Book Reviews

"Anna Liza and the Happy Practice" by Eoin Colfer, reviewed by Hannah Nicholls

This book is aimed at children aged 5 years plus and I would say that this is accurate given its content. The story follows Anna Liza whose Mum is a Psychiatrist, which she refers to as a "brain doctor". She too aspires to become a Psychiatrist when she is old enough and tells the story of her setting up a 'Happy Practice' insider her Mum's waiting room trying to cheer people up and make them happy. 

The focal point of the story sees Anna meeting a little boy called Edward whose Dad is a patient of her Mum's. She describes Edward as the saddest boy she has seen and it turns out he is sad because his Dad is sad due to the fact that Mum has left them. Anna then makes it her personal mission to change the situation and to make Edward's Dad happy again so that they can be happy together. Her plan succeeds and the story ends with the little boy and his father reconnecting and enjoying themselves as a unit of 2. 

The book was enjoyable to read and highlighted the impact of separation upon a child and also the effect of the parents' feelings and mood on the child. I am not sure children of 5 would view the issue of getting help for those feelings or how to address them but I liked that it referred to this the throughout the book - it showed that a child or parent does not have to be sad or alone in their thoughts and that help is available. It also showed how the child's own feelings can sometimes be ignored due to the sadness of a parent. 

The book was also dyslexia friendly with good sized font and excellent use of illustrations.