True story. My dad used to work in wildlife conservation and was once called out because a man was being harassed by a pigeon. It would wait for the poor chap to come out of his house and then start attacking his head. He had to wear a hat. It would even follow him in the car and attack him again when he got out at the end of his journey. On that basis, Thomas Tucker (or just Tucker to everyone who knows him) being picked on by a chicken is entirely plausible. And if you have a chicken (or pigeon) on your head, you might very well fall down a hole. So Tucker’s Time Machine Telescope is practically a true story.

This is the fourth (I think) book by Robin Bennett I’ve reviewed, and I’m always delighted when an invitation to review one pops into my inbox. Like his other books, it’s a snappy fun read. Here is a typical bit that made me smile:

‘the flapping chicken wings in his face meant he couldn’t see the small hole left by workers in the middle of the pavement.

Luckily he missed it.

Unluckily, there was a much larger hole right next to it.’

Cue an eclectic set of adventures for Tucker (and the chicken).

Perfect for independent reading but, since I promise you’ll enjoy it as much as the kids, this would be a great book to read aloud.

Blurb

Thomas Tucker (or just Tucker to everyone who knows him) is walking innocently down the street when he is attacked by a chicken and falls down a hole. Unlikely as it sounds, this is how he ends up finding the Time Machine Telescope.

Unfortunately, Tucker seems to attract chaos and bad luck the same way that someone standing on top of a mountain waving a metal pole will eventually attract lightning and a free Xray.

Can he survive killer robots, Tudor kings, dinosaurs … and Kylo Hens long enough to complete his Time Machine Wish List

GET RICH HAVE FUN! GET MUM AND DAD TO SPEND LESS TIME ON THEIR MOBILE PHONES

There’s only one way to find out…

About the author

When Robin grew up he thought he wanted to be a cavalry officer until everyone else realised that putting him in charge of a tank was a very bad idea. He then became an assistant gravedigger in London. After that he had a career frantically starting businesses (everything from dog-sitting to cigars, tuition to translation)… until finally settling down to write improbable stories to keep his children from killing each other on long car journeys.