Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants

I have no idea at all where Dav Pilkey gets it all from. This is the fourth book in the series, but the second one that I have read. And it was really lots of fun.
Professor Pooypypants wants to unveil his new inventions to the whole world, but cannot get any scientists to listen seriously to his pitch. Having seen an advertisement for a job at George and Harold's school, he becomes the science teacher there. However, after a week where the kids have done nothing but laugh at his name he flips and shrinks the enitre school. Watch out for the name changing plan - extremely amusing and you start working out what your new 'silly' name would be.

I enjoyed Wedgie Woman more, but this was still fun. And from the reviews that I've read, it seems that Captain Underpants is a total phenomenon. I can very much see why. I cannot imagine which child this book would not appeal to!

Dads 'n' Lads

I'm going to do a 'Dads 'n' Lads' writing morning on Thursday. I hope my brother doesn't get to hear about it. Please don't tell him!

The Silver Chair

As I've been re re re reading the Narnia Books (how many times have I read these?!) I have been wondering which my favourite one is. And just as I was about to start 'The Silver Chair' I thought that this might be it. The last time I read it I was sure it was. Now, having finished it again, I'm not so sure.

The story follows Eustace's return to Narnia with a school mate called Jill Pole. They are given a specific task by Aslan - to find Prince Rilian, Caspian's long lost son. To do this they have to battle Giants, go miles underground, and defeat the evil Lady in the Green Kirtle (is she the White Witch from 'The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe?' Who knows).

I think what makes this book brill is the rather thorny relationship between Eustace and Jill (they only refer to each other by using their first names right at the end of the book), and the character of Puddleglum, the Marshwiggle. He is my favourite character in the Narnia books - so desperately glum yet in fact a real hero. The section where he drinks slightly too much in the Giants' house is hilarious. His speech goes all doolally and it makes me laugh out loud.

But whether it was to do with my mood when reading it, or whether it was because the tone of the book was darker, I don't think this is my favourite Narnia book. I'm now thinking that 'The Lion...' or 'The Magician's Nephew' might be. Oh, who knows!

Incidentally, the first time that I came across this book was 30000 feet in the air as my dad read it to me on the way to America (I think it was America), and I was not at all bothered to hear the end. For years I thought that it was 'the boring one'. How wrong I was!

George's Beard

Just finished writing a story called 'George's Beard.' It's a short story about a boy called George who is desperate to have a real, grown up beard. He reckons with a proper beard he can be a pirate, a Viking, Father Christmas or anyone who is known to wear beards. After successfully wishing up one (though it doesn't work immediately!) he begins to wonder if having a beard is really worth it at all. My favourite part is when his family see him for the first time. Of course, none of them believe that it's real and all tell him to get rid of it. The family's continuing reluctance to even suppose that it might be real is funny. Not that it bothers George - all he wants to do is get to school and show his beard to Ben, his best mate.

I really enjoyed writing this one. It came to me as I was dropping off to sleep. In the past, I've jotted ideas down or just let them wander off, but this time I had my laptop by my side and so off I went. And I'm glad - it meant that the bulk of the story was down before I'd forgotten it. As I tell children all the time - when you have an idea, get it down before it jumps out of your ear and runs away down the street.

Rita and the Fwobble

I'm writing a short story at the moment called 'Rita and the Fwobble.' Rita is struggling at school - whenever there's a test her brain turns to mush. That is, at least, until she meets the Fwobble in her garden shed. A small, cow like animal with pink spots on his back, he eats her school pen and burps it back up, leaving it with more than a hint of magic. Rita uses the pen and finds that she knows the answer to any question. It doesn't take her long to forget who is really to thank, and an argument with her best friend leads to her snapping the pen in half to prove that it's her brains that are the reason for her change in fortunes. Oh dear. The loud bang and puff of smoke at the bottom of the garden suggest that that was not a particularly wise thing to do. Especially considering the school quiz is coming up tomorrow. I'm looking forward to finishing this one - I've been enjoying writing it. Shouldn't be too long before I can start redrafting.

Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman

I've never read any of this series before, until a few days ago when my brilliantly wacky niece passed this on. She thought I'd like it and you know what? I DO! So thanks Rosie. One down, five or so more to go. It's one of those kids books that is for adults too (I have to say that - I'm an adult and I liked it) - lots of tongue in cheek stuff and slightly 'left field' humour. Chapters such as Reverse Reverse Psychology and The Placenta Effect are great.

So what's it all about? Well, in a nutshell it follows two school boys, George and Harold, as they try to stay out of trouble (sort of) in a school where imagination is a swear word. And imagination is something that they have lots of. Enough to conjure up a comic book character called Captain Underpants. The only problem is, Mr Krupp, the head teacher, believes that he actually is Captain Underpants. And when Miss Ribble (Miserable. Geddit?! - the names in this book are ace) is hypnotised, she decides she has to catch the aforementioned Underpants. Cue pandemonium, lots of trouble for George and Harold, and more than one Wicked Wedgie.

I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series. This is actually the fourth book but I found it no problem starting in the middle of the series. There's a lot to this book. And I've also just discovered the Dav Pilkey website - take a look on www.pilkey.com - it's cool. Lots of fun things to do, and loads of facts and interesting stuff about the books.

Once again, thanks Rosie! I'll be getting into the others soon.