The funny life of pets by James Campbell
Ill. by Rob Jones. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408889947
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Pets; Humour. Written with the
potential for choosing your own path through the muddle of
information and complete fabrication related to pets and owning
pets, this is essentially a book of nonsense. Campbell obviously has
a great sense of humour that would appeal to the generation that
loves fart jokes and stories about poo and is mildly interested in
animals. Note: serious interest in animals should automatically
preclude you from reading this book, and certainly it should never
be used as a source of reliable information for a school project!
But this information is clearly spelled out in the introduction. The
quirky illustrations (similar in style to Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
would instantly reveal that this book is designed to amuse and not
educate. Young people will probably enjoy the silly humour, but this
is not a work of great literature, and the constant references to
the disgusting things that animals do may offend animal lovers and
some adults. There are certainly many times when the 'facts' are
fake and the animals are the work of an active imagination.
Recommended with caution, as diversionary reading material for the
reluctant reader who likes animals and who says they want a funny
book. But if you want them to avoid reading material that mentions
poo, bottom-burps and bums this may not be a book to put in their
hands. But don't be surprised if their best friend shares it with
them!
Carolyn Hull