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The Big Bazoohley
When his family runs low on funds while on a trip to Toronto, nine-year-old Sam allows himself to be "borrowed" and entered in a contest to find the Perfecto Kiddo, hoping to win $10,000
135 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 1995
2 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Peter Carey
102 books1,033 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. Not all books on this profile are by the same author. See this thread for more information.
Peter Carey was born in Australia in 1943.
He was educated at the local state school until the age of eleven and then became a boarder at Geelong Grammar School. He was a student there between 1954 and 1960 — after Rupert Murdoch had graduated and before Prince Charles arrived.
In 1961 he studied science for a single unsuccessful year at Monash University. He was then employed by an advertising agency where he began to receive his literary education, meeting Faulkner, Joyce, Kerouac and other writers he had previously been unaware of. He was nineteen.
For the next thirteen years he wrote fiction at night and weekends, working in many advertising agencies in Melbourne, London and Sydney.
After four novels had been written and rejected The Fat Man in History — a short story collection — was published in 1974. This slim book made him an overnight success.
From 1976 Carey worked one week a month for Grey Advertising, then, in 1981 he established a small business where his generous partner required him to work only two afternoons a week. Thus between 1976 and 1990, he was able to pursue literature obsessively. It was during this period that he wrote War Crimes, Bliss, Illywhacker, Oscar and Lucinda. Illywhacker was short listed for the Booker Prize. Oscar and Lucinda won it. Uncomfortable with this success he began work on The Tax Inspector.
In 1990 he moved to New York where he completed The Tax Inspector. He taught at NYU one night a week. Later he would have similar jobs at Princeton, The New School and Barnard College. During these years he wrote The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith, Jack Maggs, and True History of the Kelly Gang for which he won his second Booker Prize.
He collaborated on the screenplay of the film Until the End of the World with Wim Wenders.
In 2003 he joined Hunter College as the Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing. In the years since he has written My Life as a Fake, Theft, His Illegal Self and Parrot and Oliver in America (shortlisted for 2010 Man Booker Prize).
Peter Carey was born in Australia in 1943.
He was educated at the local state school until the age of eleven and then became a boarder at Geelong Grammar School. He was a student there between 1954 and 1960 — after Rupert Murdoch had graduated and before Prince Charles arrived.
In 1961 he studied science for a single unsuccessful year at Monash University. He was then employed by an advertising agency where he began to receive his literary education, meeting Faulkner, Joyce, Kerouac and other writers he had previously been unaware of. He was nineteen.
For the next thirteen years he wrote fiction at night and weekends, working in many advertising agencies in Melbourne, London and Sydney.
After four novels had been written and rejected The Fat Man in History — a short story collection — was published in 1974. This slim book made him an overnight success.
From 1976 Carey worked one week a month for Grey Advertising, then, in 1981 he established a small business where his generous partner required him to work only two afternoons a week. Thus between 1976 and 1990, he was able to pursue literature obsessively. It was during this period that he wrote War Crimes, Bliss, Illywhacker, Oscar and Lucinda. Illywhacker was short listed for the Booker Prize. Oscar and Lucinda won it. Uncomfortable with this success he began work on The Tax Inspector.
In 1990 he moved to New York where he completed The Tax Inspector. He taught at NYU one night a week. Later he would have similar jobs at Princeton, The New School and Barnard College. During these years he wrote The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith, Jack Maggs, and True History of the Kelly Gang for which he won his second Booker Prize.
He collaborated on the screenplay of the film Until the End of the World with Wim Wenders.
In 2003 he joined Hunter College as the Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing. In the years since he has written My Life as a Fake, Theft, His Illegal Self and Parrot and Oliver in America (shortlisted for 2010 Man Booker Prize).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 7, 2014
Thanks to the Goodreads "What's the name of that book??" group, which helped me remember the name of this lil story! (Also thanks to ThriftBooks for selling this for $2, with free shipping.)
Re-reading it was a small treasure. I did remember parts of it so vividly, and it was lovely to see how it all came together. It's a sweet, small middle grade story, about a boy named Sam who sleepwalks out of his hotel room and gets kidnapped by show parents who make Sam over so he can compete—in their chicken pox-infected son's stead—in a shampoo company-sponsored pageant. The characters are all eccentric and well-drawn, and the story is just the right amount of weird and winning.
Re-reading it was a small treasure. I did remember parts of it so vividly, and it was lovely to see how it all came together. It's a sweet, small middle grade story, about a boy named Sam who sleepwalks out of his hotel room and gets kidnapped by show parents who make Sam over so he can compete—in their chicken pox-infected son's stead—in a shampoo company-sponsored pageant. The characters are all eccentric and well-drawn, and the story is just the right amount of weird and winning.
April 26, 2017
carey es un escritor hecho y derecho, que no quepa duda. peto este librito es un lado B, bien narrado pero descafeinado y un tanto pueril.
September 24, 2016
This book is a fantastic adventure of mishaps and suspense. Actually, an undiscovered treasure in my opinion. It is comparable to the caliber of Roald Dahl's children's books. If you want an entertaining, original read give this book a look!
July 18, 2010
I first read it in 5th grade, and read it a couple more times since. Very enjoyable book!
April 8, 2012
One of my favourite books from my childhood.
August 20, 2013
Loved this book as a young adult. There's something about a kid trying to fix his parent's problems. That and tiny paintings.
