Chris Riddell

I think this would be a great book to share with 5 to 7 year olds. The illustrations are fun and clever (did you notice how Ottoline is always wearing two different shoes?) and the story is engaging (a series of burglaries are curiously connected with a group of missing lapdogs). I can definitely see the comparisons to [b:Eloise|782854|Eloise (Eloise Series)|Kay Thompson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178302634s/782854.jpg|768864].

I enjoyed how interactive the text was, as if the author anticipated the questions that might come up when reading and tried to point the reader to the answer. There were also some great jokes, like the bear who lives in the laundry room and steals single socks.

Highly recommended. First book in a series.… (mere)

I was given this book years ago but just never actually finished it. I started it once and just didn't finish it. I'm a little older the intended audience (in fact I already was when I was gifted it) but this was a fun little quick read. I do think younger me would have enjoyed it more though so it's a pity I didn't come across it sooner.

I watched (again only part of) the movie a few years back and the tone of the book is so different. Coraline is a bit of a brat at the start (although understandably so since this is just hw young kids are). She does, however, clearly mean well and I enjoyed seeing her grow into a better person through her experiences (she definitely made some rather mature discoveries). This is definitely creepy as far as children's stories go and I can definitely recommend it to older children and younger teenagers who love horror (and to those young at heart or just enjoy children's and middle grade books of course Or just those who are interested although you may find the writing a bit more simple than what you are used to if you usually read books intended for older audiences)

Oh and Riddell's illustrations were spectacular as always!… (mere)