I would say that a younger audience than Walliam's usual will love this. It's a series of short epsiodes rather than one novel. Each chapter introduces us to a different child, each of whom has their own unique traits.
We get to meet a boy who dribbles and sleeps the day away, another who cultivates his own nits to become a super-villain, one girl who can't stop moving, another who never throws anything away or cleans her room. And of course, a boy who collects his bogeys.
It has a feel at times of Hilare Belloc and Marriott Edgar, of often repellent children and their often justifiably sticky ends.
Walliams gets to play up to his silliest whims, and creates here a very funny series of short stories about the stereotypes that readers will most enjoy reading about - the most disgusting kid in class, the brainiest, the laziest.
And the Ross illustrations perfectly accompany - with glee! Nothing is off bounds, giant bogey balls, seas of spit, stink monsters, bottom burps (in full colour of course).
My son is 5 and loved listening to these, there is nothing here he couldn't follow or understand. Even though I think he was a little surprised at the 'rude' nature of these stories, he liked the sticky endings of the nastiest children. It's the sort of subject that really appeals to his age group.
For children older, reading for themselves, these are visually very appealing stories, with plenty of text-play, 'rude' words and pictures, and of course Raj throughout, shaking his head at the terrible doings of the young rascals.
One of my favourites I think, by the author. No plot to speak of, just a series of enjoyable silly stories that will have children laughing with pleasure.
It's a story that a very talented child could have written, and I mean this in a positive way - it's just the sort of book that comes out of the imagination of a primary school student, tapping into their interests.
Adults who want to remember what it's like to enjoy the yucky stuff will enjoy reading this aloud (or in secret to themselves!).
One for listeners/readers ages 5 to 12. Lots of fun.