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Brain Freeze
Brain World Book Day 2018 [Paperback] Fletcher, Tom
112 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2018
77 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Tom Fletcher
100 books289 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Tom Fletcher is one of the UK's most popular children's authors. Tom's books have been translated into 41 languages and to date he has sold over 6 million copies of his books in the UK alone, and 10 million globally.
The Christmasaurus was the biggest debut children's novel of 2016 and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. Since then, Tom has published several more chart-topping children's novels, including The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List, The Creakers and the instant number-one bestseller The Danger Gang.
For younger readers, Tom writes the incredibly successful Who's in Your Book? picture-book series and is one half of the author duo behind the Dinosaur that Pooped picture-book series with bandmate Dougie Poynter.
For older readers, Tom co-authors the Eve of Man series with his wife, Giovanna Fletcher.
As well as his career as an author, Tom is also a founding member of the Brit Award-winning band McFly, which has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
Tom Fletcher is one of the UK's most popular children's authors. Tom's books have been translated into 41 languages and to date he has sold over 6 million copies of his books in the UK alone, and 10 million globally.
The Christmasaurus was the biggest debut children's novel of 2016 and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. Since then, Tom has published several more chart-topping children's novels, including The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List, The Creakers and the instant number-one bestseller The Danger Gang.
For younger readers, Tom writes the incredibly successful Who's in Your Book? picture-book series and is one half of the author duo behind the Dinosaur that Pooped picture-book series with bandmate Dougie Poynter.
For older readers, Tom co-authors the Eve of Man series with his wife, Giovanna Fletcher.
As well as his career as an author, Tom is also a founding member of the Brit Award-winning band McFly, which has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 15, 2018
This is an adorable novella about a 10-year-old girl who discovers that brain freeze from eating her ice cream enables her to travel through time in her grandfather's magical ice-cream van.
The subject matter seems young, although the length and the language used probably puts it more on the lower end of middle grade; younger kids would probably enjoy having it read to them, though. While parts of the story are a bit silly, the whole thing is entertaining, and Izzy's relationship with her grandfather is just plain sweet (pun intended).
The writing was just okay for me, and at times it is very British (in spelling, punctuation, and expressions), but it's not so much that it couldn't be understood by North American readers. I just love the illustrations, though; they add some more sweetness into what is already one of the cutest books I've read in a while.
Quotable moment:
The subject matter seems young, although the length and the language used probably puts it more on the lower end of middle grade; younger kids would probably enjoy having it read to them, though. While parts of the story are a bit silly, the whole thing is entertaining, and Izzy's relationship with her grandfather is just plain sweet (pun intended).
The writing was just okay for me, and at times it is very British (in spelling, punctuation, and expressions), but it's not so much that it couldn't be understood by North American readers. I just love the illustrations, though; they add some more sweetness into what is already one of the cutest books I've read in a while.
Quotable moment:
'ISABELLE! Do NOT lick the floor!' Mum shouted as I began slurping up as much melted ice cream as I could before Dad hoisted me in the air.
March 11, 2018
This kid’s chapbook was released as part of this year’s World Book Day, and I read it with my five-year old girl.
She loved it, which should be all the recommendation you need, but that doesn’t make for an incisive review now, does it?
I went into this tale of a time-travelling ice cream van expecting wacky hijinks and amusing historical faux pas – a fun little temporal romp, if you will. While there was a bit of that going on, the core of the story is about a little girl dealing with loss and, on that score, Fletcher nails it.
I don’t think my own little girl got those undertones. She was laughing at the guzzling of ice cream, and an unexpected pit stop in ancient Egpyt, while I was choking back tears in both the first and last couple of chapters as the story comes full circle.
There is a lot to like here. Fletcher doesn’t shy away from giving his story plenty of emotional depth, but incorporates it so that it’s only there if the younger reader wants it to be. For me there was no such escape, I just ended up an unashamedly blubbering wreck, while my daughter looked on, bemused.
Highly recommended.
She loved it, which should be all the recommendation you need, but that doesn’t make for an incisive review now, does it?
