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Baby Aliens #14
The Great Crisp Robbery
Another hilarious tale of primary school life from the Blue Peter award-winning team. Nothing is as it seems for Izzy and friends, and the drama is always off the scale...
Izzy and friends are excited to find that their school trip involves an overnight train ride. But when they get on board, they're shocked to discover that EVERYTHING is STRANGE. And the BUNK BEDS are TINY! And then their teacher disappears... OH NO! Miss Jones has been kidnapped! EVERYONE PANIC!!!
Izzy and friends are excited to find that their school trip involves an overnight train ride. But when they get on board, they're shocked to discover that EVERYTHING is STRANGE. And the BUNK BEDS are TINY! And then their teacher disappears... OH NO! Miss Jones has been kidnapped! EVERYONE PANIC!!!
- GenresFictionMiddle Grade
Paperback
8 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Butchart
83 books116 followersAs a child, Pamela was lucky enough to grow up in a house full of pets and go to a primary school where lots of spooky and weird things happened (well, in her imagination at least). As a student, Pamela’s student jobs included: fishwife, teaching basketball in America, phlebotomist and Artist Liaison for a (really bad) Abba tribute band. Now, when she’s not writing or going out and about meeting readers, Pamela teaches philosophy to teenagers.
Her top selling stories include The Spy Who Loved School Dinners which won the Blue Peter Best Story Award and My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat which won The Children’s Book Award. Two of her books, Petunia Peri and There’s a Werewolf in My Tent, were shortlisted for the Lollies – the Laugh Out Loud Awards.
Pamela lives in Dundee with her baby boy and their two awesome cats, Bear & Carlos. If she wasn’t working as a writer and a teacher she’d like to open a luxury hotel for stray cats.
Her top selling stories include The Spy Who Loved School Dinners which won the Blue Peter Best Story Award and My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat which won The Children’s Book Award. Two of her books, Petunia Peri and There’s a Werewolf in My Tent, were shortlisted for the Lollies – the Laugh Out Loud Awards.
Pamela lives in Dundee with her baby boy and their two awesome cats, Bear & Carlos. If she wasn’t working as a writer and a teacher she’d like to open a luxury hotel for stray cats.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 9, 2025
It made me want some crisps
June 7, 2025
A lovely, fast, fun story, that works on two levels for the adults and the children reading it.
August 30, 2025
labai įdomu ir classic
🌸
🌸
August 24, 2025
No crisps were harmed on the making of the book!
August 26, 2024
Love this book and love this series
July 15, 2024
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for a review.
My daughter, aged 9 and I discovered the Baby Aliens Series last year when her teacher read her the third in the series. That seemed crazy to me so I got her all the other books and she listened to them on audible and followed along in paperback. I’ve found that to be a great way to improve her reading and her engagement in books.
She loved them (and so did I to be fair.) they’re so funny that I spend my time cackling away and she can’t get enough of them. The stories follow Izzy and her friends, Zach, Jodie and Maisie and their delightful and deadly imaginations. The simplest explanation is never the reason something happens as far as these kids are concerned. No, it must be a monster or a curse or an alien. And whilst their imaginations lead them astray, their logic is always perfect. Misguided but brilliant.
The Great Crisp Robbery is no exception to this dynamic. This time the four kids and Gary Petrie (with his silky dressing gown) are on a school trip, on the sleeper train to London. That caught my daughter’s interest straight away - the fun of being away from home, in bunk beds with friends was her idea of heaven. But of course, there’s something afoot - a mysterious hooded figure has been seen on the platform and they just know that it’s a train robber because Zach knows all about them.
So ensues a hilarious adventure where the kids get more and more suspicious and try to foil the robbers’ plot. You know it’s going to turn out to be something completely normal and fine but the hilarious twists and turns, their crazy assumptions and dangerous actions keep you on the edge of your seat!
Every time I finished a chapter I was begged for just one more. And when we read the climax she was rolling around on the bed in excitement. She joined in crying about poor Gary’s Tescos Finest Crisps and laughing her head off. Not the kind of book that induces sleep - can you tell?
I loved it too, I got breathless with excitement at the same times she did. Although, I am very concerned about how often Maisie faints! Totally recommended.
When I asked her how many stars to give it she said, can I give it ten? So there you have it. A ten out of five star rating!
My daughter, aged 9 and I discovered the Baby Aliens Series last year when her teacher read her the third in the series. That seemed crazy to me so I got her all the other books and she listened to them on audible and followed along in paperback. I’ve found that to be a great way to improve her reading and her engagement in books.
She loved them (and so did I to be fair.) they’re so funny that I spend my time cackling away and she can’t get enough of them. The stories follow Izzy and her friends, Zach, Jodie and Maisie and their delightful and deadly imaginations. The simplest explanation is never the reason something happens as far as these kids are concerned. No, it must be a monster or a curse or an alien. And whilst their imaginations lead them astray, their logic is always perfect. Misguided but brilliant.
The Great Crisp Robbery is no exception to this dynamic. This time the four kids and Gary Petrie (with his silky dressing gown) are on a school trip, on the sleeper train to London. That caught my daughter’s interest straight away - the fun of being away from home, in bunk beds with friends was her idea of heaven. But of course, there’s something afoot - a mysterious hooded figure has been seen on the platform and they just know that it’s a train robber because Zach knows all about them.
