Get up, Elizabeth!

It is time to get up. A reluctant Princess Elizabeth must be dressed for a state appearance. It is not as straightforward as pulling on jeans and a hoodie – stockings have to be tied on, sleeves have to pinned on, a ruff has to be sewn on – and you have to brush your teeth with soot. However, you do get to have jewels in your hair.

The aim of this slim picture book is to bring the past alive by introducing young readers to a real character - Elizabeth I, but as a child. Here she is faced with a situation all young children can recognise - the ritual of getting up and getting dressed; familiar, though, of course, there are differences. The text is very simple – each action a short quatrain, the illustrations are bold and dramatic. Elizabeth’s famous red hair is particularly wild. As part of a lesson on Elizabeth 1 and the Tudors at KS1 it could be a useful addition for classroom talk and the notes at the end do provide background information, but it seems rather slight. Children, however, will enjoy finding the mouse hiding on each page.