Frances Bloom by Katrina Nannestad. Illus. by Marina Zlatanova

Frances Bloom written by Australian author Katrina Nannestad is a delightful novel perfect for those early year students transitioning to chapter books as well as younger middle grade children who enjoy a story with a sense of humour, accessible text and illustrations throughout.

Eight-year-old Frances Bloom happily lives on her own. She posted her parents to South Sandwich Island because they were grumpy and bossy and has a wonderful time doing exactly what she wants, dressing how she wants and eating what she wants. All was going perfectly fine until her teacher, the horrible Ms Thistle, demanded that Frances bring her parents to the school concert. As Frances’s parents were no longer at home she told her teacher her grandparents looked after her. Ms Thistle did not believe that either and saw this as a chance to rid the school of Frances and have her sent to Bleak Island Home for Unwanted Children and Dogs.

Frances decides to make a list of what she thinks she wants in grandparents and goes on a search to find some suitable candidates. Her final choices, a honey-coloured hungry bear and a garden gnome who spends his day fishing, become the Frances’s new grandma and grandpa. What follows as Frances and her new grandparents navigate living together, appearing at the school, visiting the market and swimming at the beach will provide readers with a great deal of mischief and mayhem as Frances outwits the not-so-nice adults in the story.

Frances Bloom is an appealing and likeable character. She strong, clever, resilient and loves life. She is her own person, full of fun and a tiny bit of mischief but her heart is in the right place. An enjoyable read with hopefully more books in the series to follow soon.

Teacher Notes: Frances-Bloom-Classroom-Resources.pdf

Themes: Adventure, Humour, Family, Mischief, Imagination, School.

Kathryn Beilby