I went into this tale of a time-travelling ice cream van expecting wacky hijinks and amusing historical faux pas – a fun little temporal romp, if you will. While there was a bit of that going on, the core of the story is about a little girl dealing with loss and, on that score, Fletcher nails it.
I don’t think my own little girl got those undertones. She was laughing at the guzzling of ice cream, and an unexpected pit stop in ancient Egpyt, while I was choking back tears in both the first and last couple of chapters as the story comes full circle.
There is a lot to like here. Fletcher doesn’t shy away from giving his story plenty of emotional depth, but incorporates it so that it’s only there if the younger reader wants it to be. For me there was no such escape, I just ended up an unashamedly blubbering wreck, while my daughter looked on, bemused.
Highly recommended.
February 22, 2018
Such a sweet(pun intended), little story. It made me shed a tear or two, while also making me laugh out loud. I honestly recommend this to people as a bedtime story for your little ones, but also as a short read for anyone!
Tom’s writing only seems to get better with each book of his I read. I’m so excited for what he brings next!
Tom’s writing only seems to get better with each book of his I read. I’m so excited for what he brings next!
March 29, 2018
Seit Der Weihnachtosaurus bin ich ein riesen Fan von Tom Fletcher, und das nicht nur von seinen großartigen Büchern, sondern auch von seiner Person. Als ich dann hörte, dass zur Feier des Word Book Days ein Buch bzw. eine Novelle von ihm erscheinen würde, war ich kaum noch zu bremsen, erst recht nicht mehr, als ich hörte, worum es in der Geschichte geht und als ich das absolut wunderschöne Cover sah. Allerdings war es eine Tortur an dieses Büchlein heranzukommen. Es dauerte Wochen, bis ich es endlich irgendwo zum Kauf entdeckte. Fündig wurde ich endlich beim englischen großen A und musste es natürlich sofort bestellen. Zwischenzeitlich gibt es das Buch, wenn ich richtig gesehen habe, aber auch bei dem Deutschen großen A, zumindest gebraucht und auch als Kindle Edition, für den Fall, dass man es als E-Book lesen möchte.
Ich muss gestehen, ich habe eine Schwäche für Kinderbücher, besonders wenn sie mit solch wunderschönen Illustrationen ausgestattet sind, wie es bei den Büchern von Tom Fletcher immer der Fall ist. Überhaupt hat seine besondere, sehr berührende und liebevolle Art, Geschichten zu erzählen, es mir unglaublich angetan. Brain Freeze war daher ein absolutes Muss und ich bin überglücklich, dass ich dann doch noch eine Taschenbuchausgabe ergattern konnte.
POSITIV
Eiscreme und Zeitreisen? Gibt es eine bessere Kombination? Ich glaube nicht. Ich habe keine Kinder oder kleinen Geschwister, mit denen ich dieses Buch hätte lesen können, doch auch mich als Erwachsene hat es nicht nur unglaublich unterhalten, sondern auch wirklich sehr berührt. Es handelt sich um eine humorvolle, abenteuerliche, dennoch aber sehr emotionale kurze Geschichte, liegt der Fokus insbesondere auf der Beziehung zwischen Großvater und Enkeltochter, wie man sie besser nicht hätte darstellen können. Es geht um die unbändige Liebe zwischen Großvater und Enkelin und all das Glück und auch den Schmerz, den eine solche Liebe mit sich bringt.
Auch wenn die Geschichte doch sehr kurz ist, fiel es mir unglaublich leicht, die Charaktere ins Herz zu schließen. Besonders angetan hat es mir unsere junge Protagonistin, die durch Zufall auf den alten Eiscremetruck ihres Großvaters stößt, der sie früher nicht nur mit dem leckersten Eis der Welt versorgt, sondern ihr auch immer wieder die unglaublichsten und abenteuerlichsten Geschichten erzählt hat. Niemals hätte sie auch nur im Traum daran gedacht, dass an diesen Geschichten etwas wahres dran wäre. Doch als sie schließlich auf den alten verstaubten Eistruck stößt, der in ihrer alten Scheune untergestellt ist und vor sich hin rostet, entdeckt sie plötzlich, dass die Geschichten, die ihr ihr Großvater immer erzählt hat, doch gar nicht so an den Haaren herbeigezogen waren, wie sie immer glaubte. Denn plötzlich findet sie sich zum Beispiel im alten Ägypten wieder.
