Book review: Hairy Maclary

We LOVE Hairy Maclary. We now have the full set, excluding the Schnitzel von Krumm spin offs.

The books all describe a rambling adventure by Hairy Maclary or one of the other title characters (Slinky Malinki, Scarface Claw) in a funny, rambling, rhyming way. For example, Hairy Maclary may be given a bone by the butcher, causing all of the neighbourhood dogs to try to follow him home. He meanders his way back to Donaldson's Dairy, conveniently passing through small holes (forcing Hercules Morse, who is as big as a horse, to give up) over walls (which Schnitzel von Krumm, possessing of a very low tum, balks at), and other such obstacles, until he gets home, along, with his bone.

I like them because of the silly rhymes, the fun long words (it was a blusterous, gusterous, dusterous day), and the repeated refrains: I can quote by heart that pittery pattery, skittery scattery, ZIP round the corner came Zachary Quack.

Marisca likes them for the same reason, I think. She remembers so many of the details, and has finally come round to not being scared of Scarface Claw, the toughest tom in town.

Since picking up a box set at Christmas I've read them with Marisca every day, and even when we read through 10 in a row, I'm still having fun. I can't say the same for Thomas or even Charlie & Lola.