3.5 stars, rounded up to counter the other ratings which give it a low average. A fun adventure, lots of interesting characters... I would have enjoyed it when I was 8 or 9. V. British - the reader has to be willing to puzzle out or look up words like 'dummie' and 'allotment.' ( )

Alice always wanted a baby brother. When a giant baby is left one night on the Hicks' doorstep, Alice is delighted - but her parents are horrified. How will they cope? Reporters, social workers, circus owners and scientists flock so see the infant phenomenon, some with evil designs on the baby.

Illustrations by Wegner give us an idea how gigantic the baby dropped off in front of the Hicks' house really is. The story moves quickly as the Hicks family comes to enjoy the baby as much as we do. Was he abandoned, or are the Hicks just being used as baby-sitters? Will his giant Mum come to get him? Will the Hicks' meet her?