Squidge Dibley destroys the school by Mick Elliott
Lothian, 2019. ISBN: 9780734419422.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Humorous stories, School. School
can be a very funny place, but Mick Elliott has made the Craglands
South Primary School into the most hilarious place in the universe.
The story of the arrival of Squidge Dibley (a most unique student
with bizarre 'medical' anomalies) and his interruption into the life
of 6PU is narrated by Padman O'Donnell, one of the students who has
his own quirky attributes and family life. The class is an
accidental nightmare as it seems that all the kids who might cause
trouble in a school are all co-located in the same class and
teachers are falling like deciduous leaves (there is a small glimmer
of hope along the way . . . but she does not last long either). The
final replacement teacher would have to be the worst (multiplied by
3) possible option for the class who have perfected the art of being
gross and uncontrollable. With explosions of body gases, weird
behaviours, tricksters, a blow-fish as a class pet and plots of
diabolical fiendishness, this account of school life is just one
amusing moment after another . . . with multiple detentions along
the way.
Written for the generation of readers who love Diary of a wimpy
kid, Tom Gates and other books designed to cater for
readers who love quirky and silly humour with crazy illustrations,
this will be another series that will be easily consumed and peer
recommended.
Carolyn Hull