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HARPERCOLLINSCHILDRENSBOOKS Pernickety Boo.
Written by Carnegie and Costa Award-winning author Sally Gardner, beautifully illustrated throughout with stunning illustrations from Greenaway-shortlisted artist Chris Mould, and filled with heart, humour and imagination, Pernickety Boo is the unforgettable, magical story of a very unusual umbrella.
'Hello,' said the umbrella.'Gosh,' said the boy. The umbrella's handle was carved in the shape of a dog’s head, with a very long snout and a shiny nose and ears that flopped back. 'You can talk.''I suppose I can,' said the umbrella.'Do you have a name?' asked the boy.'No,' said the umbrella. 'Do I need a name?''Yes,' said the small boy. 'You need one for someone to let you in at the front door, and another name to be let out the back door.'
Brought to life by a careless sorcerer, Pernickety Boo is a well-educated umbrella with unexplored magical powers – and after he is left behind on the London Underground by his forgetful creator, Pernickety must find an someone who will truly love him.
So when Pernickety meets young Sylvie Moonshine and is welcomed into her home, he thinks that all of his prayers have been answered. But there are plenty of other people who are also interested in the magical umbrella, and who threaten to separate Pernickety from his beloved Sylvie, unless he can find a way to stop them.
Perfect for fans of A Bear Called Paddington, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Winnie-the-Pooh, this instant classic is a book for the whole family to share.
'Hello,' said the umbrella.'Gosh,' said the boy. The umbrella's handle was carved in the shape of a dog’s head, with a very long snout and a shiny nose and ears that flopped back. 'You can talk.''I suppose I can,' said the umbrella.'Do you have a name?' asked the boy.'No,' said the umbrella. 'Do I need a name?''Yes,' said the small boy. 'You need one for someone to let you in at the front door, and another name to be let out the back door.'
Brought to life by a careless sorcerer, Pernickety Boo is a well-educated umbrella with unexplored magical powers – and after he is left behind on the London Underground by his forgetful creator, Pernickety must find an someone who will truly love him.
So when Pernickety meets young Sylvie Moonshine and is welcomed into her home, he thinks that all of his prayers have been answered. But there are plenty of other people who are also interested in the magical umbrella, and who threaten to separate Pernickety from his beloved Sylvie, unless he can find a way to stop them.
Perfect for fans of A Bear Called Paddington, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Winnie-the-Pooh, this instant classic is a book for the whole family to share.
- GenresFantasy
208 pages, Hardcover
Published August 29, 2024
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Sally Gardner
116 books631 followersAKA Wray Delaney
Sally Gardner grew up and still lives in London. Being dyslexic, she did not learn to read or write until she was fourteen and had been thrown out of several schools, labeled unteachable, and sent to a school for maladjusted children. Despite this, she gained a degree with highest honors at a leading London art college, followed by a scholarship to a theater school, and then went on to become a very successful costume designer, working on some notable productions.
After the births of twin daughters and a son, she started first to illustrate and then to write picture books and chapter books, usually with fairytale- or otherwise magical subject matter. She has been called 'an idiosyncratic genius' by London’s Sunday Times.
Sally Gardner grew up and still lives in London. Being dyslexic, she did not learn to read or write until she was fourteen and had been thrown out of several schools, labeled unteachable, and sent to a school for maladjusted children. Despite this, she gained a degree with highest honors at a leading London art college, followed by a scholarship to a theater school, and then went on to become a very successful costume designer, working on some notable productions.
After the births of twin daughters and a son, she started first to illustrate and then to write picture books and chapter books, usually with fairytale- or otherwise magical subject matter. She has been called 'an idiosyncratic genius' by London’s Sunday Times.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 5, 2025
Paddington but if he was a magical umbrella instead of a bear, and also abandoned at Embankment rather than Paddington.
Ideally for readers coming to the end of 5-8 reading but not quite ready for 9-12, though I would say the full magic of reading this book would be at bedtime with little ones. Many a profound thought tucked away amongst the magic for both adult and child to mull over.
For myself, I can mainly say that I hope we get more adventures of Pernickety Boo and Sylvie Moonshine soon.
Ideally for readers coming to the end of 5-8 reading but not quite ready for 9-12, though I would say the full magic of reading this book would be at bedtime with little ones. Many a profound thought tucked away amongst the magic for both adult and child to mull over.
For myself, I can mainly say that I hope we get more adventures of Pernickety Boo and Sylvie Moonshine soon.
November 24, 2024
Absolutely precious - so cute and quirky. A mix of roald dahl and Chris riddell with a magically enchanted umbrella with a dog head handle who can speak and do magic, left in the lost property office, and bought buy a little girl who loves him so. It’s quirky, funny, original, diverse, and sweet! A great bedtime story or in between book for learning readers - vocab was excellent too!
January 22, 2025
A gentle, witty, glorious story about a magic umbrella and his best friend Sylvie Moonshine and their everyday adventures. No preaching, no issues, just fabulous characters and storytelling. The illustrations by Chris Mould brings the characters to life. Everyone will want a Pernickity Boo. Perfect for 7+
October 20, 2024
Lovely illustrations- whimsical fantasy about finding your family. Delightful
December 9, 2025
😞It unfortunately did not live up to my expectations.
This could have been a brilliant book given that Pernickety Boo is one of the sweetest characters I have ever come across. 💚And the illustrations are wonderful! So is the beginning of the book. Several things made me lose interest and frustrated me, especially one, but I won't get into that. I will say that detest circuses where animals are used and abused, so I did not fancy that part at all despite it being "quite innocent". Nor did I enjoy the clichés (the mischievous boy, etc).
Pernickety Boo, the adorable glove-nibbling dog-umbrella, deserves a better story, more whimsical and original. I would have loved, for instance, a focus on the paradise of lost objects, their secret adventures. Anyway, I am sure many kids and adults will adore this little book. :)
This could have been a brilliant book given that Pernickety Boo is one of the sweetest characters I have ever come across. 💚And the illustrations are wonderful! So is the beginning of the book. Several things made me lose interest and frustrated me, especially one, but I won't get into that. I will say that detest circuses where animals are used and abused, so I did not fancy that part at all despite it being "quite innocent". Nor did I enjoy the clichés (the mischievous boy, etc).
Pernickety Boo, the adorable glove-nibbling dog-umbrella, deserves a better story, more whimsical and original. I would have loved, for instance, a focus on the paradise of lost objects, their secret adventures. Anyway, I am sure many kids and adults will adore this little book. :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews