Meet
the Dullards is an exciting new picture book from writer Sara Pennypacker and
illustrator Daniel Salmieri. When I first saw the fantastic cover of this book
I knew I would love it. With things like “Extra boring edition!!” on the cover
and “I yawned the whole way through” – A. Reader, I knew this was an
interesting and fun book.
Meet the Dullards tells the story of the Dullard family, Mr
and Mrs Dullard and their three children Blanda, Borely and Little Dud. One day
Mr and Mrs Dullard come home to find their three boring children reading some
rather exciting literature. After making this discovery Mr and Mrs Dullard
decide there are too many things where they live that might make Blanda, Borely
and Little Dud interesting. The family decide to pack up and move away.
Once they had packed up all of their dull possessions and
moved the family are soon greeted by a colourful neighbour. The neighbour offers
the family an applesauce cake. Mr Dullard refuses to take the cake because it
has chunky applesauce and that is far too unpredictable. Mr and Mrs Dullard
explore the house and come across a room that has been decorated with bright
flowery wallpaper. Shock horror! They rush to the paint shop to buy the dullest
paint they can find to paint over it.
Mr and Mrs Dullard soon decide that for the most boring
shade of paint you can create comes with mixing the two most drab colours,
medium grey and beige. When it is mixed it comes out the colour of porridge left
in the pot. Mr and Mrs Dullard paint the room with the boring paint and are
soon fascinated in watching the paint dry. Whilst they are having fun watching
the wall Blanda, Borely and Little Dud manage to sneak out of the house. Mr and
Mrs Dullard soon find the children outside doing fun and exciting things. The
parents decide that they have made a huge mistake moving the children and
decide to move back home. As soon as Mr and Mrs Dullard are fast asleep in
their boring bed the three children sneak out yet again and join the circus.
This picture book is wonderful, funny and full of little
things to spot on every page. I never thought I would read a book about the
most boring family and for it to be so hilarious. Daniel Salmieri’s
illustrations are the key to what makes this book so different. The facial expressions
of the family are so amusing even though they are totally nonplussed throughout
the story.
My favourite thing about this book however is that no matter
how much Mr and Mrs Dullard tried to make their children as boring and dull as
possible it did not work. I think it sends out a great message to both adults and
children about being who you are and not taking life to seriously.
