With thanks to ‘Books+Publishing’ magazine for the ARC and the opportunity to review.
Anders Sparring’s The Pinchers and the Diamond Heist is a first-in-series chapter book that ticks many boxes young primary school children love: comedy, crime and fun family connections.
Opening with introductions to the Pincher family, we learn about their likes and strengths and get a feel for the humour and style to follow, reminiscent of David Walliams. For instance, their first names are all puns based on thieving, which is the family trade. Our reluctant hero, the son, Theo, is the exception. He (much to his mother’s disappointment) cannot tell a lie and, worse still, wants to be a police officer when he grows up. A diamond heist is in the offing, and we see Theo attempting to foil his parents’ thieving plans.
The quirky headings for the short chapters hint at the upcoming events and conclude with cliffhangers, compelling readers to turn the page. The language (translated from its original Swedish) is accessible to the intended audience, as is the fast-paced action. Per Gustavsson’s full-colour illustrations are bright, appealing and well-integrated with the text, providing ‘extra’ content for readers to explore.
The full cast of characters, strategically-placed clues and slapstick comedy make this a terrific classroom read-aloud book, and independent readers will laugh at the silliness and enjoy understanding the adventure for themselves. The inclusion of some fun interactive ‘crime-based’ activities also cleverly extends reader engagement beyond the last page.