006 and a Half: A Daisy Book - Hardcover

Gray, Kes; Sharratt, Nick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 081091719X ISBN 13: 9780810917194

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2007

Synopsis

Move over, James Bond—
Daisy is going undercover!

In this hilarious third book in the quickly growing series, Daisy decides she wants to play her favorite dress-up game: spies! But how can she accomplish her missions if no one understands her secret code language? Daisy is almost ready to call it quits when her mom gets into the action, and Daisy realizes that being a spy just might run in the family. The special friendship shared by a mother and daughter shines through this new Daisy tale, as does the fun.

Children’s Book of the Month Club selection

About this title

About the Authors

Kes Gray was called one of the top ten children’s authors in the U.K. by The Independent. His book Eat Your Peas, the first of several titles in the acclaimed Daisy series, won the coveted overall prize at the 2001 Children’s Book Awards. Kes also works as an advertising copywriter. He lives in Essex, England, with his wife and children.

Nick Sharratt has written and illustrated many books for children and won numerous awards for his picture books, including the 2001 Children’s Book Award for Eat Your Peas. He has also enjoyed great success illustrating Jacqueline Wilson’s award-winning books. Nick lives in Brighton, England.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 1—When Daisy plays at being a spy, and speaks in a special code language, no one understands her and she remains miserably alone. But her mother, who is a good sport, disguises herself as a mysterious stranger and joins in the game. Quirky cartoon illustrations are just right for this offbeat story. Daisy sports oversized sunglasses and a mustache, and arms herself with "secret spy gadgets"—a hair dryer becomes a "baddie zapper," and a brush turns into a telephone. The warm relationship between the six-and-a-half-year-old and her mother, who not only understands but also participates in her daughter's make-believe play, gives this title an edge over other picture books about imagination. It should find a welcome readership.—Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
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In this new book about young Daisy, she is disguised with sunglasses and marker mustache, prepared with her "secret baddie zapper" (Mom's hairdryer), and ready to play spy--but the newly self-named 006 and a Half is soon frustrated when neither neighbor nor friend understands her secret spy language. Surely any spy knows "the ostriches will be swimming in tomato sauce this evening" means she wants ketchup-covered chicken nuggets for dinner. Returning home discouraged, Daisy encounters a mysterious, purple-mustached-and-bearded spy 0035 and a Half. It's Mom, who can share both coded language and cozy times. The droll, descriptive narrative conveys Daisy's playtime challenges, joys, and an affectionate mother-daughter relationship; colorful, cartoonish, simply rendered art is expressive, humorously contrasting what Daisy says and means in her secret language with the literal meanings others hear and visualize. Readers, kids and adults, will appreciate how Gray shows that family support and shared activities are rewarding on many levels. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 081091719X
• ISBN 13: 9780810917194
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32