The New Neighbours

The animal residents of Pickle Rye have new neighbours. Mr Pigeon delivered the good news to the children of Mr and Mrs Rabbit, whilst they played up on the roof of the apartment building. They squealed with glee to hear that their new neighbours would be rats! The bunnies rush off to tell the rest of their family the exciting news - they have rats in their flats! Big sister Lettuce was a little uncertain at the news, she had never lived with Rats before and wondered what best friend Vern the sheep would say about the new residents. Vern was less then impressed, worried that the new neighbours would be untidy. It was decided that the neighbours of the tower block should gather and figure out what to do. As the animals gathered, the rumours and prejudiced feelings regarding the rats grew stronger. The pigs, whilst living quite untidily themselves, felt that the rats should know the rules about keeping the building spic and span. The polar bears were very concerned that the rats would steal their food. The yaks felt that the rats might chew and destroy the building. Granny goat was the most alarmed of all, determined that the whole apartment block would be buried alive in rat poo! Convinced that the new neighbour's arrival was an emergency situation, everyone decided to pay them a visit but no one wanted to be the first to knock on the door. Eventually Mrs Rat, a very friendly and tidy looking creature, open the door. She was soon joined by her husband, equally friendly and immaculately dressed. They invited the very embarrassed residents of Pickle Rye into their new home for a piece of cake. Ashamed of their ignorance, the animals now realise how lovely their new neighbours are and how welcome they should have made them feel. This is an insightful book which can be enjoyed on several levels. Sarah McIntyre's humorous text and wacky characters are a joy to read. As the tensions rise amongst the residents of Pickle Rye, hilarious chaos ensues. More importantly this book deals with the issue of how ignorance can lead to feelings of prejudice and intolerance. Sarah has created a beautifully illustrated book, colourful and engaging, which teaches a powerful message, one that is especially important for a multicultural society. Picture book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Emily Beale, school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 3+