📖 Overview
The Queen's Nose
A 10-year-old girl named Harmony Parker longs for a pet but faces strict opposition from her parents, who consider animals unclean. She lives with her image-obsessed teenage sister Melody and finds comfort in her toy dog companion, Rex Ruff Monty.
Harmony sees the world through a unique lens, mentally transforming the people around her into animals that match their personalities. Her father becomes a sea lion, her mother a Pouter pigeon, and her sister a Siamese cat.
Her life changes when her uncle Ginger gives her a special fifty pence coin that holds magical wish-granting powers. The coin only works when rubbed on the side where Queen Elizabeth II's nose points.
The novel explores themes of imagination, family dynamics, and the universal childhood desire for both magic and companionship. It presents a child's perspective on the adult world through creative animal imagery.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe The Queen's Nose as a fun, quick read that teaches children about responsibility and being careful what they wish for. Many parents report their children staying engaged throughout the story.
Readers appreciated:
- The realistic family dynamics
- Harmony's relatable character development
- The balance between magic and real-world consequences
- British charm and humor
Common criticisms:
- Some found the ending abrupt
- A few readers felt the moral message was heavy-handed
- Parents noted some dated cultural references
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings)
Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (280+ ratings)
"My daughter couldn't put it down and keeps talking about what she would wish for" - Amazon reviewer
"The sibling relationship between Harmony and Melody rings true" - Goodreads review
"More grounded than most magical object stories" - Goodreads review
📚 Similar books
Matilda by Roald Dahl
A girl with special abilities uses her powers to overcome obstacles and stand up to authority figures in her life.
Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit Five siblings discover a wish-granting sand fairy whose magic leads to unexpected complications and life lessons.
Half Magic by Edward Eager Four children find a coin that grants wishes by halves, leading to magical adventures and misadventures.
The Witches by Eva Ibbotson A young witch navigates between the magical and human worlds while attending a witch academy and solving problems.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart A group of gifted children use their unique talents to solve puzzles and uncover secrets while on a special mission.
Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit Five siblings discover a wish-granting sand fairy whose magic leads to unexpected complications and life lessons.
Half Magic by Edward Eager Four children find a coin that grants wishes by halves, leading to magical adventures and misadventures.
The Witches by Eva Ibbotson A young witch navigates between the magical and human worlds while attending a witch academy and solving problems.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart A group of gifted children use their unique talents to solve puzzles and uncover secrets while on a special mission.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 The book was adapted into a successful BBC television series that ran for seven seasons from 1995 to 2003
🐖 Dick King-Smith was a farmer for 20 years before becoming a children's author at age 56, which influenced his many animal-themed stories
💫 The magical 50 pence piece in the story grants seven wishes when rubbed on the side featuring the Queen's nose
🎬 King-Smith's other famous work "The Sheep-Pig" was adapted into the hit film "Babe" in 1995
📚 The book explores themes of imagination versus reality while highlighting the British fifty pence coin, which was relatively new when the book was published in 1983