Cover image of Ginger Nut

Ginger Nut

Chani McBain; Illustrated by Joanne Nethercott

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Calum McGregor is a fed up being the only blond boy in a ginger family. He has lots of ideas to turn his hair red but nothing works. Does Calum have to be a ginger nut to be a McGregor?

Have fun with Ginger Nut

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Information for grown-ups

Calum McGregor is a blond boy in a ginger family. His mum and dad have red hair, his big sister and brother have red hair, his grandpa had red hair before he went bald, and he even has a cat called Ginger. Calum is fed up with being the odd one out, so he takes matters into his own hands and decides to make his hair ginger. He tries eating carrots, drinking Irn-Bru, and colouring his hair with felt tips. He even puts his poor cat on his head! But all his hair-brained plans fail. Is Calum destined to always be the odd one out? Or will he learn that there’s more to life than being ginger?

A sweet and very funny picture book, with a refreshingly positive attitude towards being ginger.

'This funny story is wonderfully brought to life by Joanne Nethercott's action-filled illustrations.'
-- Jane Sandell, The Scotsman, 9th April 2011.

'A funny story about coming to terms with being the way you are.'
-- Juno Magazine, March 2011

'A funny, delightful story with the message that being different can be great.'
-- Creative Steps, Summer 2011

'A modern morality tale, Ginger Nut deals with the important issues that children can have to deal with when they look or feel different to those around them. The book, which is both beautifully illustrated and well written, is a perfect bed-time story which will delight children and adults alike.'
-- Ayrshire Reviews,June/July 2011

'Calum’s complaints might be those of any child searching for his place in a family. Cartoon faces with shades of red hair fill scenes revealed from varying perspectives as readers watch the boy’s futile attempts to change his appearance and the continuing antics or midair acrobatics of the family cat, Ginger. The resolution to the child’s predicament as he discovers his other attributes is likely to find understanding and acceptance among younger readers.'
--School Library Journal Reviews, January 2012

Format: paperback
Number of pages: 32
Size: 254 x 210 mm
ISBN: 9780863158056
Illustrations: colour illustrations
Age suitability: From 3 to 6 years
Publication date: 07 Apr 2011

Not sure if this book is suitable for your child? View some sample pages (click on the link icon at the top right of this page) to see the amount of text on each page, the level of the language and the style of the illustrations.