There can’t be a mum in the country who doesn’t identify with Mrs Large, wrapped in her comfortable dressing gown, doing her best to get away from her children for just five minutes peace (and managing a scant three minutes forty-five seconds)! It is 30 years since the book was first published – this handsome new hardback marks the anniversary – and it’s just as funny, accurate and real a portrait of family life as it was when it first came out. Jill Murphy’s comic timing – in words and pictures – is impeccable, and this is a book that truly deserves its status as a classic.
Reviewed by Andrea Reece Andrea Reece has spent almost her entire working life in children’s books, first as publisher, latterly as consultant, project manager and critic. More reviews by Andrea Reece
About Five Minutes' Peace
Celebrate forty glorious years of the Large family in this stunning anniversary edition of a modern picture book classic.
Celebrate forty glorious years of the Large family in this stunning anniversary edition of a modern picture book classic.
A gorgeous 40th anniversary edition of a family picture book favourite with a shiny gold foil cover! This is the story of Mrs Large the elephant – who just needs five minutes of peace and quiet away from her boisterous children! So, taking refuge in the bathroom, she fills herself a hot, foamy bubble bath and takes in a tray of her favourite breakfast and the morning paper.
But there’s never a dull moment with the Large family, and it soon becomes clear that mum's quiet time is to be very short-lived! Family life is beautifully observed in this warm and funny modern classic from Jill Murphy.
"If you are not familiar with these stories, you really have not lived ... you just couldn't get better" Guardian
Author
About Jill Murphy
One of the World Book Day 2014 Authors
Jill Murphy is one of Britain’s most treasured author–illustrators. She wrote and illustrated her first book, the bestselling The Worst Witch, while still only eighteen, and went on to create the award-winning Large family series, which has sold over five million copies worldwide and been adapted for television. Jill’s other characters include a small monster called Marlon who starred in the acclaimed picture books The Last Noo-Noo and All for One, and Ruby the bunny, who stars in Jill's latest picture book, Meltdown! Jill lives in Cornwall.
Celebrate forty glorious years of the Large family in this stunning anniversary edition of a modern picture book classic. A gorgeous 40th anniversary edition of a family picture book favourite with a shiny gold foil cover!
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Five Minutes' Peace and determined it is suitable for children aged 0-4 years old
Five Minutes' Peace features in the following genres: Books for Babies and Toddlers, Featured Books for 3+ readers, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Funny, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback, Hardback, Board book. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Five Minutes' Peace was written by Jill Murphy and published by Walker Books Ltd an imprint of Walker Books