The Perils of the Pushy Parents

Written and illustrated by Boris Johnson

The nicest kids you ever saw
Were Jim and Molly Albacore…

Alas for Molly and Jim, Their lives were not entirely cushy: Their parents were so very pushy.

Mr and Mrs Albacore will do anything to get their offspring to the top of the pile. Father reads great literary works to them before they are even born, and puts them down for MENSA at five, Mother is not content unless her darlings are the star of every show. Molly and Jim, however, are happiest eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and watching telly.

In this very funny book, Boris Johnson issues a verse warning to all pushy parents… if you push your children far enough they may push back, with dire consequences. Illustrated with delightful line drawings by the author.

Reviews

‘A funny look at what happens of you push your children too hard.’ Evening Standard

‘Spikily satirical narrative poem with retro illustrations by the author.’ Time Out

Praise for ‘Have I Got Views for You’:

'Johnson is a good-humoured, entertaining commentator, with an agreeably optimistic bent.' Observer

Praise for 'The Dream of Rome':

'I read it in two sittings, completely gripped. If Ruth Kelly has an ounce of sense, she will make this book compulsory reading for every 16-year old in the country.' Toby Young, New Statesman

'History comes alive only when written from the heart and Johnson's is full of swashbuckling japes, bloodthirsty yells and energetic sideswipes.' Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday

'Written with all the wit and zest that have helped to make him Britain's favourite celebrity MP.' Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph

Praise for ‘Friends, Voters, Countrymen’:

‘Johnson has cracked the art of making politics invigorating.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Such an entertaining read.’ Daily Mail

‘It is very funny and has, in short, all the idiosyncracies of its author.’ Jeremy Paxman

About the author

Boris Johnson is Conservative MP for Henley -on-Thames and has been Shadow Minister for Higher Education since December 2005. He writes a column for the Daily Telegraph and lives in London and Oxfordshire with his wife and their four children.