Review: Badger the Mystical Mutt, by Lyn McNicol and Laura Cameron Jackson

Badger the Mystical Mutt is a dog who can do magic and is rather fond of toast. Hamish is his unassuming friend who’s adoring owners have entered him in Pet Idol. Top Dog and his gang are the local bullies and don’t want Hamish to compete or win the competition. They shut him in rubbish bins, cut his hair and generally do lots of very mean things to him.

Badger, with the help of a magical unicorn and a rather bizarre magical contraption known as a Wim Wim, helps Hamish to get his hair and his confidence back. They also discover that Top Dog’s bullying stems from a very difficult life and end up befriending him and giving him food.

There is a happy ending, with Top Dog going home with Hamish to the adoring owners who turn out to have been his owners many years ago.

What RoRo thought

For some reason, it took RoRo (5 years, in Year 1) a long time to want to read this book, however, when I had almost given up on her reading it and decided I’d have to just read it myself and write a grown-up’s impression of it, she pulled it off the bookshelf and asked for me to read it as our next bedtime book (Chris and I each read one chapter book to her at bedtimes at the moment – one or two chapters a night, depending on the book). And she enjoyed it a lot.

She was interested in Badger the Mystical Mutt, but particularly interested in Hamish and the problems he was enduring from Top Dog and his gang. She enjoyed the magic Badger did and found his love of toast amusing. She was fascinated by the magical journey into the clouds and talking with unicorns. She was egging on Hamish and taken by their befriending Top Dog and she cheered at the end when Top Dog found his old owners and got to live with them and Hamish (she did guess that a little earlier).

What I thought

I found Badger the Mystical Mutt a little awkward and the plot seemed to jump out a bit without a clear flow. I liked the character and the talking points the book gave to discuss bullying and how some people might have reasons for bullying. I found the Wim Wim and the magical unicorn odd, out of place (though perhaps they come into play more in the rest of the series) and a little unnecessary. (I have to admit that much of these feelings are to do with my needing to get more engaged with modern chapter books for young readers. I have similar issues with the Star Fairy books, for example, so I don’t think my opinion of the story is indicative of whether this is any good for children! RoRo’s opinion is much more relevant there.)

I think Badger the Mystical Mutt is very suited to being read by newly independent readers. The language is nice and simple and the chapters are quite short. I think parents might find it a bit dull to read, though (as I mentioned) they may well enjoy the talking points it brings up.

Other information about Badger the Mystical Mutt

This is the first book in the series. It is a self-published title, which the authors have worked very hard to publicise, including a life-size Badger who visits bookshops and schools and I’m sure is excellent for engaging children (RoRo was very excited to hear about him and we’ll be keeping an eye out for him visiting down this way).

Badger has a website, where you can find reviews, information, activity sheets and you can even ask Badger a question. You can also buy Badger the Mystical Mutt on the website and you will find it in quite a few bookshops, especially in Scotland.

There is another title, Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Barking Boogie out and a third which is due to be published in October 2012.