Nanny McPhee Returns by Emma Thompson

Nanny McPhee Returns Reviews

• 
  Jade Diamond

  I really liked the story. I was aware of who Emma Thompson is, of course. I’ve seen the Nanny McPhee movies. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book. The book is divided into chapters that alternate between being the story and being a diary that Emma keeps while on set. Emma is utterly honest. Grumpy at times. Fatigued. Cheerful. Optimistic. I laughed at some of her commentary.
  
  I’m a huge fan of Emma Thompson, when I found out that she narrated her own book, I had to listen to the audiobook of it. She does a great job at giving a unique voice and the story is just so much fun. The only problem I had with this is that the switch between the diary entries and the story were, at times, anticlimactic — but nonetheless very fun. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
  
  Read more at
  Drink Coffee and Read Books
• 
  Amalie

  I have not seen this movie although I watched the first movie. I really loved the story. It's a great one about how kids learn to work together and solve their own problems and even help their parents, but the book only gets 3 stars because, as funny and witty as the diary entries are, I found them over-lapping with the story in an annoying way. Then there were some parts included in it that definitely seemed to target an older audience.
  
  Since Emma Thompson writes it while filming, I'm guessing she's thinking of the readers will get a hold of the book after watching the film. As for my situation, or for kids in general I feel it trends on the suspension of disbelief of the reader ( just in case someone is not sure of these literay terms, it means the reader is required to believe a premise which you would never accept in the real world.) How can you do so, when the kids read that Emma Thompson "dressed" as Nanny McPhee going to the next-door stage to see Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson in "The Clash of the Titans"?! It's a really nice story but the format is confusing.
  
  Adults will enjoy this combined diary/story format than kids.
• 
  Susan

  This was a good book. Not only was it about the movie, but Emma talked about the set, the cast and what happened between takes on the set of the movie. She also talked about how her cast mates were when they were in between shots. Loved this telling of the story.
• 
  Jennifer Wardrip

  Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
  
  What an absolute delight! NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS was a very entertaining story for the entire family to listen to! I've not seen either movie or read any books associated with Nanny McPhee, but that didn't hinder me from enjoying this tale. Read by the author and well-known actress Emma Thompson, the listener is transported to the English countryside.
  
  The story introduces the listeners to the Green family. Their mother was born to a wealthy family, but after she falls in love with a poor farmer, she is disowned. That suits her fine, and the family is happy and content. But then Mr. Green has to serve in the military, and the mom and three children are left to run the farm until his return.
  
  Mrs. Green's sister dumps her two children at the farm to protect them from the war, and the five children are at odds from the beginning. Mrs. Green is desperate for money and can't handle all five children, and is worried they will lose the farm. It is at this point that Nanny McPhee enters the picture to save the day.
  
  Throw in the magical presence of Nanny McPhee, an unscrupulous brother-in-law trying to convince Mrs. Green to sell the farm, and adorable little piglets, and you get the enchanting story that is NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS.
  
  The audio book recounts both the story as well as includes a verbal diary by Ms. Thompson of the filming of the movie. The diary entries are as funny, if not sometimes more so, than the actual story being told.
  
  A discretionary note here, though. Though the story itself is suitable for all ages, especially as the main characters are young children, there may be a few objectionable words in the diary. Nothing vulgar, but a few swear words, and a reference to a woman's upper body parts. The usage is quite amusing, but some parents may find it unsuitable.
• 
  Jennifer

  i'll admit that i liked these movies. in fact, i liked this one more than the first. the book was a cute retelling with chapters in between of emma thompson just telling you about how things work during the shooting of the film and whatnot. straightforward and cute, though she does reference discussing 'salo' with ralph fiennes, which seemed a bit out of left field in what i assume is a children's/young adult book.
• 
  Fareeda

  3.5 stars. I could’ve done without the diary portion, but the story itself was cute. It’s always good to read a children’s book every now and again... reminds me of the magic and innocence of childhood.
• 
  Holli

  Listened to the audiobook which was read by Emma Thompson. This book alternates between telling the story and talking about the making of the movie. Emma Thompson is hilarious and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
• 
  Melanie

  This book flips between the story and the filming of the movie. Emma Thompson does a brilliant job of this. I hope there are more Nanny McPhee stories in her mind to create.
  
  How did this book find me? I’ve seen the original movie and loved it. I also adore Emma Thompson.
• 
  Rajul

  Essentially the script of the movie Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang in story format, alternating with amusing and painful behind the scenes narration by Emma Thompson.
  
  Should be a good read for young adults (older adults too), who are particularly interested in how a movie is shot. The glossary at the end of the book describes the various roles and responsibilities a movie requires!
• 
  liso

  8yo g and 11 yo b both enjoyed this read aloud that alternated between the story that follows the movie plot and a diary kept on set by Nanny McPhee. We watched the movie about halfway through the book to help keep our attention. It got a little bit slow at times but once we watched it, they really enjoyed the second half. I believe that’s probably the result of a book based on a movie.
• 
  Kate

  I listened to this on Audiobook, and loved Emma Thompson's narration. It was a unique choice to have the story interspaced with diary entries about the filming of the movie.
  
  Review to come on theteacherslibrary.org
• 
  The Teacher's Library

  I listened to the audio book for this one and LOVED Emma Thompson's narration. There were a few cheeky comments thrown in there, that will go over most kids heads.
  