So ensues a hilarious adventure where the kids get more and more suspicious and try to foil the robbers’ plot. You know it’s going to turn out to be something completely normal and fine but the hilarious twists and turns, their crazy assumptions and dangerous actions keep you on the edge of your seat!
Every time I finished a chapter I was begged for just one more. And when we read the climax she was rolling around on the bed in excitement. She joined in crying about poor Gary’s Tescos Finest Crisps and laughing her head off. Not the kind of book that induces sleep - can you tell?
I loved it too, I got breathless with excitement at the same times she did. Although, I am very concerned about how often Maisie faints! Totally recommended.
When I asked her how many stars to give it she said, can I give it ten? So there you have it. A ten out of five star rating!
December 31, 2025
Izzy and friends Gary, Jodi, Maisie and Zach are on an exciting school trip to London on a sleeper train. Their trip goes off course when a mysterious hooded figure is spotted, Gary’s precious collection of Tesco’s Finest Crisps and the school trip spending money and theatre tickets are stolen! The brave youngsters set off to find the culprits and solve the mystery.
What a fabulous adventure story for children. My granddaughter lent me her copy and it really remind me of why promoting a wide range of good children’s fiction is so important. From the first page I felt I was in Izzy’s friendship group, and I hadn’t read or talked about the books with her beforehand. All the characters felt real, with back stories, family lives (although home life is not the focus) and it felt as if they learned as they went through their escapades. The writing is straightforward and simple but in a way that has clarity and connection, rather than talking down to children. For example, it assumes, children know about baby scans, police procedures like bagging evidence and words longer than 6 letters! The text is greatly enhanced by engaging illustrations and dynamic presentation and highlighting of text so the pages are all different and important highlights pop out from the pages. It avoids the boring lines of close-typed words, which some children find so daunting. And, it was a right good adventure too, with a fast moving plot and a very satisfying conclusion.
This is beautiful middle grade book bridging the gap from picture books to young adult readers, but not a graphic novel, which offers a different reading experience again. Don’t ever let anyone tell you children’s books are only for young readers!
What a fabulous adventure story for children. My granddaughter lent me her copy and it really remind me of why promoting a wide range of good children’s fiction is so important. From the first page I felt I was in Izzy’s friendship group, and I hadn’t read or talked about the books with her beforehand. All the characters felt real, with back stories, family lives (although home life is not the focus) and it felt as if they learned as they went through their escapades. The writing is straightforward and simple but in a way that has clarity and connection, rather than talking down to children. For example, it assumes, children know about baby scans, police procedures like bagging evidence and words longer than 6 letters! The text is greatly enhanced by engaging illustrations and dynamic presentation and highlighting of text so the pages are all different and important highlights pop out from the pages. It avoids the boring lines of close-typed words, which some children find so daunting. And, it was a right good adventure too, with a fast moving plot and a very satisfying conclusion.
This is beautiful middle grade book bridging the gap from picture books to young adult readers, but not a graphic novel, which offers a different reading experience again. Don’t ever let anyone tell you children’s books are only for young readers!
November 19, 2024
Their greatest case!
Usually, it is pretty clear that our friends have got the wrong end of the stick and are overreacting. But this time there really is a Hooded Figure, the crisps really are missing, and people really do get off the train. Certain teachers have a lot of explaining to do!
Incidentally, Gary Petrie shows genuine initiative and resource. Well done!
Usually, it is pretty clear that our friends have got the wrong end of the stick and are overreacting. But this time there really is a Hooded Figure, the crisps really are missing, and people really do get off the train. Certain teachers have a lot of explaining to do!
Incidentally, Gary Petrie shows genuine initiative and resource. Well done!
July 19, 2024
These stories are always so full of fun. I would be MOST UPSET if someone stole my crisps… especially on a train! But when more than crisps go missing it’s up to the crew to solve the mystery! This had me chuckling away at times, and I love the illustrations!
August 12, 2024
Read this with my 11 and 8 year old. They giggled the whole way through.
We're huge fans of Pamela Butchart so were delighted to receive an early copy of the Great Crisp Robbery. A brilliant story, with excellent illustrations.
We're huge fans of Pamela Butchart so were delighted to receive an early copy of the Great Crisp Robbery. A brilliant story, with excellent illustrations.
October 26, 2024
I had so much reading this book with my son :)
February 2, 2025
It was absolutely brilliant
February 19, 2025
Read in 2 sittings
March 29, 2025
I think this book is a limited addition book and I was lucky to get one😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2025
I didint fink that teaher is pregnat
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2025
Love all the books in this series so much! Love the author Pamela and all the characters. The resolution at the end of every story is good, too. I'd recommend for ages 8+.
May 9, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, but the author used the word "gasped a lot," which was quite annoying
June 3, 2025
Have been reading this with Sophia, and it’s genuinely hilarious.
August 5, 2025
Amazing .
December 2, 2025
amazing easy to get into and stick with very exciting easy read love it 10 out of 10
March 19, 2025
Another funny Izzy adventure book. 🤣🤣🤣
July 29, 2024
I loved this book soooo much
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews