'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Wednesday 18 January 2023

Review: Not Me

Parents don’t exactly love it when they find dirty socks all over the floor. 

I guess I get it, but when it isn’t your fault — when YOU didn’t leave them on the floor — it’s not very nice to be accused of committing the crime.

But this is exactly what happens to our brother/sister protagonist duo in the humorous Not Me by Elise Gravel.

But it’s cool. The kids know who did it. And they’re happy to tell dad who the real culprit is… because it was Not Me.

Dad (of course) is not impressed, and thinks the kids are trying to get out of cleaning up. Can they prove to dad they didn’t do it? Or will Not Me get away with making a mess once again?

Not Me is a silly, funny story that pokes fun at the excuses and statements we so often make when there’s a mess to be cleaned and we don’t want to clean it (even if we made the mess!).

It’s a simple story delivered through dialogue, but it’s oh-so-giggle-inducing and just a lot of fun — for both kids and adults.

Gravel’s illustrations are funky and bold, and lots of white space lets the dialogue shine and the humour of the story be the star of the show.

Good fun and a quick read, the kids will love this one.

Title: Not Me
Author/Illustrator: Elise Gravel
Publisher: Scholastic, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 January 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761209185
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book