AniMalcolm by David Baddiel
Ill. by Jim Field. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780008185152
(Age: 8-10) Recommended. For Malcolm's eleventh birthday, he has
written out the specifications for a brand new Apache 321 computer
and left the list displayed on the kitchen wall. After the usual
birthday song, Malcolm's happiness turns to disbelief when his
present is a little white chinchilla in a cage. Malcolm stands out
in a house full of pets; he really dislikes animals, after a nasty
incident at the zoo when Louie the chimp threw poo at him.
The one surprise for his birthday is Mum and Day paying for his Year
6 camp to Orwell Farm - a nightmare setting for Malcolm - one filled
with animals! When Malcolm stares deep into the eyes of KPax the old
goat with the hypnotic eyes, his life suddenly changes. The boy
magically morphs into the body of a tortoise. Over Malcolm's
three-day school trip, he embodies a range of animals, experiencing
their lifestyles, their abilities as he develops these
understandings he also has a change in attitude.
Each change is filled with highs and lows, with funny incidents and
some interesting food options. There's manky lettuce for Malcolm the
blue-eyed baby tortoise, a cat fight with Zsa-Zsa the farm cat and a
fun conversation about cats drinking toilet water. Malcolm is
cleverly able to communicate cross-species and all the farm animals
assist him on his journey back to being a human. When Malcolm now a
tiny piglet asks his animal friends to travel into the city and find
his family, their long journey begins. He rides Snowflake the pony
and two bigger pigs, three sheep, a cat and a dog accompany him to
City Zoo. His family love the zoo and visit every Sunday. Of course,
there's plenty of fun as Malcolm morphs into a chimp and encounters
Louie the dominant male for another poo throwing encounter.
Jim Field's cartoons add humour and life to fun Baddiel's story of
growth, change and acceptance.
This is a great story for sharing with a Middle Primary class and
for readers who enjoy animal stories with a twist.
Rhyllis Bignell