September Book Recommendation
You’re A Bad Man, Mr. Gum by Andy Stanton
What would you get if you crossed a book written by Roald Dahl with Monty Python? Andy Stanton, probably. If you’re not sure who Monty Python is, they were a group of comedians who did a lot of silly, clever, and funny stuff back in the 1970s. Ask your parents about them.
Anyway, Shabba me whiskers! This is the kind of book to get you laughing. Mr. Gum is a bad man. A very bad man indeed. He’s a complete horror who hates children, animals, fun… and corn on the cob. His house is a mess, and an angry fairy lives in his bathtub, but don’t you dare touch his immaculate garden. Living in the town of Lamonic Bibber, he loathes everybody there. From Martin Launderette, who runs the launderette, to Tommy Ripples, Jake the MASSIVE dog, and a lovely little girl, Polly.
Mr. Gum spends his days plotting ways to keep his garden neat and tidy—his only pride and joy—because if he doesn’t, the angry fairy will appear and whack him with a frying pan. Why? Who knows, it’s all part of the charm that Stanton drums up in this daft adventure.
When Jake starts messing up Mr. Gum’s garden, the nasty old man devises a wicked plan to get rid of him. But Mr. Gum underestimates the kindness and determination of the town’s children, especially the brave Polly. With her leading the charge, the townsfolk band together to thwart Mr. Gum’s evil scheme and save Jake. There’s certainly a lot going on In You’re a Bad Man, Mr. Gum, and that’s just for starters.
A Book For Young And Old
This is a book that rattles along at a lightning pace, with adventures aplenty and some serious laughs along the ride. Not just for kids, but for adults too! Stanton manages to tell a tale that is capable of delivering belly laughs, while also being quite gross and clever. Somehow in amongst all the silliness and laughs, there’s quite a fun story with a few crazy plot twists thrown in to boot. It’s full of catchphrases you’ll soon find stuck in your head, alongside the bunch of words that Stanton has invented as well. It’s the kind of book that demands silly voices and is guaranteed to have you smiling—even if you’re feeling as grumpy as Mr. Gum himself. The best thing about Mr. Gum is the dialogue. Just try reading it aloud and keeping a straight face for more than thirty seconds. And if you do take a liking to Mr. Gum, there’s some even better news: It is just one of a NINE book collection.
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Dan Grabowski is an Amazon best-selling author and has taught in the classroom at primary level previously.
