Jamie and the Smelly Welly Book Review

DISCLOSURE -THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.

Reviewed by Lindsay Burton

When I picked up Jamie and the Smelly Welly by Eileen Haywood, I thought it looked like a lovely little story to share with my Year 3 class. Having now read it with the children, I can honestly say it went down really well! The children absolutely loved it, and it was lovely to see them enjoying a story that was both funny and heartwarming. It is the sort of book that would work just as well at home as it does in the classroom, making it a great choice for parents and teachers looking for something enjoyable to read with younger children.

The story follows Jamie, a little mouse who has found himself a rather unusual place to sleep. Instead of living in a traditional mouse hole, he has made himself comfortable in the toe of Granny’s gardening welly. Everything is fine until Granny decides it is time to get outside and do some gardening. She puts on her boot, completely unaware that she has a tiny visitor already tucked away inside!

You can imagine the surprise when Granny feels something moving around her toes. Jamie is just as startled, and before he knows it, his cosy little home has disappeared. Poor Jamie is left frightened and homeless, and suddenly his peaceful life has turned into quite an adventure.

Fortunately, Granny has a kind heart. Once she realises what has happened, she feels sorry for Jamie and wants to find a way to help him. She takes a moment to think about what she can do, and a chance discovery leads to a solution that changes Jamie’s life. I won’t give away the ending, but it is a lovely way to bring the story together and marks the beginning of Jamie’s adventures in Granny’s garden.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this book is the idea behind it. A gardening welly is such an ordinary thing, but Eileen Haywood has turned it into the starting point for a story that captures children’s imagination. The thought of a little mouse making a home inside someone’s boot is funny, unexpected and easy for children to picture. When I read the story to my class, they were really engaged, and it was clear that they enjoyed finding out what would happen to Jamie next.

Although the story has plenty of humour, there is also a lovely message about kindness and helping others. Granny could easily have ignored Jamie’s situation, but instead she tries to put things right. It is a simple idea, but an important one for young children to understand. I particularly like books that introduce these messages naturally through the characters and their experiences, rather than making the story feel as though it is simply trying to teach a lesson.

Eileen Haywood has written an enjoyable story that brings a little imagination into an everyday situation. The illustrations by Lisa Melia Volkova also help bring Jamie and Granny’s world to life, adding to the experience of reading a picture book. The combination of an amusing storyline and engaging illustrations makes it easy for children to follow the adventure and become interested in the characters.
As a teacher, I am always pleased when I find a book that captures the attention of my class and gives them something to enjoy together. This one certainly did that. It would make a lovely addition to a classroom book corner and could also be a great choice for bedtime reading, especially for children who enjoy stories about animals and unexpected adventures.

Overall, I really enjoyed Jamie and the Smelly Welly, and the fact that my Year 3 class enjoyed it just as much makes it even better. It is funny, easy to follow and has a lovely message about being kind to others. I would happily recommend it to parents, teachers and anyone looking for an entertaining picture book to share with young children.

Rating: 5/5
At £9.99, Jamie and the Smelly Welly would make a lovely gift for a young reader or a welcome addition to a child’s bookshelf.
You can find the book here: https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/picture-books/jamie-and-the-smelly-welly