Diese Kombination aus Abenteuer und Zeitreisen ist unglaublich unterhaltsam, gepaart mit diesem wundervollen Schreibstil, den kreativen Illustrationen und der Liebe fürs Detail wurde dieses kleine Büchlein zu einem absolut erfreulichem Leseerlebnis.
Gerade Kindern, da bin ich mir sicher, wird diese Geschichte unglaublich gut gefallen, denn welches Kind nascht nicht gerne Eiscreme oder träumt davon, als Held/in große Abenteuer zu bestehen? Außerdem ist unsere Protagonistin nicht nur liebenswert, höflich und nett, sondern auch unglaublich mutig und selbstlos. Sie fungiert als großartiges Vorbild, insbesondere für die Mädchen unter den jungen Lesern.
Und am Ende habe ich sogar eine Träne verdrücken müssen, weil es mich einfach so unglaublich berührt hat. Diese Geschichte, ganz gleich wie kurz sie war, hat mich mitten ins Herz getroffen. Tom Fletcher schafft es einfach immer wieder. Er weiß ganz genau was er tut und hat ein absolutes Händchen dafür, die Herzen seiner Leser höher schlagen zu lassen. Außerdem hat er einen wahnsinnig tollen Humor, den er in seine Geschichten mit einfließen lässt und die seine Bücher eben zu etwas ganz Besonderem machen.
NEGATIV
Auch wenn ich das Buch absolut geliebt habe und mir die Kürze des Buches eigentlich nichts aus gemacht hat, hätte ich mir doch noch so viel mehr Seiten gewünscht, um noch länger Teil dieser Geschichte sein zu dürfen. Ich hätte nichts dagegen gehabt, hätte er noch ein paar mehr Seiten dran gehangen und unsere Protagonistin noch ein paar weitere Abenteuer erleben lassen. Dennoch funktioniert dieses Buch als Novelle wirklich sehr gut, gegen eine länge Version dieser Geschichte hätte ich trotzdem nichts einzuwenden gehabt. Von Tom Fletcher, seinen Figuren und seinen Geschichten und vor allen Dingen auch von diesen absolut großartigen Illustrationen kann man einfach nie genug bekommen.
LOHNT SICH DAS BUCH?
Absolut und das nicht nur für Kinder. Fans von Tom Fletcher sollten sich diese kurze Geschichte unter gar keinen Umständen entgegen lassen und auch nicht jene, die gerne zwischendurch auch mal zu einem Kinderbuch greifen und sich einfach mal wieder selbst wie ein Kind fühlen möchten. Dieses Buch macht einfach Spaß, bringt einen zum Lachen und berührt einen ganz tief im Herzen. Von mir bekommt dieses Buch eine absolute Kauf- und Leseempfehlung!
Ich muss gestehen, ich habe eine Schwäche für Kinderbücher, besonders wenn sie mit solch wunderschönen Illustrationen ausgestattet sind, wie es bei den Büchern von Tom Fletcher immer der Fall ist. Überhaupt hat seine besondere, sehr berührende und liebevolle Art, Geschichten zu erzählen, es mir unglaublich angetan. Brain Freeze war daher ein absolutes Muss und ich bin überglücklich, dass ich dann doch noch eine Taschenbuchausgabe ergattern konnte.
POSITIV
Eiscreme und Zeitreisen? Gibt es eine bessere Kombination? Ich glaube nicht. Ich habe keine Kinder oder kleinen Geschwister, mit denen ich dieses Buch hätte lesen können, doch auch mich als Erwachsene hat es nicht nur unglaublich unterhalten, sondern auch wirklich sehr berührt. Es handelt sich um eine humorvolle, abenteuerliche, dennoch aber sehr emotionale kurze Geschichte, liegt der Fokus insbesondere auf der Beziehung zwischen Großvater und Enkeltochter, wie man sie besser nicht hätte darstellen können. Es geht um die unbändige Liebe zwischen Großvater und Enkelin und all das Glück und auch den Schmerz, den eine solche Liebe mit sich bringt.
