Print Review: There's Nobody Meaner than Cousin Georgina

     "There's Nobody Meaner than Cousin Georgina" by Bernard Gallate, is a childrens' book published in 2000. Like my last review, I have liked this book for a long time. Although, because I received it when I was around two years old, it has been collecting dust on the bookshelf for a good six or so years. 

           The back of the book reads:

"When Cousin Georgina comes to play,

it's double trouble for poor Harry.

"A hilarious picture book about those

relations we sometimes

could do without!"

        This book is about a boy named Harry, whose cousin, Georgina, comes to visit his family for a week during the holidays (equivalent to summer vacation.) The minute she arrives in Harry's home, she is very irritating towards him; not only does Georgina make him sleep on the collapsible bed and make him dress up as a tree, but she also shaves his head, and throws him in the lions' enclosure at the zoo! In the end, she slightly redeems herself by saving Harry from a bully twice his size.

        One of my favourite parts of the book, is its rhyming paragraphs. If I were to have stayed in Melbourne, I wouldn't have noticed this, but the book can only rhyme with an Australian accent. If I were to choose a worse part in the book, it would have to be some of the irrelevant illustrations. While I understand they're there to be humorous, they make no sense, and have no relevance when it comes to the book.

       This book is, and always has been, near to my heart. Four days from my first birthday, my cousin, Lachlan, was born. For my second birthday, (where he had just turned one,) my aunt and uncle bought me this book. At the time, he was my only cousin and I was his, therefore we could easily relate to the book. (Today, we both have annoying ten year-old brothers.) Of course, I'd like to think of myself as less troublesome than the Georgina in the book. This also connects to me, because I have another little second cousin, whose name is Harry.

         Overall, this book is funny, entertaining, and connects to me in a personal way. Starting on a humorous note, then climaxing to a more emotional scene, then ending in an entertaining way, is one of the keys to writing a true childrens' story book.

★★★★☆

8/10