Review by my nine-year-old daughter:
This book is part of the reading challenge at my school, and its category is poetry. The renowned author Roald Dahl penned Rhyme Stew, with Quentin Blake providing the illustrations. Roald Dahl is one of my all-time favorite authors. I've devoured just about all his books, including 'Matilda', 'BFG', 'Witches', and his boyhood autobiology, and many more.
This book is brimming with hilarious rhymes. Roald Dahl has taken some well-known fairy tales, made them rhyme, and even changed the punchlines. I was constantly chuckling while reading Rhyme Stew.
Roald Dahl has incorporated some English words or concepts in these rhymes, such as 'knickers', 'tombola', 'church bazaar', 'gusto', 'jolly', and 'haughty'. Some of these words are quite old-fashioned. I found these poems amusing as I'm English and use some of these words regularly (like knickers). Another reason is that the author surprises and sometimes shocks you.
The only drawback is that the poems sometimes contain big words that some children, even me, might not understand. One of my favorite poems is called 'The Price of Debauchery', which is about a girl who allows a boy to kiss her behind her house despite her Mum's warning. I learned the meaning of debauchery.
I would recommend this book for children aged eight and over because most of the rhymes can be a little rude, like the poem that says 'The vicar's hand is up my knickers'. That made me giggle.
I give this book 5 out of 5 smiley faces. I truly enjoyed reading Rhyme Stew and reading out some of the poems to my parents.
A brilliant book of rhymes awaits you! It contains some rhymes that are based on popular tales such as Hansel & Gretel, Aladdin, and The Hare & the Tortoise. These well-known stories are brought to life in a whole new and entertaining way through the power of rhyme. As you turn the pages, you'll encounter moments where you simply have to laugh out loud at the sheer cleverness of the rhymes. The author has a real talent for crafting words that not only rhyme beautifully but also capture the essence and spirit of each tale. It's a book that will delight readers of all ages, whether you're a child who loves fairy tales or an adult looking for a bit of light-hearted fun. So, pick up this book of rhymes and prepare to be charmed and entertained from start to finish!