Auch wenn die Geschichte doch sehr kurz ist, fiel es mir unglaublich leicht, die Charaktere ins Herz zu schließen. Besonders angetan hat es mir unsere junge Protagonistin, die durch Zufall auf den alten Eiscremetruck ihres Großvaters stößt, der sie früher nicht nur mit dem leckersten Eis der Welt versorgt, sondern ihr auch immer wieder die unglaublichsten und abenteuerlichsten Geschichten erzählt hat. Niemals hätte sie auch nur im Traum daran gedacht, dass an diesen Geschichten etwas wahres dran wäre. Doch als sie schließlich auf den alten verstaubten Eistruck stößt, der in ihrer alten Scheune untergestellt ist und vor sich hin rostet, entdeckt sie plötzlich, dass die Geschichten, die ihr ihr Großvater immer erzählt hat, doch gar nicht so an den Haaren herbeigezogen waren, wie sie immer glaubte. Denn plötzlich findet sie sich zum Beispiel im alten Ägypten wieder.
Diese Kombination aus Abenteuer und Zeitreisen ist unglaublich unterhaltsam, gepaart mit diesem wundervollen Schreibstil, den kreativen Illustrationen und der Liebe fürs Detail wurde dieses kleine Büchlein zu einem absolut erfreulichem Leseerlebnis.
Gerade Kindern, da bin ich mir sicher, wird diese Geschichte unglaublich gut gefallen, denn welches Kind nascht nicht gerne Eiscreme oder träumt davon, als Held/in große Abenteuer zu bestehen? Außerdem ist unsere Protagonistin nicht nur liebenswert, höflich und nett, sondern auch unglaublich mutig und selbstlos. Sie fungiert als großartiges Vorbild, insbesondere für die Mädchen unter den jungen Lesern.
Und am Ende habe ich sogar eine Träne verdrücken müssen, weil es mich einfach so unglaublich berührt hat. Diese Geschichte, ganz gleich wie kurz sie war, hat mich mitten ins Herz getroffen. Tom Fletcher schafft es einfach immer wieder. Er weiß ganz genau was er tut und hat ein absolutes Händchen dafür, die Herzen seiner Leser höher schlagen zu lassen. Außerdem hat er einen wahnsinnig tollen Humor, den er in seine Geschichten mit einfließen lässt und die seine Bücher eben zu etwas ganz Besonderem machen.
NEGATIV
Auch wenn ich das Buch absolut geliebt habe und mir die Kürze des Buches eigentlich nichts aus gemacht hat, hätte ich mir doch noch so viel mehr Seiten gewünscht, um noch länger Teil dieser Geschichte sein zu dürfen. Ich hätte nichts dagegen gehabt, hätte er noch ein paar mehr Seiten dran gehangen und unsere Protagonistin noch ein paar weitere Abenteuer erleben lassen. Dennoch funktioniert dieses Buch als Novelle wirklich sehr gut, gegen eine länge Version dieser Geschichte hätte ich trotzdem nichts einzuwenden gehabt. Von Tom Fletcher, seinen Figuren und seinen Geschichten und vor allen Dingen auch von diesen absolut großartigen Illustrationen kann man einfach nie genug bekommen.
LOHNT SICH DAS BUCH?
Absolut und das nicht nur für Kinder. Fans von Tom Fletcher sollten sich diese kurze Geschichte unter gar keinen Umständen entgegen lassen und auch nicht jene, die gerne zwischendurch auch mal zu einem Kinderbuch greifen und sich einfach mal wieder selbst wie ein Kind fühlen möchten. Dieses Buch macht einfach Spaß, bringt einen zum Lachen und berührt einen ganz tief im Herzen. Von mir bekommt dieses Buch eine absolute Kauf- und Leseempfehlung!
