Kid Konnection: Nanny McPhee Returns

Isabel and Rory Green and their three children live happily on their farm in the English countryside until Rory is called to fight in the war.  The family does the best they can to cope, but find it difficult, as most families would.  When their rich cousins come from London to stay with them during the war, they instantly clash with the Green children.  Out of nowhere, Nanny McPhee shows up and tells them “when you need me but do not want me, then I must stay.  When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go.”  Nanny has five lessons to teach the children.

In the meantime, Rory’s brother is doing his best to take possession of the farm.  It seems he will stop at nothing to do it, too.  The children realize it’s up to them to save the family farm, and with the help of Nanny McPhee, they set out to do just that and learn some valuable lessons along the way.

Nanny McPhee Returns by Emma Thompson is really two stories in one.  The main story is the fictional account of  Nanny McPhee and the Green family.  Interspersed with that story is a diary that Emma Thompson kept while they were filming the movie version of the book.

I found the story of Nanny McPhee to be loads of fun!  I think it will really appeal to the intended audience of older middle grade to younger young adult readers.  It’s full of action and young readers will enjoy the strong juvenile characters in the book.  They’ll also appreciate the silliness of Nanny McPhee.

I found the diary to be a little bit disruptive to the storyline with the way it was injected periodically into the story.  I also found it to be written at a more adult level than the story.  Thankfully, it was short and I was able to get back into the story quickly.

There is a glossary of movie terms in the back that young movie buffs and future film makers will enjoy.  I even learned what a gaffer is – he’s the one in charge of all the sparks, who are the people in charge of the lights and the generators.

Overall, I thought this was an entertaining book that will appeal to young readers.  Check back on Monday – I’ll be giving away three Nanny McPhee prize packs!

For more children’s books reviews, go to Booking Mama’s feature, Kid Konnection. If you’d like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children’s books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week,  leave a comment as well as a link on her site.

Review copy provided by Big Honcho Media.   I am an Indiebound Affliate.