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  • Published: 20 March 2017
  • ISBN: 9781862308756
  • Imprint: Red Fox
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

Jim



WARNING: CONTAINS A DANGEROUS BEAST AND A MISERABLE END

Award-winning illustrator Mini Grey turns her inimitable hand to Hilaire Belloc's classic cautionary tale of Jim: who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a Lion!

First published in 1907, Belloc's wickedly funny poem describing the sad end of Jim is fabulously illustrated in a magical picture book edition. This is darkly comic, word of warning about the dangers of being spoiled is the perfect tongue-in-cheek corrective for little ones who have been a little overindulged!

  • Published: 20 March 2017
  • ISBN: 9781862308756
  • Imprint: Red Fox
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

About the authors

Hilaire Belloc

Hilaire Belloc was born in France and educated at Newman's Oratory School and at Balliol College, Oxford. From 1906 to 1910 he was Liberal MP for Salford and literary editor of the Morning Post. As well as writing books of verse and novels, he also wrote on religious, social and political topics.

Mini Grey

Mini Grey was given her name after being born in a Mini in a car park in Newport, Wales. She studied for an MA in Sequential Illustration at Brighton under the tutelage of John Vernon Lord. Mini also worked as a primary school teacher in Oxford, where she now lives. Her books include Egg Drop, The Pea and the Princess (shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), Biscuit Bear (winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award), Traction Man is Here (winner of the Boston Horn Book Award and shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award and winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), and Traction Man meets Turbodog. Mini Grey is one of the Big Picture's ten Best New Illustrators.

Praise for Jim

Mini Grey has taken Hillarie Belloc's classic cautionary tale of Jim and illustrated it in her own inimitable style. She really has done justice to this wickedly funny poem.

The Bookseller

The enduring popularity of Hilaire Belloc's most famous Cautionary Tale combined with award-winner Mini Grey's lively and generous illustrations make this a true winner.

The Bookseller

The quality shines out on every page, blending the text and pictures seamlessly. The sight of Ponto looking bashfully over his shoulder as he sits by a dismembered leg is absolutely hilarious, and on the other side of the page, Jim's little head with Xs for eyes will strike a chord with every child who's ever pulled the head off a Lego man. It all sounds horribly violent, but in fact it's spot on, however sensitive or squeamish you and yours might be. Jim is the sort of book that you'll treasure for years to come.

The Book Bag

There is a lot here to make reading this book over and over again a lot of fun. The poem is fun to read, and the pictures will last a long time. And if it can prevent any more boys being eaten by lions, then it will have done a good job.

Bookwitch

...fabulously illustrated ...

Book Reviewer, Aldershot News and Mail

The clever lift-the-pages format and pop-ups make it unmissable.

Angels and Urchins

The talented Ms Grey peppers the pages with so many rules, byelaws and Instructions That Must Not On No Account Be Ignored that Jim's misdemeanor is obviously the result of poor parenting or even a 'lack of literacy'...Hate the sin but love the sinner - that's wot my Nanny used to say.

Tony West, Lion and Unicorn Bookshop, Oldie

Award-winning illustrator Mini Grey (named after the car she was born in....no really!) turns her inimitable hand to Hilaire's classic cautionary tale of Jim: who ran away from his nurse. And was eaten by a lion. Oh yes, this is our kind of story!

www.mumsrock.com

Her treatment of the Victorian's verse is typically colourful, and the book is full of eye-catching illustrations and pop-ups.

Oxford Mail

The clever lift-the-pages format and pop-ups make it unmissable.

Angels & Urchins

... re-imagined with all her customary flair, invention, wit and zest by the magnificent Mini.

Carousel

...a picture book that not merely gives the original Belloc a new lease of life but also challenges its lucky readers as to what exactly a full "reading" of a picture book might involve.

Robert Dunbar, The Irish Times

Mini Grey's dramatic paper-folding illustrations add an extra dimension to Belloc's original. Her fold-out plan of the zoo, complete with warnings and comments, is witty and charming while also standing as an incisive warning about a world in which health and safety has become a make-believe all of its own.