August 15, 2019
Side-effects of reading this book: it made me crave ice cream (although that might also have been the heatwave) and it made me want to sing ‘Freeze Your Brain’
Asside from that it was such a sweet and fun little story which even made me a bit emotional at times!
I also liked the very subtle inclusion of the main characters of his previous books at the end.
Asside from that it was such a sweet and fun little story which even made me a bit emotional at times!
I also liked the very subtle inclusion of the main characters of his previous books at the end.
February 6, 2019
I bought this today for 10p in a local bookshop. Read it tonight in about 20 minutes. I mean, it IS a children's book so...
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such a sweet little story about Izzy and how she vowed to eat ice cream every day since her grandad died but one day, there's no ice cream in the house so she goes to the garage where her grandads old ice cream van is kept and investigates and that's where the adventure begins! Tom Fletcher has such a wonderful way of putting a story together and this is truly a lovely little book.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such a sweet little story about Izzy and how she vowed to eat ice cream every day since her grandad died but one day, there's no ice cream in the house so she goes to the garage where her grandads old ice cream van is kept and investigates and that's where the adventure begins! Tom Fletcher has such a wonderful way of putting a story together and this is truly a lovely little book.
April 25, 2018
I love Tom and I want to shout it from the rooftops!
This guy has so much talent and imagination that he's just not allowed to stop writing!
This guy has so much talent and imagination that he's just not allowed to stop writing!
May 8, 2023
Iceelent a tear or 2 from my eyes sort and light read for everyone
March 13, 2018
So I'm a tad late to the party, World Book Day was nearly two weeks ago, but I've only just gotten around to read this short story!!
I am so happy that I've finally read it because this book was incredible and so sweet. Plus it makes me crave ice cream from an actual Ice Cream Van Man!! (Who hasn't actually started up his round through my street again YET!!)
I love when she travels back in time and that is exactly when I would go back to because I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt.
So well done, Tom Fletcher. You have done it again and I can't wait to read what you write next!!
I am so happy that I've finally read it because this book was incredible and so sweet. Plus it makes me crave ice cream from an actual Ice Cream Van Man!! (Who hasn't actually started up his round through my street again YET!!)
I love when she travels back in time and that is exactly when I would go back to because I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt.
So well done, Tom Fletcher. You have done it again and I can't wait to read what you write next!!
April 19, 2018
Brain Freeze: World Book Day 2018 by Tom Fletcher is about Izzy who loves ice-cream with everything she has. Her granddad was an ice-cream man and always told her wonderful stories from the ancient Egypt and dinosaurs. Since her granddad died, she eats ice-cream every night, but one day their freezer broke and all the goodness was gone. To still remember her granddad Izzy goes to his blue ice-cream van and discovers mysterious things.
This book is a really short read, but absolutely cute. It's about time travel and a very deep love within a family. It was absolutely gorgeous. Tom Fletcher is writing really amazing books for children. And adults too. It just warms your heart reading about children who do great things and have adventures.
And I won't start talking about how amazing the illustration is. But okay, the pictures in the book are so wonderful. They make everything so alive. Shane Devries is a wonderful and amazing illustrator.
What I really like is that the children from Tom Fletcher's other books The Christmasaurus and The Creakers also make an appearance, even though it's only in pictures. But I love the connection.
Brain Freeze is a really cute and short read and it's not only for children. It warms your heart reading it.
This book is a really short read, but absolutely cute. It's about time travel and a very deep love within a family. It was absolutely gorgeous. Tom Fletcher is writing really amazing books for children. And adults too. It just warms your heart reading about children who do great things and have adventures.
And I won't start talking about how amazing the illustration is. But okay, the pictures in the book are so wonderful. They make everything so alive. Shane Devries is a wonderful and amazing illustrator.
What I really like is that the children from Tom Fletcher's other books The Christmasaurus and The Creakers also make an appearance, even though it's only in pictures. But I love the connection.
Brain Freeze is a really cute and short read and it's not only for children. It warms your heart reading it.
August 9, 2019
this was actually the cutest thing I've read in a while
January 20, 2020
It is a short book for world book day. It has the same thing happening going through it so it was a bit boring. It was an ok book.