  I'll be doing a book to movie comparison on theteacherslibrary.org next month!
• 
  Kris Sterner

  This is pretty unique - I wanted to listen to Emma Thompson read her own story - but the added bonus is that she kept a diary during the shoot and the story and the diary alternate. She is really funny and I love listening to the "British-ness" of her descriptions. Quite entertaining.
• 
  Bopeep

  This was a nice story, though I think the film's better. It was short, but some parts were boring. In fact, 30% of the book was an introduction (that I believe there isn't on the film) plus some spoilers on the filming diary that, well, spoiled things lol.
• 
  Greta

  I listened to the audiobook to help learn Emma Thompson’s accent. She’s just lovely, I got very emotionally involved in the story, and it helped me with my accent, too!
• 
  Miha Ureche

  E mai buna prima carte.
• 
  Kata Brassnyó

  érdekes volt és nagyon jó a stílusa
• 
  Furrawn

  Very enjoyable. I was aware of who Emma Thompson is, of course. I've seen both Nanny McPhee movies and others. I wasn't sure what to expect from the book. I think most any any adult or middle-school-aged child would love this book. I think for an older elementary school child, it might be best to just read the parts of the book that are the actual story aloud at bedtime. The book is divided into chapters that alternate between being the story and being a diary that Emma keeps while on set. The story chapters are quite good and very worthy of being part of the Nurse Matilda books. The diary chapters, though, are even more awesome. Emma is utterly honest. Grumpy at times. Fatigued. Cheerful. Optimistic. I felt like I was on the set with her, and I learned so much. Actors aren't spoiled. It's really quite hard work. I laughed so much at some of her commentary. I quite like her. Enough that I'll always read anything she's written. AND I finally know what a "gaffer" is- head of the sparks! Great fun little book for anyone interested in movies, fun stories, autobiographies, journals, etc.
• 
  Terryann

  Nanny McPhee Returns. 5CDs. 5hrs. Macmillan Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4272-1116-3. $16.99. F.
  
  Gr 4-7
  Nanny McPhee is back with her Important Lessons (and her giant warts). In WWII England, the Greens have had to say goodbye to Father, who has been sent off to war and seems to have disappeared altogether. The family is struggling to keep their farm from the clutches of a ne'er-do-well uncle, when their snobby, rich cousins arrive to avoid bombing in London. Just when all seems hopeless, Nanny McPhee arrives with her magic stick to save the day. Read by the author (and Nanny McPhee herself), Academy Award winner Emma Thompson, who alternates chapters between the story and the movie diary. Thompson's intimate narrative feels as though she's letting you in on the joke. The diary is a fascinating look at the making of a movie, filled with insider knowledge and hilarious asides. The story is a good, old fashioned, moral yarn. A delightful listen.
  
  -Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library
  
  
• 
  Jessica

  Loved-loved -loved!-this book!! it is so witty and enjoyable. It is the perfect book to pick up when you need a little bit of a reminder of the things you should cherish in life.
  
  I'm a huge fan of Emma Thompson, hence I knew I just had to read this book at some point in my life. then I come to find out that she narrated her own book -- super exciting news!! -- and so I just had to listen to it on audio book. What can I say? it is brilliant and so enjoyable. I think everyone is sure to enjoy it as she does such a great job at giving everyone a unique voice and the story is just so much fun. My only critique is that the switch between the diary entries and the story were, at times, anticlimactic -- but nonetheless very fun. I kind of wish that they were separately told. Anyway, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend this audiobook!
• 
  Leslie

  It was amazing! I got the digital version because I had projects that had to be completed, but I also had to chauffer kids all over creation as well. The version I had contained the Author's side notes about her film Diary during the making of the movie in amongst the story itself. Wonderful stuff. I really enjoyed the story, the author's sidebars about the movie making proccess and the "Ask the Author" question and answer bits at the end. Now I will have to hunt up the DVD to watch the actual movie of this with the kids.
• 
  Nicole

  We listened to this one on audiobook. It was enjoyable for all of us--my kids wanted to go on extra trips or drive longer so that we could continue to listen to the book. ;-) We loved the characters and the crazy lessons Nanny McPhee helped the kids learn.
  
  We also felt like we learned a lot about filmmaking since Emma Thompson interjects humorous and insightful Diary entries on the set of filming Nanny McPhee Returns into the Story. We're all really looking forward to seeing the film now that we've finished the book. :-)
• 
  Laura

  Lots of lovely fun. If you've seen the movie (and I think that you should see it and the first one too), you won't find many changes here in the story, but it's interesting to hear it this way. However, Emma (who is a phenomenally gifted actress and one of the best narrators I've heard) intersperses alternate chapters of the book with her film diary. It's a bit aimed for kids, as is the whole book, but who cares, as she's got a wonderful way of phrasing things and a chortle-inducing sense of humor. Go ahead and give it a try!
• 
  Jessica

  Loved it!!--just as much as The Big Bang. Why? Well, its the same story. I listened to both on Audible. (I just couldn't pass up Emma Thompson's performance. She is amazing, as you know.)
  
  Set aside my disappointment in not listening to a continuation of The Big Bang, I must say that listening to it for a second time was even more of a pleasure than the first. I think its because 1) I'm a little more in love with Emma Thompson's work and 2) because I'd forgotten bits from the story.
  
  Anyway--4/5 stars from me on this one, mainly because of the disappointment in a lack of a sequel.