The Playdate

We were unsure on this one as a group. The children were not sure on the illustrations in this one compared to some of the other books we have reviewed as the colour palette was a lot more muted. The children did appreciate the use of watercolour in the illustrations as well as some of the fun images but they were concerned with the idea of different social classes with the two adults compared to the two children. They did enjoy spotting the nods to Swedish infrastructure in the book too!

Katie

The St James Shadowers

I think the pictures were interesting as they put the story across in an abstract way. It was a nice example of show not tell.

Willa

Pinewood

I think the pictures were good, I liked the colours. I rate this book ⅘

Chessie

Pinewood

I think this book was quite intense because I felt like you couldn’t stop reading it until you got to the end but I did find the end disturbing because it didn’t tell us what happened with the robot. I liked how the pictures showed the mum cleaning and it wasn’t a proper playdate. I rate this book ⅗

Bea

Pinewood

I really liked the book and when you’re reading it, it makes you not want to stop. The story was really interesting. It was nice that when the mum was working the children were having a playdate but I think at the end of the book it should tell us a bit more so we can see what happens about the robot and the mum taking it back and what Henry said about it. I think the pictures were good at explaining the book in a different way to the words. I liked how we could use the pictures for visual guidance. I rate this book 5/5

Margaux

Pinewood

I found the book a little bit disturbing because it made me feel very sorry for the girl and her mum because it made me realise that there are people in this world who don’t have very much. I think the ending was abrupt and I would have liked to see what happens with the girl, Henry and the robot. I think the illustrations were very beautiful but I think there should have been a bit more colour and detail. I rate this book 3/5

Cecily

Pinewood

The Playdate has ok illustration and is deeper than it looks. The words are pretty basic, but the storyline can be very interesting.

Mendy

Belsize Stories

I liked the book, but I wanted to know the ending, so I wrote what I thought might happen: The little girl took the robot back to Henry. Henry was angry that she took his robot. He asked why she took it. She said it was the thing she most wanted in her entire life. Henry said, "I don't care if it was the most important thing you ever wanted in your whole world and life. You still shouldn't have taken it. It was not ok to take other people's stuff. It's mine, and you still shouldn't have taken it."

John

Inkscape Critics

The book was okay, I wish it were longer. The pictures were very good.

Alfie

Inkscape Critics

It was okay.

erin

Inkscape Critics

I found The Playdate a really nice book to read. I wouldn't of noticed the hidden message in the pictures if somebody hadn't told me. I didn't really like the ending though;it was too quick and abrupt to just be the end. It almost just stopped,but overall I think it was a really nice book.

Evelyn

TGGS Carnegie Readers

I enjoyed this book because it has the sweet storyline of a girl going to a friends house to play. However there is more than first meets the eye, on most pages you can see hidden details indicating the difference in class between the two families. Overall I think this book cleverly represents inequalities in the world through beautiful illustrations.

Nina

TGGS Carnegie Readers

Interesting book and happy ending. I would rate it 4 and a half stars.

Anna Lily

LomondSchoolHelensburgh

Interesting story line and good ending. I would rate this 4 and a half stars.

Anna Lily

LomondSchoolHelensburgh

I liked the book. It was fun to read, two kids went out on a playdate. I think it would be good for younger children to read. It shows lots of messages for younger children to understand, a moral to the story which can be used to help children understand.

Iliyan

Brockhill Book Club

I thought the illustrations were incredibly good, and the story it tells how they are best friends but she ends up taking something from the boy was a good way to show parents showing empathy and understanding to their child. In one of the scenes I liked that the background was detailed as well as the hidden details that I noticed.

Leila

Brockhill Book Club

I think that the book is good becasue it shows different perspectives of different people's lives and experiences. It shows how kids think differently to adults as they play servants and kings the opposite way around to how their life actually is. Their mums are opposite to what they are playing. It shows that even though people might be different due to money, but really everyone is actually the same and shouldn't treat people differently.

Tessa

Brockhill Book Club

I feel like the book was quite sad, the girls didn't actually realise that it wasn't actually a playdate but the mum was going to clean the house. I liked the whole book in general, but I did like how the mum tried to make it fun for her child whislt that she is on a job. It really showed how tricky some things are for single mums and how they have to work so hard. And how lonely it might be for the child. I liked how it showed how the child is aware in their own way that they know about the finance situation with their mum and tries to make her not upset by it. 4/5 for message behind the book - I think that younger children might need a little bit more in terms of explaining what is going on really, but it is an important story.

Holly

Brockhill Book Club

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was such a sweet story! It had a really nice storyline to it. It was very enjoyable and relaxing to read. The illustrations were very detailed and I loved the watercolour artwork - it was really cool! It was so cute, I loved the book. The message of the book did help me learn about other people's experiences

Sophie

Brockhill Book Club