From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6–Cassian, Primrose, and Daisy, children of rich Papa Darling, are neglected and unloved. Their mother disappeared without a word and since then they have been cared for by a revolving door of nannies, each one more horrible than the last. Throughout these bad times, the children have cultivated their own special talents. Cassian's love of machines, Primrose's culinary skills, and Daisy's deep understanding of psychology enable the siblings to band together and ultimately reunite their parents. One part Pippi Longstocking, two parts Lemony Snicket,
Little Darlings is a cleverly written satire on the ingenuity of children and the callous materialism of the British upper classes. The narrative slows at times with the introduction of myriad absurd characters, and the use of British slang and dialect, although appropriate for the novel, might be problematic for less competent readers. While the story might find fans with readers hungry for more Lemony Snicket-type books, others should consider this novel only as a secondary purchase.
–Melissa Christy Buron, Epps Island Elementary, Houston, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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édition.
When they're naughty, they're very, very naughty--but when they're bad, they're horrid. The three Darling children spend most of their time trying to get rid of their nannies--and succeeding--until they come across Nanny Pete from the AAA Aardvark Childminding and Security Agency. Simon Shepherd narrates Llewellyn's clever, fast-paced story. As Primrose, Cassian, and Daisy Darling electrocute, custardize, concuss, and otherwise make life miserable for their nannies, Shepherd slips easily into a wide assortment of voices and personalities. Challenging vocabulary describing comic book situations makes this satirical look at the lifestyle of the disgustingly wealthy--adults and children--especially suitable to the youngster with an offbeat sense of humor. Shepherd's handling of Llewellyn's material is appropriately twisted, definitely enthusiastic, and completely engaging. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