May 8, 2018
it's an amazing Quick Read for children - witty, funny and written is such a way, you want to giggle throughout it all and cry a little at the end.
a story with beautiful pictures, which also leaves with a freaking huge craving for ice cream. I'm not even kidding.
read it to your kids, grandkids, godkids, WHOEVER.
Tom, you're doing hella amazing thing with writing for kids.
also, it was a present from a friend and I'll be forever grateful for that *insert heart emoji*
a story with beautiful pictures, which also leaves with a freaking huge craving for ice cream. I'm not even kidding.
read it to your kids, grandkids, godkids, WHOEVER.
Tom, you're doing hella amazing thing with writing for kids.
also, it was a present from a friend and I'll be forever grateful for that *insert heart emoji*
July 25, 2018
This World Book Day 2018 book is like Back to the Future, but with an ice cream van instead of a DeLorean. It is also a tale of love between grandpa and granddaughter.
With its opening paragraphs it immediately draws you in:
“The End… I know that’s not how stories usually start. But my story is about time travel. And not everything happens in the right order…”
From there the story follows ten-year-old Izzy whose Gramps was an ice-cream man before he died. Now his ice cream van is gathering dust in the family garage. But one night Izzy goes out to have a look at the ice cream van again so she can see its blue colour and be reminded of the shade of her Grandpa’s blue eyes. There she discovers the van’s freezer is full of ice cream, which she eats giving her a brain freeze. She then discovers that during these brain freezes she can use the van to travel through time. She uses it to see her grandpa again.
It is a sentimental tale that my little plot description above doesn’t do justice too. It also has occasional pictures along the way to bring it to life, for example a great picture of Izzy serving ice-cream out of the van to a young King Tutankhamen with the pyramids and the Sphinx behind.
Highly recommended.
With its opening paragraphs it immediately draws you in:
“The End… I know that’s not how stories usually start. But my story is about time travel. And not everything happens in the right order…”
From there the story follows ten-year-old Izzy whose Gramps was an ice-cream man before he died. Now his ice cream van is gathering dust in the family garage. But one night Izzy goes out to have a look at the ice cream van again so she can see its blue colour and be reminded of the shade of her Grandpa’s blue eyes. There she discovers the van’s freezer is full of ice cream, which she eats giving her a brain freeze. She then discovers that during these brain freezes she can use the van to travel through time. She uses it to see her grandpa again.
It is a sentimental tale that my little plot description above doesn’t do justice too. It also has occasional pictures along the way to bring it to life, for example a great picture of Izzy serving ice-cream out of the van to a young King Tutankhamen with the pyramids and the Sphinx behind.
Highly recommended.
April 6, 2018
I read parts of this to my class of year 1 children and we’ve decided we need more Tom Fletcher in our lives. I’m going to make him our author of the month in class to read more by him in school.
We loved Brain Freeze and the children loved how the story was laid out with bigger words dotted here and there. The story was great and i have to admit that it made me laugh out loud in places, but also shed a tear (when pre-reading at home)
I loved that all the language was accessible to the children as so many kids books still have vocabulary that needs to be explained to fully understand. And it got the children talking about times they have suffered brain freeze themselves.
It was great that it dealt with issues of loss and remembering a loved one without being too heavy, and the sad moments were surrounded by fun.
The only downside is I want more!
All in all, 5* from me, and 5* from a wonderful bunch of 5year olds :)
We loved Brain Freeze and the children loved how the story was laid out with bigger words dotted here and there. The story was great and i have to admit that it made me laugh out loud in places, but also shed a tear (when pre-reading at home)
I loved that all the language was accessible to the children as so many kids books still have vocabulary that needs to be explained to fully understand. And it got the children talking about times they have suffered brain freeze themselves.
It was great that it dealt with issues of loss and remembering a loved one without being too heavy, and the sad moments were surrounded by fun.
The only downside is I want more!
