Nina Wadia Presents Lizzie Zipmouth Bringing Books to Life

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That's Lizzie.

She's the star of this fantastic book by Jacqueline Wilson,

called Lizzie Zipmouth.

Lizzie is not having a great time at the start of this book.

She's on the move...again.

She's off to live with her mother's new boyfriend, Sam,

and his two sons, Rory and Jake.

Things is,

Liz was perfectly happy with it being just her mum and herself.

Lizzie doesn't get upset.

Well, not in the way that you'd expect.

She just stops speaking.

And I don't just mean for a few hours. I mean, for days and days.

Maybe for good.

And that's why when Lizzie moves into her new house,

Jake very unkindly calls her Lizzie Zipmouth.

Lizzie's new stepdad Sam tries to be friendly,

but then, Lizzie remembers that her first stepdad was friendly, too,

for a while, until he started shouting.

So Lizzie keeps her mouth tight shut

and it stays shut, even when Sam drives them all

to visit Rory and Jake's great-gran.

Great-gran seems scary and strict

and meeting her isn't exactly on Lizzie's wish list of things to do.

"'Say hello to Rory and Jake's great-gran, Lizzie,' said Mum,

"though she knew I wouldn't, and I didn't.

"I stared at the doormat.

"It said, 'Welcome'.

"The doormat was telling fibs.

"Great-gran tutted.

"'Well, you'd better come in,' she said.

"Mum held my hand tight and we stepped inside.

"'Dear, dear! Wipe your feet!

"'Watch my beige carpet!', Great-gran fussed.

"But I wasn't watching her carpet,

"I was staring all round the walls in a daze.

"Hundreds of shining eyes were staring back at me."

Can you guess what all those shining eyes were?

All I'm going to say it's that Lizzie was in the car

all the time after that, because she wanted Sam

to drive her to Great-gran's flat.

So do you think Lizzie does decide to talk?

I'm not saying a word. You'll just have to read the book.

And then, you'll also discover

how soon Great-gran needs help to talk, too.

And how, sometimes, when you're least expecting it,

you can make a new friend.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd