A Little Bit of Mischief - Softcover

By choosing the image of the wheelchair-bound girl for its cover, illustrator Graham Howells reveals the main character of this heartening picture book by Jenny Sullivan: it is Howellss brilliance with facial expressions apparent throughout which keeps the reader guessing. Could such a person be responsible for a little bit of mischief? Cari is under a bad-tempered black cloud and isnt looking forward to the school trip to Cardiff Bays Techniquest Science Centre. Confinement, restriction and negativity dominate whilst her friends can go anywhere they like, and do whatever they like, as they enjoy the thrill of the hands-on exhibits. Cari feels she has no choice, rejecting every offer of support and encouragement. She eventually discovers a display which captures her imagination, and also finds a really good place to hide ... Having escaped from her carer Elin and the rest of the school group, Cari wanders excitedly around the wheelchair-friendly interactive experiments, and is caught up in their wonder while enjoying her new found freedom. Indoor thunderstorms are amazing and larger-than-life musical instruments are cool. Unaccompanied, she rides up and down in the lift four times! And when classmate Darren appears, despite informing Ceri of the panic her separation from the group has caused, the pair gleefully continue the tour together. Needless to say the staff are relieved but angry when they return; they certainly hadnt expected Cari to be the mischevious one! Jenny Sullivans well-paced narrative of a fictional visit by a school pupil to an actual venue does justice to the exhibition, whilst presenting a credible teenager with additional needs, real concerns and frustrations. The book displays natural language presented in a lively manner which young readers will appreciate, along with a sensitive understanding of both the able and disabled. This, combined with Howellss accomplished contemporary graphics in strong colours, has produced a book which may prove inspiring to anyone arranging an educational visit, whilst at the same time emphasising that we can all make the most of all opportunities made available to us, whatever our personal circumstances. M. Lorna Herbert Egan It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddior adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. -- Welsh Books Council