All in all, 5* from me, and 5* from a wonderful bunch of 5year olds :)
February 7, 2019
By reading this magnificent book by Tom Fletcher you will learn about time travel, the lost land of the pharaohs and delicious ice cream! It will make you feel extremely sad in parts but it will also make you laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy inside (also cold in your head. . .). The main character is Izzy who is a 10 year old girl who misses her grandfather terribly. Her grandfather used to tell fascinating tales about his time as an ice cream man and, when Izzy discovers that his van can travel through time, she goes on an exciting adventure. This heart-warming tale covers themes of loss, loneliness and joy whilst having a few laughs along the way. This book is mainly suitable for children who enjoy adventure stories but would also appeal to adults who like science fiction and funny stories. I read this fiction book with my year 4 class and they all loved it! I’d give it 5 stars because it has inspired them to read more novels by this fantastic author.
By Mr Atkinson
By Mr Atkinson
April 15, 2018
I'm going to be honest... sometimes I'm afraid that I buy/read/like some books just because I like the author as a person. A bit like thinking your mum's cooking is the best just because your love for her serves as seasoning. I was afraid that the joy I get from the books penned by the Fletcher family was biased like that. I bought this book trying to convince myself that, as a wannabe writer, it was my duty to read as much as I could from all genres. I wasn't expecting much of such a small a book. I cried! I'm 38 and I cried reading a book about ice cream. What does that mean?
May I just say, without wanting to spoil anything for anyone than, when I realised the story behind the second tub of ice cream (a few lines before it happened) I had to stop and mentally cheer Tom. It was a genius detail!
Highly recommend it!
May I just say, without wanting to spoil anything for anyone than, when I realised the story behind the second tub of ice cream (a few lines before it happened) I had to stop and mentally cheer Tom. It was a genius detail!
Highly recommend it!
March 4, 2018
I mean, come on! Ice-cream, time travel, storytelling – what’s not to love there?! This is such a sweet tale, with a lovely grandpa/granddaughter relationship at its core, and despite its short length and young target audience, it genuinely touched me and made me a little sniffly in places. Written with Tom’s trademark childlike imagination, it’s full of magic and adventure and fun, and will definitely appeal to little ones who like a bit of fantastical in their fiction. The writing style seems very accessible, so it’s certainly one that kids of junior school age can enjoy by themselves, but as with all of Tom’s writing, it has a lyrical quality which makes it perfect for sharing aloud at bedtime. Illustrated by the wonderful Shane Devries, the pictures are (as always) beautiful and really help to tell the story, adding to the humour and emotion of certain scenes. All in all, it’s a wonderful little book that I’m very pleased to have in my collection.
May 12, 2022
🍦Who wouldn't want a time travelling Ice-Cream van?
🍦This short story tells you exactly what it would be like to go back to your most cherished memories. Izzy misses her grandad and his tall stories so when late one night his old Ice-Cream van sparks into life she take a trip back in time.
🍦The book was Edward's choice on World Book Day last year and we found it funny and magical in parts and sweet and emotional in others. (this seems to be a theme with Tom Fletcher stories. They tug at our heart strings and can be a rollercoaster of feelings.) This had a perfect "swirl" of the two.
Abso "lolly" brilliant! 🍦🍧
🍦🍦🍦🍦/5
🍦This short story tells you exactly what it would be like to go back to your most cherished memories. Izzy misses her grandad and his tall stories so when late one night his old Ice-Cream van sparks into life she take a trip back in time.
🍦The book was Edward's choice on World Book Day last year and we found it funny and magical in parts and sweet and emotional in others. (this seems to be a theme with Tom Fletcher stories. They tug at our heart strings and can be a rollercoaster of feelings.) This had a perfect "swirl" of the two.
Abso "lolly" brilliant! 🍦🍧
🍦🍦🍦🍦/5
April 12, 2018
Warning! This was a bit of a tear jerker although the theme of loss completely by passed my six year old son who I was reading it to. I've never read any Tom Fletcher books but I've seen other parents rave about them so it was good to get the chance to experiment with this short World Book Day title. My eight year old has been sneakily listening to snippets and I think he's desperate to get his hands on it to read himself.
