Tag: pride and prejudice

Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding by Alex Field ill Peter Carnavas

Christmas is the very best time of year, thought Mr Darcy.

Snow was falling as he hung the mistletoe over his front door,

making sure there were enough berries for everyone.

Christmas is the very best time of year, thought Mr Darcy.

Snow was falling as he hung the mistletoe over his front door,

making sure there were enough berries for everyone.

Mr Darcy is making his Christmas Pudding and all of his friends join him for the traditional Stir-Up Sunday. On Stir-Up Sunday, everyone has a turn stirring the Christmas pudding as they close their eyes and make a wish. Everyone is there, everyone except Mr Collins who has been left outside after behaving badly towards Maria.

But kind-hearted Lizzy can’t relax while Mr Collins is outside in the snow and they are warm and safe inside. Mr Darcy relents and everyone has a splendid afternoon of Christmas games and hot chocolate. Illustrations are watercolour with black outline. Some openings feature a single full scene with colours to page edge, while other openings include several smaller scenes set in white space.

This is a third picture book from Alex Field and Peter Carnavas featuring Mr Darcy, Lizzy and other characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. As with the others, Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding gently examines pride and prejudice and their consequences. This time, there is the addition of a Christmas tradition. Young readers need have no knowledge of the novel from which the characters are drawn to enjoy this story. It’s a tender story of family and sharing, and behaving well. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding, Alex Field ill Peter Carnavas New Frontier Publishing 2014 ISBN: 9781925059137

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck by Alex Field ill Peter Carnavas

‘Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck’ is a follow-up title to Field and Carnavas’s Mr Darcy. The setting is the same, with Darcy, Lizzy and the other characters portrayed as animals. Darcy’s reticence and clumsiness again features. This time it’s dancing that has Mr Darcy feeling out of sorts. He’s not convinced he likes to dance, and declines when asked by Lizzy to join their dance. But is it dislike of dance or insecurity about his abilities? It seems it could be the latter. But this time, he immediately starts to do something about it. Fortunately his friends are happy to help, which helps speed up the process somewhat. So when he again encounters the dancing Lizzy he can accept her invitation.

Mr Darcy set out for his morning walk.

The sun was shining and the daffodils were beginning to flower. Spring was in the air. ‘Oh dear,’ he thought, ‘it’s dancing season again.’

Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck is a follow-up title to Field and Carnavas’s Mr Darcy. The setting is the same, with Darcy, Lizzy and the other characters portrayed as animals. Darcy’s reticence and clumsiness again features. This time it’s dancing that has Mr Darcy feeling out of sorts. He’s not convinced he likes to dance, and declines when asked by Lizzy to join their dance. But is it dislike of dance or insecurity about his abilities? It seems it could be the latter. But this time, he immediately starts to do something about it. Fortunately his friends are happy to help, which helps speed up the process somewhat. So when he again encounters the dancing Lizzy he can accept her invitation.

Darcy might be the strong silent type, but fortunately he’s also now willing to accept help. He’s clearly keen on Lizzy and doesn’t want to embarrass himself in her presence. Like ‘Mr Darcy’, Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck references Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, but loosely. Knowledge of the names of the characters is not required to access this story. Peter Carnavas’s soft watercolours compliment the gentle text. A tender tale of romance for the very young. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck

Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck, Alex Field ill Peter Carnavas
New Frontier Publishing 2013
ISBN: 9781921928178

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores and online.