Little Horror
Daniel Peak
I truly enjoyed reading this book although the cover is perhaps misleading for the genre of book.
The narrator, baby Rita, turns two during the course of the story. She is exceptional, and hides a big secret. Rita is able to think and talk like an adult, and has taught herself to read and write. The real trouble begins when she accidentally reveals her skills to her dubious babysitter.
The story moves at a pace, is humorous and clever, with well drawn characters in settings that lend themselves to adventure. A nursery, soft play centre and derelict house in a park, where the roundabout affords children 360 vision, are all part of the journey to find other special children and the evil scientist, who tries to abduct Rita from her nursery.
This story poses questions about adult perceptions of childhood and successfully revisits the ideas explored in Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, of children being cleverer than adults. Like Matilda,
Rita is a funny, brave and tenacious hero, making her an empowering role model. Adults be very aware, toddlers may not be all they seem.
Published by Firefly Press (192 pages)