June 25, 2022
A heartfelt and touching novella from Tom Fletcher, the rockstar-cum-children’s author who is swiftly proving himself to be a modern day Roald Dahl. The premise is delightfully sweet and simple, the characters are engaging and the whole thing is an absolute breeze to read. Fletcher continues to craft silly, over-the-top stories for children that manage to be both wildly imaginative and gloriously fun. A must-read.
July 7, 2023
This one was a delight to read. A comfort; as I have lost my grandfather. 🍦
Although the story being short and sweet was one of its strengths, the ending felt a bit rushed and unresolved.
And sometimes my imagination couldn’t produce a proper image of some of the mechanics and gizmos mentioned/described here.
4 stars overall, as I felt the ending lacked a little something more, but a great read to comfort you and get you out of a reading slump🦥
Although the story being short and sweet was one of its strengths, the ending felt a bit rushed and unresolved.
And sometimes my imagination couldn’t produce a proper image of some of the mechanics and gizmos mentioned/described here.
4 stars overall, as I felt the ending lacked a little something more, but a great read to comfort you and get you out of a reading slump🦥
May 4, 2018
This was a lovely short story for World book day. Such a lovely way of coping with the sadness that follows the loss of a grandparent.
It was so lovely and helped my young son get over the death of his gran a bit better.
Perfect quick read with a great idea and concept. All kids love ice-cream but this girl adores sharing ice-cream with her grandad, so moving and so well written.
Loved it.
It was so lovely and helped my young son get over the death of his gran a bit better.
Perfect quick read with a great idea and concept. All kids love ice-cream but this girl adores sharing ice-cream with her grandad, so moving and so well written.
Loved it.
September 6, 2018
A charming little story featuring a girls love for her grandad and ice cream.
As confusing as the concept of time travel can be to me sometimes, I really enjoyed this sweet magical little story.
This novella gave me chills, and the chapter 'the final brain freeze' was the cherry on top (puns intended)
As confusing as the concept of time travel can be to me sometimes, I really enjoyed this sweet magical little story.
This novella gave me chills, and the chapter 'the final brain freeze' was the cherry on top (puns intended)
October 31, 2018
A small masterpiece
Tom Fletcher manages to write stories that are not only clever, not only amuse and entertain, he also writes stories that have true heart. Brain Freeze is no exception to that rule, and he manages to do all that in less than 100 pages - my heart is truly warmed!
Tom Fletcher manages to write stories that are not only clever, not only amuse and entertain, he also writes stories that have true heart. Brain Freeze is no exception to that rule, and he manages to do all that in less than 100 pages - my heart is truly warmed!
January 10, 2019
What a lovely story about the relationship with our grandparents and dealing with the grief of losing them while remembering the time we spent together. On top of these deep themes and some emotional moments, there's a lot of humour and it's light and easy reading. Really well written and the plot is thought through.
December 31, 2021
A 10 year old girl named Izzy loves her Grandpa. One day, he sadly passes away and Izzy is really upset. One day, she gets into her Grandpa's old ice cream truck and it drives her back in time to the days when Izzy would visit him in hospital. If you want to read a short book that you need to finish quickly, I'd recommend this one.🙂
June 11, 2018
Such a cute short story! Don't think there's enough here though for a full review/video, but I did really enjoy it.
Filled with Tom's usual creativity and slight weirdness, with a beautiful, heart felt ending that made me tear up, Tom never disappoints!
Filled with Tom's usual creativity and slight weirdness, with a beautiful, heart felt ending that made me tear up, Tom never disappoints!
March 1, 2018
George was always going to love this given the author but we both really enjoyed the story. Very sad at times but mixed nicely with lots of funny parts. It made him think about and discuss time travel too, always a bonus!
A great #WorldBookDay book @TomFletcher👍
A great #WorldBookDay book @TomFletcher👍
April 9, 2018
This was such a lovely little book. Featuring a granddad/ granddaughter relationship, grief and a time travelling Ice cream truck. Its a heartwarming story and I think this would be a great little book to use with my reading group at school, I look forward to seeing what they think about the story.
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