00002201

This is a very bizarre but surprisingly charming book to read as a grown up. Mr Ape (short for Archibald Peregrine Edmund) is a very wealthy old man who owns a stately home. His wife and children leave him ('For most people this would have been upsetting, but though at first surprised by it, Ape found he was really rather relieved.') So he does what makes him happy, which is filling his entire house with animals and eating Jammy Dodgers and Wagon Wheels.

It's... odd. He makes friends with a gypsy family when their donkey strays onto his estate, and while it's all a jolly jape as there are chickens in the drawing room and rabbits in the music room, there is a very bittersweet awareness of 'I'm worried about Mr Ape, it's all getting out of hand.'

And then he accidentally burns down the entire stately home while having a bonfire, and goes off to live with the gypsies in a caravan.

This book, like Mr Ape, is delightfully mad, and probably not wise, but very enjoyable. ( )

Mr Ape is an elderly man who lives on his own in a large stately home. His children have grown up and moved away, and his wife has left him. It’s not a very auspicious start to a children’s book, but only mentioned in passing.

Mr Ape decides to keep some hens in what used to be his drawing room... which is the start of a major venture into animal-keeping. He meets the Romany travellers Joe and his son Jake, with whom he becomes very friendly. Each chapter is somewhat complete in itself, as Mr Ape gradually acquires more and more animals, until about two-thirds of the way through when a party turns into a disaster....

I read it aloud (more than once) to my three-year-old grandson who was mesmerised, repeatedly asking for ‘another chapter!’ each time I finished one. The writing is good; I skipped a couple of words here and there, and one or two descriptions, but overall I liked the book very much.

Recommended to fluent readers, or as a good read-aloud for any child who likes to listen to this kind of book. There are simple line drawings every two or three pages; there is a good pace and an exciting climax. ( )

When Archibald Peregrine Edmund Spring-Russel (Ape, for short) finds himself living alone for the first time in his life, he's finally free to do exactly what he pleases.

Mr. Archibald Peregrine Edmund Spring-Russell of Penny Royal is know to the few friends he has had as Ape. A name that fitted him as he was very tall, with long arms and shuffled as he walked. He is now living in the large estate by himself. His children have grown and moved out. His bossy wife decided she was tired of the large house and Ape so she has left. He is on his own.

He also finds that he can now do as he pleases. The wife said no to many things, but now he is free to do as he pleases. One thing he decides is that he doesn't need the whole house to live in. The kitchen is the important room, so he moves his bed in and closes off the bedrooms. The kitchen is quite large so this is easy. He can cook and eat the foods he likes and when he likes.

Another thing he can do is have animals! The wife did not allow any pets. Mr. Ape decides he wants chickens. When he goes to the pet store he can't decide on just one or two, he buys them all! These are just the beginning to his menagerie. Rabbits, guinea pigs, canaries and more!

When it seems things are getting a little out of hand, he makes the acquaintance of Joe and his son Jake, Gypsies who are living near by in their caravan. They help with the care of the animals and a great friendship develops between them.

To tell more would to be to give it all away. I have read other books by Dick King-Smith and found them to also be enjoyable. The stories are entertaining and there can be a lot to take away for kids and adults. Easily read in one sitting. ( )