Dilly Cooper: Hat-Astrophe

Dilly Cooper is just trying to get along at school without making big waves. While she can manage the teasing of the ‘Goon Boys’ and the slightly annoying adoration of her family friend ‘Stinky Jones’, Dilly struggles with the mean behaviour of Rose Thorn, her arch enemy. Rose appears to be perfect in every way to others, but Dilly is on the receiving end of some very poor behaviour from this top girl. In fact Rose’s whole family, including their dog, seem to have it in for Dilly. Bad goes to worse when Dilly’s teacher is replaced by the fearsome Mrs Sneddle, who openly dislikes her and adores Rose.

Dilly is extremely likeable and is stoic in her approach to life. With parents who appear not to listen, a very badly behaved teacher and class mates that have been dazzled by Rose, she is grateful for the support of her best friend Belle, and occasionally even of Stinky’s.

I read this to my ten year old daughter who absolutely loved the honesty of Dilly, the absence of didactic writing, the blatant unfairness of the situations she found herself in, the imperfect but loving parents and that the people who cared about Dilly had her back in the end. The story did leave you with the message that life can be tough but you that you can get through with a little help from your friends (and family).

Title: Dilly Cooper: Hat-Astrophe

Author & Illustrator: Moira Siobhan

Publisher: Austin Macauley

ISBN: 9781528986120

RRP: $21

Format: Paperback

Publication: November 2020

Ages: 8+

Reviewer: Kirsten Puddick, Librarian, Holy Cross School, Miramar, Wellington

How are you recommending this book? Highly Recommended

Opening sentence? I don’t like going to school.

You can buy this book here