Julia Eccleshare, The Guardian

Hilaire Belloc's classic cautionary tale has been updated in a special new edition, illustrated by award-winner Mini Grey*, whose completely brilliant pictures depict Jim's tale with amazing detail. The fold out map of the zoo is like a mini book of it's own, there's so much in it!...My two-year-old also loves the picture of 'chocolate, with pink inside' and the part where the pop-up lion jumps out and starts nibbling on Jim's ankles. Yes - it doesn't leave much to the imagination! The interactive pull out maps and flaps all help to make this a really enjoyable read and a real treat of a book. 'Jim' gets a very big thumbs up from us. Keep an eye out for this book - it would make a lovely gift and a great addition to your bookshelves.

Hot Cross Mum, http://hotcrossmum.blogspot.com

Bringing the book to life is illustrator, Mini Grey, and she does an absolutely marvellous job...The quality is fantastic.

Tidy Books

...Mini Grey has created a highly inventive illustrated edition of Jim, one of Hilaire Belloc's cautionary tales. ...This looks like the perfect gift for both kids and health-and-safety officers.

Nic Bottomley, Bath Life

There's nothing like an old fashioned cautionary tale to upset lily-livered adults and enthral imaginative children - so Mini Grey's masterly treatment of disobedient Jim, who slipped his nurse's grasp and was eaten by a lion, should be an absolute winner with young ones. Distinctive illustrations, a pop-up snarling lion, lift-up flaps and some additional jokes do justice to Belloc's classic castic poem. A dark delight.

Sally Morris, The Daily Mail

...the cautionary tale of the wayward boy - has been given an engaging pop-up makeover by Mini Grey.

Telegraph

The appeal of Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales endures, and Mini Grey's illustrated Jim Who Ran away from His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion embellishes this dark, satirical gem with visual and verbal playfulness, including flaps and fold-out maps...Grey celebrates Belloc's wit while adding a new layer of meaning. A delight, and an incentive to read more of the same.

Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times

Good clear text with well designed pull-out pages and pop-ups.

Round and About

Brought to life in magnificent style through Mini Grey's illustrations, the pop-ups, flaps, fold-outs and added extras provide a joyous celebration of bad behaviour.

Sunday Herald

Distinctive illustrations, a pop-up snarling lion, lift-up flaps and some additional jokes do justice to Belloc's classic caustic poem. A dark delight.

The Daily Mail, The Daily Mail

You would not have thought it possible to improve upon Hilaire Belloc's cautionary tale of Jim but it lends itself beautifully to Mini Grey's insouciant illustration style. Pop-ups and gatefolds complement the rhythm and comic timing, making Belloc's timeless and deadpan humour accessible to even the youngest child.

Dinah Hall, The Sunday Telegraph

...wickedly funny...

Mary James, Country Life

It's a thrilling book to read, with pop-ups, pull-puts and a full fold-out retro zoo map with funny signs in the elephant enclosure like "no trumpeting" and "no stampedes." An absorbing read that will have your child holding on to your hand tightly - to avoid the lions.

Junior

A traditional tale of Jim who was eaten by lion because he ran away from Nurse, is brilliantly reinterpreted by Mini Grey.

Blackbird Pie

...sublime...

Maggie Hartford, Oxford Times

There are also some old favourites which are well illustrated in new versions with all the lavish flaps and bright colours now expected. Jim, one of Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales, has been printed without the grisly wording being changed (although some rather good health and safety notices for the zoo have been added.)

Daily Mail

This is a hard backed, nice quality, beautifully illustrated book, filled with imaginative pop-ups, interesting flaps and lots of imaginative and engaging detail.

Dulwich Mum

...a thrilling book to read...

Junior Book Club, Junior

Jim's wonderfully wicked tale is certainly a breath of fresh air and a timely reminder of how children's books used to be before political correctness took over.

Andy Howells, South Wales Argus