Flour Babies - Anne Fine

As it is currently the school holidays, we have been spending a few hours at the local library. One of the books my ten-year-old daughter chose to borrow was Flour Babies by Anne Fine. I recalled hearing some good things about this, so asked her if I could read it after she had finished it. The cover is really cute too – a brown sack of flour with a pink dress and long lashed eyes. There is also an embossed gold medal on the front, proclaiming the novel as being the winner of both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Award. The story follows the exploits of the notorious class 4C and their long-suffering teacher, Mr. Cartright. Class 4C contains ...  Read the complete review

I think this book would have to be at least number 5 in my list of favourite children's books. It's funny and original and nearly made me cry. here's why: Simon Martin is a member of class 4C, a bottom set secondary school group, made up of - according to Mr Cartright their teacher - 'the sads and the bads'. At the end of term, a science fair is to be held in school and each class is expected to contribute a project. None of the projects on the list are what 4C consider to be 'real science'. As you can imagine, this particular class aren't all that interested in science unless it involves blowing stuff up. So after ...  Read the complete review

I first read this as a kid, and it hasn't lost any of its touching quality now I'm older. The story centres on 4C - a class known to be a 'bad' class (You know the class which will always get into a fight/make a mess/set the fire alarm off the moment the teacher's back is turned? THAT class.) Most particularly it focuses on a member of that class, Simon. When the class is assigned the project of taking care of 'flour babies' - little sacks of flour that must be taken care of as though they are real babies - most of them react with dismay at getting stuck with such a girly project, or at most with apathy. Simon's father though walked out ...  Read the complete review

I retreat into Sherwood Forest to cool off after a Hot but pleasnt day,to write this review . For shame Dooyoo no catogary for wholemeal flour? Surely you dont all eat white flour dooyoo? Down yonder over Hill and dale is Hungerford ,Berkshire where there be a Farm called Doves Farm ,specially milled 100 percent wholemeal Flour,also Orrrganic. The Merry men love it . I bake pancakes on the open fire made with New laid eggs and wild honey , or served with pheasant and greens ,Friar Tucks favourite. If you want to bake in your kitchens it will make a good loaf of Bread without all those harmful additives . Joking aside ...  Read the complete review