The king of the World by Ben Clanton

For newly independent readers or those a little older who like a laugh, or younger who need help to read and are happy to ask, then this graphic novel with laugh out loud content will suit many young readers. One of the Tater Tales series, the novel is full of interest as it has text and graphic sequences, lists, cartoons, a host of comic illustrations and several pages of fun facts and quizzes, including a page on how to draw Tot.

The story is told in five chapters each of a dozen or so pages making it most accessible for early readers and those who do not like a lot of text.

Rot the mutant potato is ready or another adventure in this wholly amusing, laugh out loud story of a family of potatoes. Laden with lots of puns (bootiful boots, for example) we see an excited Rot the Tater on a spudlunking trip. Spudlunkig in the world of potatoes means you dig a hole, or just find one to explore. So Rot goes hard at it. He digs and digs, hoping his friends will join him, but their interest lies elsewhere. Rot keeps digging and eventually finds a shiny golden crown. He is excited and puts it on, wanting to show his friends just who he is. The story then goes through the misgivings held by the potato folk, questioning the right of Rot to declare himself king. Some very funny episodes ensue as the potato people learn about friendship and power.

Themes: Humour, Potatoes, Friendship.

Fran Knight