Vile: A Cautionary Tale for Little Monsters

by Mark Robinson, Sarah Horne (Illustrator)

Overview

Lessons at the University of Vile are strict! With a timetable designed to refine the skills of grabbing, snatching, pushing, shoving, surreptitious tripping and not-paying-attention, pupils must strive to hone their bad manners, poor personal hygiene and repulsive habits. Graduation depends on pupils demonstrating their monstrosity at all times. Those who don't meet the grade are destined for things far worse ' disqualification and quick enrollment at the dreaded Academy of Manners! With a revolting cast of nasties, brought to life by Sarah Horne's scratchy illustrations, this mischievous picture book demonstrates that perhaps life's not so great when spent solely in the pursuit of vileness'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745967776
Publisher:	Lion Children's Bks
Publication date:	08/09/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

As a child, Mark Robinson would only read books by torchlight under the duvet. It is the same mischievous attitude that he brings to his writing. Full of edge and verve, Mark's playful style particularly appeals to boys. Whilst not writing, Mark competes in marathons and triathlons, and loves cycling (monster hills, no problem). Mark has three children who have excellent manners. But then: he raised them.
SARAH HORNE graduated from the Falmouth College of Arts in 2001 and from Kingston University with an MA in Illustration in 2005. She starts her artwork by hand, drawing with indian ink, before finishing her illustrations in colour digitally using Photoshop. Sarah lives and works in London.

Editorial Reviews

A mischievous guide to bad behaviour which, curiously, might prompt better behaviour...

From the Publisher

Two rival Academies in the town of Beastieville counterintuitively offer either training in good manners for the already-virtuous or a bad-behavior curriculum tailored to students who "pester, pinch, and push, / who sniffle in their snot." Unsurprisingly, it's the University of Vile that takes center stage in this import, as variously hairy, blobby, garishly colored cartoon monsters crowd through the doors for encouragement in disruption ("It's vital in the classroom to be messy, loud, and spiteful. / 'More volume, class,' the teacher calls. / 'A racket is delightful' "). Then two Viles fall into a deep hole, and have tohelp each otherto get out. They're summarily expelled, of course, and a page turn later have been transformed into little angels (more or less) through instruction in making "right choices every day" at the other school. Though not really "cautionary" in theBeastly Boys and Ghastly Girlssense, this does offer some memorable lines ("Even if I haven't picked the right school, I'll have picked the right nostril") and acting out to counter the bland modeling more common in standard manner manuals.(Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews