Hieronymus Betts and His Unusual Pets

by M.P. Robertson, Mark Robertson

Hieronymus Betts certainly has some very unusual pets. All of his pets are gruesome and disgusting, but Hieronymus knows of something even slimier than Slugapotamus, fiercer than the grizzly hare, and smellier than Stinker the bog hog! What could it be? Visual jokes and a delightfully disgusting collection of creatures are especially appealing to young readers, and the easy-to-read text is fast-paced, short, and funny.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, France

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 2005

About the author

Mark (M.P) Robertson was born in Parsons Green, London in 1965.

At an early age he moved to a dormitory town where he did his best to sleep through most of his education.

He narrowly managed to acquire the minimum number of 'O' levels to study graphic design at Hounslow Borough College.

After three years he left disillusioned, took a year to ponder his own navel, then returned to take a degree in illustration at Kingston polytechnic.

After leaving in 1988 he was amazed to find people willing to pay him money to do what he enjoyed. He has been capitalizing on this ever since.

His first picture book Seven Ways to Catch the Moon was published in 1999.

He currently lives in Bradford on Avon, near Bath, with his partner Sophy Williams (Also an illustrator) and two boys. He works in his garden shed where he worries about losing his hair.

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creative rhyming picture book about a boy with a variety fantastic and horrific pets, including one that is the scariest, stinkiest, most superlative of all. A silly (and a little bit sweet) book about siblings.

As a bilingual book (I read the French/English edition), the swirling words could be a little challenging to follow on the page, especially when you're following two different languages. The words themselves might not be a great lesson in vocabulary (no real French translation for "porcupython" after all), but the meaning stays the same, and the rhyme and rhythm carry between languages. The pictures are quite imaginative, and probably my favorite part. They are a little on the gross side (some of the animals are the slimiest and messiest, after all) but very creative.

I can see using this as a storytime book (siblings, pets, monsters, and superlatives come to mind as themes), but it would take lots of practice with the swirling text and nonsense words - especially if doing this in a bilingual or French storytime.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hieronymus Betts has unusual, fantastical pets. But they can't compare to his little brother.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hieronymus Betts has some weird animals for pets, but there is something even more weird, smelly, gross, and ferocious than all his pets combined!

The version I used for a monster-themed bilingual story time program is bilingual, but I elected to read it in English versus Spanish for bilingual story time. The Spanish also holds onto the book's rhyming aspect, which is good. One thing that was a bit hard about reading this book to a group is that the text isn't laid out nice and neat, so it's easy to lose your place.

Although it may not be the best book to read to pre-schoolers (development-wise), Spanish and bilingual story time programs tend to draw whole families, so this book was a hit with the elementary school-aged kids who know all about annoying little brothers and love all things that are gross and funny.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork in this book was quite good -- technically -- but not as much fun as I would have expected. The story left me, and more importantly, my six-year-old son, kind of flat. I think because the set-up was greater than the denouement.

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light-hearted little rhyme about a boy with fantastic and horrific pets. Each pet has it's own special attribute - being either the stinkiest, or the scariest, etc. But one "pet" in particular seems to trump them all!

Really interesting and engaging illustrations.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there anything scarier than a porcupython or slimier than a slugapotamus? Yes, there is.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book about all the unusual pets Hieronymus has, none of which are as weird as his little brother.

[aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

my kids absolutely loved this book. i thought it was fine, nothing spectacular. max particularly liked all the gross and "scary" pictures.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sibling relationships even though they are a pain sometimes brothers are fun

[Library Quine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about brothers and gross stuff. Detailed pictures and lots to talk about if you're ready to discuss snot!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Creative, but too gross. Plus the idea of the younger brother being worse than all these gross pets...

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have many, many children's books but this one is still my nephew's favourite.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goofy gross out story that kids will enjoy.