Funny kid catastrophe by Matt Stanton

The 1tth in the Funny Kid series, Catastrophe is another hilarious look inside the kid-centric world of Max Walburt. The writing is punchy and irreverent. Black and white cartoon-style illustrations are scattered throughout and while long, the story is fast-paced and easy reading.

Max is dramatic and he starts the story by declaring himself completely done with being the funny kid. He's maturing and because his mum is running for mayor he's pretty sure when she is elected he's going to become the 'First Kid'. His monologue with his pet duck goes something like this: "I'm not saying I want Miss Sweet to go to jail or anything, but if Miss Sweet doesn't show the First Kid the right level of respect, my hands will be tied...". He's already decided on the name of his chauffeur and the size of his security detail when his parents shock him out of his own head with the gift of a cat. A real, living, actual cat. Max is not only fiercely anti-cat but also anti-catperson. So this gift is actually a significant problem. So, while everyone is trying to convince him how great cats are, Max is doing all he can to get rid of it, including persuading his parents to take it back and encouraging the cat to run away. 

Pages and pages of irreverent humour ("In the corner, my baby sister, Rosie, has decided to teach herself to read by trying to to climb a bookshelf") and an insight into Max's unbelievable logic and imagination ("Give a person a cow and you're giving them the gift of milk, butter, cream, ice cream, cheesecake, yoghurt...That animal invented dessert. We should worship it") make this an absolute joy to read and your brain, if not your acutal mouth will be laughing. And whilst Max declared himself maturing, there are plenty of cat bum and other toilet humour jokes to enjoy. 

Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid will adore this series, which is also a perfect next step with longer text for lovers of Weirdo or other heavily-illustrated series. 

Themes: Humourous stories, Cats, Persuasion.

Nicole Nelson