Jamie and Angus Together

Jamie and Angus #2

by Anne Fine, Penny Dale (Illustrator)

Once best friends, always best friends. That's the way it is with Jamie and his toy Highland bull, Angus. In this collection of six stories the pair tackle a lively playmate, get muddled by a pretend game, and discover that playing isn't fun unless they are doing it together.

Genres: Friendship, Family, Animals, Fiction

107 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2007

About the author

Though readers often find themselves inadvertently laughing aloud as they read Anne Fine's novels, as she herself admits, "a lot of my work, even for fairly young readers, raises serious social issues. Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny." In 1994, this unique combination of humour and realism inspired the hit movie MRS. DOUBTFIRE, based on Anne's novel MADAME DOUBTFIRE and starring the late comedic genius Robin Williams.

Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)

Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.

Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.

Reviews

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I loved this book. Another Jamie and Angus book, yes please! It's cozy and sweet and warm, both the stories and illustrations. And it's so British, I can't even. Reading this book is like wrapping yourself in a warm, well-worn blanket. Heaven.

Jamie is a sweet, endearing little boy and Angus is his faithful Highland Bull stuffed friend. Jamie's parents and Uncle Edward are loving, sweet, and fun, perfectly paired with our little hero.

Humorous and full of heart, these stories Jamie and his constant companion Angus will please both young, newly independent transitional readers and the adults who'd read this aloud to their children. Don't miss the first book about Jamie and Angus' adventures, The Jamie and Angus Stories.

[Melissa Dwyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally Rated A by Lois Powers
This easy chapter book has six separate stories about a young boy named Jamie and his stuffed Highland bull, Angus. Jamie wraps Angus as a present when a rambunctious little girl comes to visit. Jamie and Angus are pretending
to be horses that stop to drink at the blue border of his carpet. Jamie decides he wants to play alone but changes his mind when he sees Angus’ sad face. Jamie practices drawing and painting. He goes for a walk with his family in the country and he rearranges his books. This is a sequel to the Jamie and Angus Stories.

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Jamie and Angus stories, just as good as the first. The last story is probably most poignant for moms and dads, as Jamie teeters on the edge of being too grown up for a plushie toy. (Happily, he changes his mind, to his mother and father's evident relief.) As usual, the illustrations manage not only to capture Jamie's moods but also Angus', impressively making the same stuffed toy look nervous, forlorn, or happy and contented as appropriate.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet and gentle stories about a boy and his stuffed highland bull. The depiction of a young child's attachment to a toy is realistic and touching, without ever devolving into adult-isms about how cute it all is. Both the text AND the illustrations manage to convey that magical feeling that one's toys may actually be real; I kept expecting Angus to come to life!

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet easy chapter book about a young boy and his stuffed animal friend. I liked reading it to the boys, but the feeling was not mutual. Eli declared it "too boring". Maybe I should read them Star Wars; they would love it.

[Linda Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie and Angus Together by Anne Fine

This is a really cute adorable story about Jamie and Angus....I love this cute story.

I highly recommend it for young readers - middle grade readers and Adults as well.

I give this Book 5/5 Stars

Happy Reading :)

[Christine Bourgeois]

Darwin liked it. Laughed a lot when Jamie's uncle acts scandalized by the cows toilet manners.

[Byron Bibliotherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of laughs from 8yo daughter as we listened to this together. Anne Fine does a wonderful job of narrating her own stories, which are perfectly pitched and crafted.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Jamie, young boy and his soft toy Angus. The stories are good for the young readers.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are stories about a boy and his stuffed Highland Bull. The stories would be good for children 3-8 years old.

[Dietrich West-Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's book. About 3rd-4th grade reading level. A good read out loud book. With each story a topic to discuss. A moral/lesson that you can address either as a teacher or a parent.
A sweet book.