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The Bolds
WBD Bolds Great Adventure
Fasten your seatbelts - it's a special adventure for World Book Day with Teddington's wildest family! Learn just how our intrepid hyenas managed to get from their African safari park onto the plane and off to their new home in England. It's quite a remarkable, and some would say, unbelievable tale - but there are many laughs along the way!
- GenresChildrens
144 pages, Paperback
Published February 22, 2018
25 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Julian Clary
51 books70 followersJulian Clary is an English comedian and novelist. Clary began appearing on television in the mid-1980s and became known for his deliberately stereotypical camp style. Since then he has also acted in films, television and stage productions, and was the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 10 in 2012.
Clary has released two large format comedy books: My Life With Fanny The Wonder Dog (1989) and How To Be A Man (1992).
Between 2005 and 2008, Clary wrote a fortnightly column for the New Statesman magazine. He has also published an autobiography, A Young Man's Passage, which covers his life and career up to the 1993 "Norman Lamont incident" at the British Comedy Awards. In 2007, Clary released his first novel, Murder Most Fab, published by Ebury Press. His second novel, Devil in Disguise, was published in 2009. His first book for children, The Bolds, was published by Andersen Press in 2015.
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Clary has released two large format comedy books: My Life With Fanny The Wonder Dog (1989) and How To Be A Man (1992).
Between 2005 and 2008, Clary wrote a fortnightly column for the New Statesman magazine. He has also published an autobiography, A Young Man's Passage, which covers his life and career up to the 1993 "Norman Lamont incident" at the British Comedy Awards. In 2007, Clary released his first novel, Murder Most Fab, published by Ebury Press. His second novel, Devil in Disguise, was published in 2009. His first book for children, The Bolds, was published by Andersen Press in 2015.
Adapted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 5, 2018
Have you always wanted to know more on how our Bolds' travelled and started living in England? Well you don't have to wait any longer, this is book is all about that!
I was so happy when I found that one of the World Book Day books would be by Julian Clary. Thankfully Amazon had this one (unlike another WBD book I wanted).
We all know that the Bolds' travelled from Africa to England, but I always wanted more details. How did those first days/weeks/months go for them? How did they find their current jobs? When did they get their kids? And so many other questions. I am quite happy that Julian Clary wrote this book, finally gave some more insight in our couple.
The book first starts off with where the first book kind of starts off. The kids are about to go to school for the very first time ever, and are going to be told what they really are, and how their parents got in this new country.
And it was oh so much fun to read! I just loved each and every part of the book. From how they decided to leave Africa (poor original Bolds), got through the airport (thankfully they had some help, because I can't imagine them getting anywhere without it + it gave them some extra motivation to try out this new path), went on a flight (and had tons of fun) and then their first time in a real house, with strange household objects. Then they had to find out how groceries worked, how to pay for stuff (because you don't get anything for free in this world). I just laughed so much at how they tried but how they would often do something totally wrong in a silly way.
Mrs Bold/Sue seemed to be the one who got the most understanding about this new world and how stuff worked. Whereas Mr Bold/Spot just seemed to make jokes about stuff or try to eat things, Mrs Bold actually knew all sorts of things and often corrected her hubby.
I loved reading how both of them found a job. Mr Bold with his (terrible) jokes, Mrs Bold with her (amazing/original) hats. How they both settled down, got more used to all the strange things humans did and used, and then of course the kids came along.
Of course the book is full with fun illustrations and well I still love them. The Bolds' truly do a pretty good job at disguising themselves as humans (though how they would hide their spots and all that, no clue).
And, like all the other books, there are jokes, riddles, and more. At times I was laughing, other times I was just groaning. I also read a few to my boyfriend who wasn't sure if he should laugh or not. :P
All in all, I would highly recommend this book. You can just read this one without earlier knowledge of the other books, it is kind of a prequel in my eyes. I can't wait for the next book in the Bolds' series.
Some of my favourite jokes from this book:
Why does a traffic light turn red?
Well, if you had to change in front of everyone, you'd turn red too!
Knock, Knock.
Who's there?
Cash!
Cash who?
I knew you were a nut!
What do you get if you cross a vampire with a snowman?
Frostbite.
Why do bees have sticky hair?
Because they use honeycombs.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was so happy when I found that one of the World Book Day books would be by Julian Clary. Thankfully Amazon had this one (unlike another WBD book I wanted).
We all know that the Bolds' travelled from Africa to England, but I always wanted more details. How did those first days/weeks/months go for them? How did they find their current jobs? When did they get their kids? And so many other questions. I am quite happy that Julian Clary wrote this book, finally gave some more insight in our couple.
The book first starts off with where the first book kind of starts off. The kids are about to go to school for the very first time ever, and are going to be told what they really are, and how their parents got in this new country.
And it was oh so much fun to read! I just loved each and every part of the book. From how they decided to leave Africa (poor original Bolds), got through the airport (thankfully they had some help, because I can't imagine them getting anywhere without it + it gave them some extra motivation to try out this new path), went on a flight (and had tons of fun) and then their first time in a real house, with strange household objects. Then they had to find out how groceries worked, how to pay for stuff (because you don't get anything for free in this world). I just laughed so much at how they tried but how they would often do something totally wrong in a silly way.
Mrs Bold/Sue seemed to be the one who got the most understanding about this new world and how stuff worked. Whereas Mr Bold/Spot just seemed to make jokes about stuff or try to eat things, Mrs Bold actually knew all sorts of things and often corrected her hubby.
I loved reading how both of them found a job. Mr Bold with his (terrible) jokes, Mrs Bold with her (amazing/original) hats. How they both settled down, got more used to all the strange things humans did and used, and then of course the kids came along.
