Older Not Wiser (Bad Nana, Book 1)

Bad Nana, Older Not Wiser, tells the tale of seven year old Jeanie's rather unusual Grandmother. As a primary school teacher, I often find myself biting my lip trying hard not to laugh at something a child might have said or done. However, Bad Nana doesn't seem to have the same 'limit switch' most adults have, and this leads to all sorts of outrageous behaviour and adventures for Bad Nana and Jeanie. Cheeky and sometimes rude, Bad Nana's behaviour usually results in 'BIG TROUBLE'; she should know better but she doesn't and Jeanie regularly finds herself hoping that her Nana will not do anything to embarrass her. So, when Bad Nana offers to help on a school trip to the local museum, there's a good chance that she will be up to her usual fun and games and Jeanie can't do anything to stop it. Bad Nana always dresses in black, from the top of her head to the tip of her shoes and on super-special occasions she adds a sparkly pink turban. This is reflected in the book's bright pink and black print. This book is absolutely perfect for able young readers (6-8 years) looking for their first step into longer chapter books. Each chapter reads as a short standalone adventure of Nana's mischievous behaviour; perfect for children starting to read on their own, or as a class shared read or bedtime story to chuckle over. 152 pages / Ages 6-8 / Reviewed by Sam Phillips, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 5+

Bad Nana: Older not wiser is a brightly illustrated delight for children beginning to read chapter books as it is split into three sections. The whole book is told from the point of view of Jeanie, the 7 3/4 year old granddaughter of Bad Nana. The first section is an introduction to the characters, filled with hilarious facts about Jeanie and her family. We meet her three best friends (although, Marcy is sometimes THE best friend) and her annoying younger brother, Jack. Most importantly, we are introduced to Bad Nana (not her actual name, but no one can remember that) who likes a little bit of twinkle, copious amounts of lemon sherbets, and has a pink cat. The second and third sections are short stories about Bad Nana's exploits. 'Park Life' involves Bad Nana behaving mischievously towards the miserable park keeper who is ruining everyone's fun at the park. In 'Bad Nana lends a hand', Jeanie is worried about her Nana being a helper on a school trip. However, it turns out that Bad Nana is just the right sort of helper to have when they encounter an angry museum man. The neon illustrations run throughout the book, perfectly accompanying the witty descriptions of Bad Nana. Children of all ages could enjoy this book, but it is particularly suited to children around the same age as Jeanie. It could be read to younger children or those just starting to read chapter books could read it independently. I can see children drawing similarities in the description of Bad Nana and and their own Nana! On more than one occasion, I was reminded of my Nana (mainly because of the ginormous handbag containing everything including the kitchen sink!). 152 pages / Ages 6-8 / Reviewed by Kristen Hopwood, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 5+