February 2, 2021
This is one of those books that I always forget the title of, and am always pleased when I remember it. I read this at age 7, more than 20 years ago, but the story was fascinating to a young girl reading about a boy with a dysfunctional home life.
Some of the details I remember: a contest involving 'spag' - spaghetti, paintings smaller than matchboxes, and snow.
I remember enjoying it, and as someone that read many many books as a young child, the fact that I can remember this book so many years later speaks volumes as to its quality in my opinion. I think it warrants a re-read on my part so that I can give a better review, but I think this book was most valuable in the fact that it taught me that kids growing up with neglectful parents can still do great things.
Some of the details I remember: a contest involving 'spag' - spaghetti, paintings smaller than matchboxes, and snow.
I remember enjoying it, and as someone that read many many books as a young child, the fact that I can remember this book so many years later speaks volumes as to its quality in my opinion. I think it warrants a re-read on my part so that I can give a better review, but I think this book was most valuable in the fact that it taught me that kids growing up with neglectful parents can still do great things.
November 6, 2018
This is my favorite children's chapter book of all time. It's got such a unique story. The characters are physically unique with strong personalities, the alliances that form are always on the edge of danger, and the story unfolds wonderfully. What was so grabbing for me as a kid. Sam goes on an extraordinary adventure, but there's no magic or science fiction involved. It's a story that ***could*** happen, albeit in the most unlikeliest or circumstances. I think there's the potential for this book to find new life with the rise of social media - after all, where is a Perfect Kiddo competition more relevant than Instagram?
February 24, 2023
"Cuando las cosa van mal, a veces se hace difícil creer que los tiempos duros vayan a terminarse algún día, pero entonces, zas, llega el Superagordo"
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Desde afuera se ve media rara esa frase pero con el contexto es linda
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Desde afuera se ve media rara esa frase pero con el contexto es linda
October 24, 2019
Simpático define este libro
December 28, 2019
Lettura dolcissima e accurata.. 😊Letto in un pomeriggio d'inverno 💟❄️
March 31, 2021
basic but fun.
April 20, 2021
First time reading children’s book in forever? Was a quick read but really fun.
March 30, 2023
muy cute
May 9, 2024
Lectura facilissima. Llibre divertit i ràpid de llegir.
Read
August 17, 2024Kind of weird
March 31, 2025
Found this children’s book in the free library. I had no idea what this was about or where it was going, but was a quick, fun read. I liked the illustrations.
April 17, 2015
Sam and his family are in Toronto where his mother is trying to sell her painting which is the size of a matchbox. His dad has only $35.63 left to spend while their room at the King Redward Hotel costs $453 a night. One night, as Sam locks himself out while sleepwalking, he finds himself “kidnapped” by eccentric parents Sam and Muriel. They force him to enter the “Perfecto Kiddo” competition in place of their son Wilfred, who has chicken pox. Sam goes along with their scheme in hopes that he can win the $10,000 grand prize.
A fun story that’s full of silly absurdities. Despite wearing Wilfred’s too-small suit, and messily eating Spaghetti, celebrity judge Philip Lopate delcares Sam the rightful winner of the “big bazoohley.” Fun and easy read for grades 4-5.
A fun story that’s full of silly absurdities. Despite wearing Wilfred’s too-small suit, and messily eating Spaghetti, celebrity judge Philip Lopate delcares Sam the rightful winner of the “big bazoohley.” Fun and easy read for grades 4-5.
Read
November 7, 2014 The big Bazoohley by Peter Carey is a great book for a preteen like me. The book is kind of short witch i didn't like. But I enjoyed it while I could. The way the author wrote this book was written very well.
I recommend this book to any pre-teen or child. If people read this book, I think they will like it in the way that I did.
In summary this book is a really up spirit book. The story line was very interesting as well as the way the author wrote it.
I recommend this book to any pre-teen or child. If people read this book, I think they will like it in the way that I did.
In summary this book is a really up spirit book. The story line was very interesting as well as the way the author wrote it.
November 25, 2012
This book was probably the most intriguing novel I have ever read. Peter Carey ( the author) described the characters very well. Sam ( the main character) gets kidnapped and is forced to enter what in his eyes is a very dorky competition. He has the chance to escape many times but he feels compelled to stay because of a family issue that he thinks he can fix.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to have a laugh.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to have a laugh.
August 5, 2013
2nd and 3rd graders LOVE this read-aloud, and I love reading it to them. Delightful, engaging, mysterious and funny-- a winning combination with my guys. Kids will ask me years later if this year's class has started it yet, what this class thinks of it etc.
March 4, 2009
Loved this tale of a boy with courage to tackle grown-up issues (family loyalty, practical money problems, responsibility, thoughtfulness). Well-written and pleasurable to read, even for adults!
February 26, 2009
read it tooooo long ago to remember
August 4, 2010
Carey for kids! entertaining, magical but also has a message!
September 11, 2016
kid book by adult author bit weird but ok overall. maybe I should read something else by him?
March 6, 2014
Children's stories presented by Chris Pizzey, featuring The Big Bazhooley by Peter Carey, read by Simon Chadwick.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2013
Great story and a great adventure. A little boy follows his father into a gambling trip, only to get himself in the middle of a crazy adventure with the funniest of endings.
September 10, 2015
Quick, quirky read. Very entertaining and original.
October 5, 2009
Imaginative, quick read for 3rd - 7th grade.
Want to read
November 16, 2018Q
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews