Septimus Bean and His Amazing Machine

by Janet Quin-Harkin

Septimus Bean has built an amazing machine but its use has yet to be discovered.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1980

About the author

Janet Quin-Harkin is a pseudonym of Rhys Bowen

Rhys turned to writing children’s books under her married name, Janet Quin-Harkin. Her first picture book was an immediate success and won several awards. More picture books followed, then her agent asked her to write a book for young adults. This was a turning point in Rhys’s career. Her first young adult novel was an instant hit. By her third she was selling half a million copies. Many more popular YA novels followed until Rhys decided she had said all she wanted to say about teenage love and angst, and she turned her real love—mysteries.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Septimus Bean comes to King Albert the Third with his amazing machine. But Septimus Bean can’t quite answer the questions about his machine, resulting in some experimentation to find the answer. So, just what does Septimus Bean’s big blue machine actually do? And what will King Albert think?

Delightful illustrations accompany the rhyming text of this clever tale that’s likely to captivate young readers with its inventive ending. Readers both young and old will find much to appreciate in this appealing story.

Highly recommended.

[Maudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre:Traditional Literature
Grade:2-3
This book is hilarious and filled with many confused yet genius guesses as to what this man's machine actually do but even he doesn't know at first and so they try everything and see what happens. Its so funny and has so many fails this could be a great read to kids and have them guess along to what this funky machine really do.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhyming verse tells the story of Septimus Bean who invented a machine, but has no idea what it does! The tale ends with a wonderful resolution. It's fun to read aloud but some of the metering is a little off.

[Eliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book through the Parent’s Magazine Book Club in the early 1990’s - it was a favorite! Wonderful rhythm!

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great rhyming story.

[Samantha Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for a children's book. A man named Septimus Bean has this humongous amazing machine and he brings it to the King. King Alfred wants it! No one else can have it because he wants it to do amazing things. Well, the amazing machine has high hopes, but ends up failing the king and queen AND septimus bean. They figure out what use the machine could have.. Septimus Bean ends up surprising the king and queen and turns the machine into something they've never seen.

*Some parts of the book does have rhyming, real fun read :)

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to know of this book through research on Rhyse Bowen, Janet Quin-Harkin's pe for her mystery series Her Royal Sypness. Being a huge fan of childrens books, and also attempting to become an author of a few myself, I have absolutely fallen in love with this story. It can proudly stand next to any Dr Seuss book, with a melody as lovely as its ending. I would highly recommend this book to every child! It's an absolute classic!

[Elizabeth Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly enchanting!
I look forward to reading it to my soon to be born granddaughter.
In the meantime, it is great fun for an adult.

I know and like this author under her other writing name, Rhys Bowen.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interest Level Grades K - 2
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction
Themes: Inventing, Royalty, Humor
Uses: Casual reading for comprehension

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandmother read this with me. I am more than pleased to share the book with my child - she loves the rhythm and descriptions.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort of like Dr. Seuss without the made-up words.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorting through some books we found from my childhood I found this one. I remembered it to be one of my favorites and decided it was time for a re-read. What a cute little story.

[Sarah Nelson]

One of my favorite books from childhood. My parents got really tired of reading it to me!

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

M and I read this one together - rhyming words which I love