Septimouse, Big Cheese!

by Ann Jungman, Valerie Petrone (Illustrator)

Genres: Childrens

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 1994

About the author

Ann Jungman was born in London, of German Jewish refugees. She grew up in North London, had a very ordinary childhood and there were certainly no signs of interest in, or particular ability at, writing. After studying law at Exeter University, she read for the Bar at Gray’s Inn. To get some money while studying Ann did some supply teaching. This seemed much more fun and challenging than law, so she decided to train to become a primary school teacher. She says the best bit about this was reading books to children.

Ann began to invent her own stories; the children liked them and she was encouraged enough to write them down. After some years she got one published, ‘Fang the Fiery Dragon’. When a friend invited her to go on a weeks holiday to Romania she found herself in Vampire Land - Transylvania - and there ‘Vlad the Drac’ was born. Vlad has been a huge success and in all six books have been written, translated into many languages, and broadcast on radio and television.

Ann has also written about wolves, witches, trolls, dragons and Frank N Stein’s Monster. “Monsters are fun!” she says, “You can do what you like with them, reality doesn’t have to be taken into account. Anyway, all my monsters turn out to be nice really.” Ann’s books range from picture books to full length novels and cover an age range of three to thirteen. Recent books include the much praised ‘The Most Magnificent Mosque’, and a trilogy about World War II, ‘Resistance’, ‘Betrayal’ and ‘Siege’. Ann is currently writing a novel about the Australian Gold Rush, as well as running her publishing company Barn Owl Books. Barn Owl Books is an independent publishing company that re-releases out-of-print children's books, publishing 8 books a year.

Reviews

[Mairéad · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 A very amusing introduction to chapter books for children aged 6-10. This story is very unusual and creative, I'm sure it would inspire lots of interesting discussion in a classroom setting and has the potential be be a springboard for many follow-up activities in art, drama, sphe, creative writing etc also.

[Frankie Rufolo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this with my grandma when I was seven and looking back I just wonder why the author thought that children would find the world of cheese-making and market research entertaining. I remember finding it odd and kind of quirky, just liking it because it did it's own thing, but at the same time I was kind of bored by it.