides the baby has been abandoned and claims it as his own. My children love the part when Bill attempts to sooth the crying child. Eventually Bill realises the baby needs grub! There then follows some wonderful, hillarios illustrations of what happens when Bill attempts to change the baby?s nappy. After further drama Bill finally gets the baby to sleep.
Later that night Bill disturbs a female burglar in his home. The burglar introduces herself as burglar Betty and she is delighted to discover Bill has found her lost baby. Betty is a widow and she and Bill end up getting married. Bill decides that getting burgled has given him a fright so he sees the error of his ways, as does Betty.
The pair then takes back all the goods they have stolen, including a police helmet to the police station. Bill gets a job as a baker and the 3 live happily ever after


These days many children wi
ll sadly experience the trauma of having their home burgled. This book can be really useful in helping such children to overcome their fears by showing that a burglar has a human identity, and as in Bills case, can be a sad pathetic figure. The book has 32 pages and is a good length to keep a young child?s attention. The illustrations are bright with lots of detail and full of humour. The text repeats so is helpful in encouraging young children who are starting to read alone. I would suggest this book would suit children from about 2-7 yrs, although it passes the parent test, as both my husband and myself love reading it to our two.

Unless like me you find a bargain, this book will cost you £4.99 from Amazon. It is available from bookshops generally. ISBN NO-0-00-661486-8.I would really recommend this book and if you decide to buy a copy I don?t think you will be disappointed!

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