Serious Sas and Messy Magda – picture book – Marianne de Pierres

Sas and Magda are like chalk and cheese. Sas is serious and always tidy. Her mum, Magda, is a colourful whirlwind who loves to have fun. Magda’s carefree ways cause chaos when it’s ‘Bring your Mum’ to school day. Everyone loves Magda!

Reviews for Sas:

GoodReads

“The picture book Serious Sas and Messy Magda is a change of pace for well known Australian author Marianne de Pierres who is better known for her young adult fantasy and science fiction books.

This is a story which celebrates difference as Sas and Magda go about their daily lives with a bit of a twist. Mum, Magda, is a free spirit who likes to have fun. She leaves a trail of mess behind as she enthusiastically embraces life’s experiences. On the other hand Sas, her daughter is tidy and almost obsessively serious, thoughtful and well behaved. (Think Ab Fab’s Edina and Saffron)
Sas becomes quite worried as ‘Bring your Mum Day’ at school approaches. With Magda dressed in an old flamenco dress and odd shoes, Sas is sure she will do something silly and tries to hide as it is Magda’s turn to speak, but all turns out for the best as the other students enjoy having fun singing and dancing with Magda.

The colourful illustrations add to the story as we see the difference between the tidy and messy bedrooms and bathrooms and feel Sas’s embarrassment and frustration at the cafe and circus as Magda behaves in a perfectly child like manner. The family dog and cat feature on every page participating joyfully with Magda and worrying with Sas.

This story will be a useful addition to any discussion on stereotypes in children’s fiction and roles in the family as well as celebrating the different characters that inhabit our lives.”
Sue Keane, Read Plus.

“…This book can be enjoyed on a couple of different levels. Younger children will enjoy the humour of an adult breaking the rules, acting like a child and unleashing mayhem. It may take a slightly older child to identify with the embarrassment felt by school pupil Sas and to take away the lesson that different can be good. Given that the relationship featured is mother and daughter, the story may have more of a draw to girls than to boys. It may also appeal to older children who are less confident readers as the drawings are quirky rather cutesy…” The Book Bag

Purchase Serious Sas from the following retailers:

Booktopia

Amazon AU

Waterstones (UK)

Foyles (UK)

Hatchards (UK)

Thrift Books (USA)

Walmart (USA)

Barnes and Noble (USA)

Hugendubel (Germany)

Saxo (Denmark)

Patogupurkti (Lithuania)