Not Now, Bernard: Board Book: 1

Product Information

That volatility – two general elections and three changes of prime minister in six years – is a function of the struggle to turn an ideal Brexit, nurtured in the parochial Eurosceptic imagination, into a reality-based Brexit involving other countries and real people’s jobs. However, because the behaviour of the parents is highlighted, it makes us feel differently about the story. During the story Bernard comes across a monster in his garden and goes in to tell his mother who responds with 'not now, Bernard', as the story carries on Bernard gets eaten up by the monster. Children get it, it's not scary, just funny, the illustrations are very clear and the characters are brilliant. His books have been published in countless languages throughout the world, and many of them have been adapted for television.

Another favourite from my childhood that I wanted to revisit as a parent, I certainly didn't remember it being so bleak! For his contribution as a children's illustrator he was UK nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006. Business investment has been flat since the referendum, in large part because the political climate has been so unpredictable.

The teacher could pretend to be the TV presenter and set the scene, three children could act as the mum, dad and Bernard. A wonderful book that doesn't mince words (or pictures) to tell you the importance of paying attention to your child. Liz Truss, the likely winner of the leadership contest, insists otherwise with the vehemence of a zealous convert. This is a children's classic that children will relate to, with mother being too busy (on her phone? This story could be explored and taught in a variety of contexts, firstly the teacher could read the text to the children to enable them to get to know the characters and the plot.

Labour, unwilling to adopt the former stance and afraid of being cast in the latter one, says nothing meaningful on the subject.

My favourite bit is the look on the monster's face when he realises he has doomed himself to a life of suburban maltreatment. Great book, just as I remember it, but reading it as an adult, you have to think it has some questionable messages. To me, this book was quite sad as Bernard is left vying for his parents' attention, but to no avail. This short, simple story tackles the issue of a young boy who tries to get the attention of his mum and dad, and yet every attempt is met with a "Not now, Bernard".

Kirkus Reviews were doubtful it would appeal to children, and many reviewers thought it would frighten them, as the book's child hero is eaten. The next resident of 10 Downing Street will find the garden crawling with monstrous economic and political menaces. With his dad barely there (he’s only in two parts) and his mum only offering practical support - making him dinner, making him go to bed - Bernard is pretty much on his own, nobody eats with him and he’s expected to take himself to bed.Britain’s self-exclusion from continental markets is not the biggest cause of present economic pain but it will be hard to imagine remedies in the absence of any rational audit of that decision or any reexamination of the ideological fixations that provoked it. The campaign would be fought on the economy and the smart thing for an ambitious young minister to do was back the winning side. After hearing this book in a seminar it’s really made me think of how this could be incorporated into many cross curricular aspects in school.

For at least one more week, British politics is contained in that sealed chamber where there is a Boris legacy to celebrate, where the solution to poverty is corporate tax cuts, where the solution to everything is tax cuts, where tax cuts have no impact on public service budgets, where life outside the EU is all upside and can only get better.For parents, it's actually a good reminder that, if you don't give your children enough positive attention, they will soon turn into little monsters. It is a thin volume about denial and negligence, making its point with few words and colourful illustrations. It's a very simple story for the very young and I think would be ideal for reading aloud to a reception or KS1 class. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Loved by children, monsters and adults alike for almost 40 years, David McKee's iconic picture book is available for the first time ever as board book.