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Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite
Malcolm and Charlotte is about sibling relationships and how they can sometimes be problematic. Geraldine Ryan-Lush’s main character is ten-year-old Malcolm Kirsten Wall. He is already known for getting into embarrassing situations, but his latest challenge is helping toilet-train his stubborn three-year-old brother, Seussy. Malcolm tries everything to get Seussy to potty. But nothing is working. At the same time, Malcolm is preoccupied with Charlotte O'Royal, the girl he secretly admires. Hoping to repair their strained relationship after previous mishaps, he calls her, only for Seussy to shout insults over an extension phone, convincing Charlotte that Malcolm is rude and immature. As Malcolm and his best friend Mooney accompany Seussy on a shopping trip, disaster strikes when they lose sight of him in a busy mall. A search ensues, and they find that Seussy has proudly removed his clothes and successfully used a display toilet in a home-improvement showroom. This antic draws quite a crowd of onlookers. The family later celebrates Seussy's long-awaited potty success at Burger Land. There, Charlotte unexpectedly witnesses Seussy's unpredictable behavior, realizes that Malcolm had been telling the truth, and begins to warm to him again.
Geraldine Ryan-Lush's entertaining children's story captures the everyday frustrations of family life with young children. Young readers will connect with it as the situations that Malcolm gets into will be familiar. His struggles with his younger brother, his friendship with Mooney, and his desire to impress Charlotte have many laugh-out-loud moments. The story shows children that patience and kindness can make hard moments easier. Malcolm, Charlotte, and the other characters feel like people that most children will know. The playful tone keeps the book moving. The short chapters make it a good choice for bedtime reading because families can pause and pick it up again without losing their place. The illustrations add fun to the story and bring Malcolm’s world to life. Malcom and Charlotte is a great book to start a child’s personal library. The overall child-friendly presentation will be valuable in developing readers.
