Stories for the kid next door by Emma Holland. Illus. by Chris Kennett

This collection of short stories and poems is fabulous.  With a huge cast of quirky characters and wild adventures this book is sure to keep the reader entertained.   I saw one comment that described the illustrations as a perfect brain break from the text, but I think that this accurately describes this book perfectly, as the short stories are finished quickly and create a buzz that makes you want to return to the book and read it again. 

I have always loved collections of short stories as they allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish each story, and this collection is so funny, unpredictable and weird that it was hard to put down.  It is hard to describe the story or discuss the characters in this type of book as the characters are diverse and challenged in different ways according to the story, there is no repetitiveness or a feeling of having read it all before, and the illustrations complement the words perfectly, helping to move the story along and follows the action perfectly.

I can see this being a favourite of independent readers but would also work well in a class room or as a read aloud at home because of the format and the touch of absurdity in each story.  This is definitely a book I would recommend and revisit personally too.

Themes: Humour, Fantasy, Adventure, Short stories.

Mhairi Alcorn