There’s interesting message in ‘Wendel’s Workshop’: Tidy up, but not too much.   It’s a message that appears to have resonated with both of my children.

This book is a re-read and returned to favourite with the two year old and the six year old, and is probably perfect for four year olds.  It has also added to our vocabulary at home.  The “Wendelbot”, the robot who goes on a tidying rampage and throws everything out, has become a term of friendly abuse.

Maybe it’s the robots and the brilliant Heath Robinson-esque drawings that have made this such a favourite.  Or that there’s a classic mix of humour and sadness.  Or that it’s a multi-layered book; there’s a relatively simple story that can be enjoyed by a two year old, with lots more in-depth ideas to talk about with an older child.

Wendel is an inventor with a draconian mind; if his invention doesn’t work exactly, he throws it onto the scrap heap and starts again. Soon his workshop is piled high with rubbish, and he creates a robot to deal with the mess.   “Clunk”, his creation doesn’t work too well, getting teacups, wellies, and bed making hopelessly mixed up.  Poor Clunk is quickly despatched down the rubbish chute.  Wendel tries again, making the Wendelbot.   The Wendelbot works perfectly, but doesn’t stop tidying.  Soon Wendel is the untidiest thing in the room, and he’s thrown down the rubbish chute, where he bumps into Clunk.   As the Wendelbot starts upon world domination, he is only stopped by Wendel and Clunk’s gaggle of imperfect robots they’ve salvaged from the rubbish.   As the story ends, Wendel learns to be patient with the failings of his robots, and never to throw anything away again!

I’m unreservedly enthusiastic about this book.  It’s a brilliant story that will appeal to all children and contains interesting ideas about friendship and helping others, to being tolerant of others’ imperfections, and re-using and recycling your rubbish.  However the themes are subtle, you can choose to pick up on them or just enjoy the story.  And, it’s funny too.

Chris Riddell is a prolific writer and illustrator and winner of many children’s book awards.  He has a great website where you can peek at his books and listen to them too. His drawings may also be familiar to you as he a renowned political cartoonist.

Wendel’s Workshop by Chris Riddell is published by Macmillan Children’s Books, 2007

Popularity: 15% [?]

Similar childrens storage news:

1. We’re reading…”Hold on tight, Stripy Horse” and “Monster Day at Work”
2. We’re reading… ‘Gorilla’ by Anthony Browne
3. We’re reading…’Tabby McTat’ by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
4. We’re reading…”We’re Going on a Picnic!” by Pat Hutchins
5. Book Review: George and Flora’s Secret Garden