Of course the book is full with fun illustrations and well I still love them. The Bolds' truly do a pretty good job at disguising themselves as humans (though how they would hide their spots and all that, no clue).
And, like all the other books, there are jokes, riddles, and more. At times I was laughing, other times I was just groaning. I also read a few to my boyfriend who wasn't sure if he should laugh or not. :P
All in all, I would highly recommend this book. You can just read this one without earlier knowledge of the other books, it is kind of a prequel in my eyes. I can't wait for the next book in the Bolds' series.
Some of my favourite jokes from this book:
Why does a traffic light turn red?
Well, if you had to change in front of everyone, you'd turn red too!
Knock, Knock.
Who's there?
Cash!
Cash who?
I knew you were a nut!
What do you get if you cross a vampire with a snowman?
Frostbite.
Why do bees have sticky hair?
Because they use honeycombs.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 29, 2021
Packed with jokes
I loved reading this with my Mummy especially all the jokes. My favourite was “What did the mummy snake say to the crying baby snake. Stop crying and viper your nose!” 😆😆
By Aphra, aged 7
I loved reading this with my Mummy especially all the jokes. My favourite was “What did the mummy snake say to the crying baby snake. Stop crying and viper your nose!” 😆😆
By Aphra, aged 7
March 8, 2018
My 5 year old really loved this! He has been telling all of the jokes from the book 😂Better than made up nonsensical jokes I guess...
This was a fun book, and quite short-it has been a good bedtime read, after some real duds from the library. We loved it when the Bolds got things wrong, like wearing plant pots as hats, and washing with honey!
Very enjoyable
This was a fun book, and quite short-it has been a good bedtime read, after some real duds from the library. We loved it when the Bolds got things wrong, like wearing plant pots as hats, and washing with honey!
Very enjoyable
May 27, 2018
Origin story (World Book Day short novella) that adds to the series by looking back.
My son and I have read two of the series so far, and picked this up for World Book Day with our voucher. It fits in to the series wherever you choose it to, as a story about how Sue and Spot the hyenas came to live in Teddington as Fred and Amelia Bold.
I loved the way it explained the concepts that hyenas (as well as many humans!) would find tricky - bills, passport control, money. And I could clearly hear Juian Clary's voice in the text as I read it aloud, his personable sense of humour and engaging story as the Bolds narrate their origin story to their twin children the night before they begin school, telling them the truth about themselves. The bookends worked nicely, and we liked the story in between very much.
Lots of jokes throughout, as it explains how Fred gains his job of writing cracker jokes and they are collected together at the end. My son delighted in reading them to me.
At just over 100 pages, this only took us a few bedtimes to read, and could interest a reader new to the Bolds as well as provided good background for someone already familiar.
For ages 5 and above..
My son and I have read two of the series so far, and picked this up for World Book Day with our voucher. It fits in to the series wherever you choose it to, as a story about how Sue and Spot the hyenas came to live in Teddington as Fred and Amelia Bold.
I loved the way it explained the concepts that hyenas (as well as many humans!) would find tricky - bills, passport control, money. And I could clearly hear Juian Clary's voice in the text as I read it aloud, his personable sense of humour and engaging story as the Bolds narrate their origin story to their twin children the night before they begin school, telling them the truth about themselves. The bookends worked nicely, and we liked the story in between very much.
Lots of jokes throughout, as it explains how Fred gains his job of writing cracker jokes and they are collected together at the end. My son delighted in reading them to me.
At just over 100 pages, this only took us a few bedtimes to read, and could interest a reader new to the Bolds as well as provided good background for someone already familiar.
For ages 5 and above..
March 13, 2018
So I really bought this for Violet (it’s one of the £1 World Book Day books), but I LOVED it! The illustrations by David Roberts are wonderful (as usual - he is one of my favorite children’s book illustrators and they are perfect in this), and the delightful story had me giggling out loud (Airport security!). Violet lost interest and I happily finished it on my own (and I’m sure she’ll pick it up later). I will definitely be on the lookout for more in the series!
May 11, 2018
Dad jokes.
You love them or hate them. I personally love them and this book has lots of them. It also has a good, well illustrated and cute animal story.
Definitely recommended for a younger reader as a bedtime read. A child may well laugh like a hyena!
You love them or hate them. I personally love them and this book has lots of them. It also has a good, well illustrated and cute animal story.
Definitely recommended for a younger reader as a bedtime read. A child may well laugh like a hyena!
March 21, 2022
The jokes were quite funny; they were like 'dad' jokes - that bad that they made you laugh. The story itself was quite hard to follow - the writer kept switching between the Hyena's names, and it was difficult to understand.
March 1, 2018
i loved the jokes they are hilarious but some are dad jokes.
September 27, 2018
Raven and I loved it! Very funny story.
May 7, 2023
Hilarious . Wild imagination of author.
January 16, 2026
it was good not as good as the other BOLDS books but still good and it gives you more deitail on how they got to africa
January 22, 2021
The Bolds are a family of hyenas who grew bored of living in Africa and decided to disguise themselves as humans and live in the suburbs of London. As you do. The great adventure is an account of this journey and how they settled into life in England.
Much of the plot is just an excuse to tell jokes, which are helpfully collected in the back of the book. Fred eventually finds a job writing jokes for Christmas crackers, which neatly links the jokes back to the plot. The book is fun to read and scurries along at a good pace.
Much of the plot is just an excuse to tell jokes, which are helpfully collected in the back of the book. Fred eventually finds a job writing jokes for Christmas crackers, which neatly links the jokes back to the plot. The book is fun to read and scurries along at a good pace.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews