Pippin and Pod

Michelle Cartlidge is one of my class' favourite authors. Her appeal is for the whole Infant age band, with older ones fascinated by her illustrations and the details of things to make suggested in some of her books, while the younger ones just like the comfortable everyday quality of the stories. Pippin and Pod are two mischievous mice who don't stay with their mother on a shopping expedition to the market but get up to all manner of tricks - by this time the younger ones have either grins of glee or smug solemn shock-horror expressions on their faces! The adventures turn suddenly nasty when some big boys come along and tease them, pretending to take Pod away, and their situation becomes more frightening when they realise they are lost. A real old-fashioned cautionary tale allowing children to feel safe and superior but with an important message that doesn't fail to get across.