Help Around the House

by Morris Gleitzman

Ludo helps other people. It’s how he was brought up.

When Dad is elected to Federal Parliament, Ludo grabs the chance to make Australia an even better place.

But he soon discovers it’s not the homeless of the national capital who most need his help – it’s the rich and powerful.

Genres: Audiobook, Childrens, Middle Grade, Social Issues, Politics, Young Adult

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Morris began his writing career as a screenwriter, and wrote his first children's novel in 1985. His brilliantly comic style has endeared him to children and adults alike, and he is now one of Australia's most successful authors, both internationally and at home. He was born in England in 1953 and emigrated to Australia in 1969 so he could escape from school and become a Very Famous Writer.

Before realising that dream, he had a colourful career as paperboy, bottle-shop shelf-stacker, department store Santa Claus, frozen chicken defroster, fashion-design assistant and sugar-mill employee. In between he managed to gain a degree in Professional Writing at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. Later he became sole writer for three award-winning and top-rating seasons with the TV comedy series The Norman Gunston Show.

Morris wrote a number of feature film and telemovie screenplays, including The Other Facts of Life and Second Childhood, both produced by The Australian Children's Television Foundation. The Other Facts of Life won an AWGIE Award for the Best Original Children's Film Script.

He also wrote live stage material for people such as Rolf Harris, Pamela Stephenson and the Governor General of Australia. Morris is well known to many people through his semi-autobiographical columns in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald magazine, Good Weekend, which he wrote for nine years.

But the majority of Morris' accolades are for his hugely popular children's books. One of his most successful books for young people is Two Weeks with the Queen, an international bestseller which was also adapted into a play by Mary Morris. The play had many successful seasons in Australia and was then produced at the National Theatre in London in 1995 directed by Alan Ayckbourn, and also in South Africa, Canada, Japan and the USA.

All his other books have been shortlisted for or have won numerous children's book prizes. These include The Other Facts of Life, Second Childhood, Misery Guts, Worry Warts, Puppy Fat, Blabber Mouth, Sticky Beak, Belly Flop, Water Wings, Bumface, Gift Of The Gab, Toad Rage, Wicked! and Deadly!, two six-part novels written in collaboration with Paul Jennings, Adults Only, Toad Heaven, Boy Overboard, Teacher's Pet, Toad Away, Girl Underground, Worm Story, Once, Aristotle's Nostril, Doubting Thomas, Give Peas A Chance, Then, Toad Surprise, Grace, Now, Too Small To Fail, and his latest book, Pizza Cake. Morris' children's books have been published in the UK, the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia and Czechoslovakia, Russia and China.

Reviews

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy Scout makes a difference.

4.5 stars.

I've loved Gleitzman since 'Once', and I've listened to most of that series narrated by the author. Listening to this in the same way, I could hear Felix in my head as Gleitzman told me another tale of a moral young man caught up in events outside of his control.

Ludo is moving (for a while at least) to Melbourne with his dad, a new member of the Federal Parliament. His mum has died, but he tries to keep her memory alive but living up to her ideal of helping others. So it's confusing for him to see his father seem to care more about the large house they are to live in, the perks of the role, than the homeless people they see on the streets.

Joining a new Boy Scout group, he makes friends that encourage him to continue to make a difference. Little does he know that the night they find a homeless man shot will give them a chance to help not just one man but a whole country...

Ludo is at times, maybe made more obvious by the audio narration, a rather pious Scout (tries to give his Business Class plane seat up to help others who might need the space), but he and Henry together make a better team, they create their own humour and likability.

There's an appealing mystery to solve at the heart of this, and some home truths about politicians that children might find shocking, but I thought the introduction to the political system was going to be useful and raise questions.

Gleitzman always makes a personable narrator, and he brings child protagonists to life with ease. It was a short and easy listen, a chatty style from Ludo makes it eminently suitable for the age range. I would want to encourage readers to look up political terms that they may not understand.

A read for ages 9-13.

With thanks to Nudge Books, for providing a sample Audible copy.

[Byron Bibliotherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleitzman is always good at approaching complex topics with an optimistic, sincere young boy’s voice. This time it’s corruption & politics in the nation’s capital, with some curly issues such as kangaroo culling & homelessness thrown in for good measure. As a Girl Guide leader, I love what he’s done with the Scouts & their Promise :)

[Sam Schroder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was instantly drawn to this book by the cover and hooked immediately by the thoroughly likable main character, Ludo. His dad has just been elected as an Independent to the federal parliament, which means a big move to Canberra. Top on his list of priorities is to find the local Scout group and continue his journey with the scouts. Little did he realise just how important his scouting skills would turn out to be. This book was lots of fun and I’m looking forward to giving it to our biggest grandson, Isaac, who is a proud scout just like Ludo.

[KJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we put this on the essential reading list when inducting new staff to Parliament House? Perhaps a children’s book is what they need to help them with their ethics.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The release of this book is quite timely given the changes in Federal Parliament leadership in recent weeks and perhaps all members of Parliament should be given this to read! The main character Ludo has grown up with strong family ties and he has a clear moral compass. He is a good communicator and has a fabulous ability to make friends. Ludo and his father are both struggling to start a new life since Ludo’s mother passed away. When his Dad wins a seat in Parliament as an independent member it is a new start for both of them. Unfortunately, the high hopes they have to make a difference in the world are temporarily crushed when they see the wheeling and dealing that goes on behind the scenes in Canberra. It is up to Ludo and his new friends Henry and Carla to make their own difference and make some adults more accountable. This is a tremendous story about kindness, justice, integrity, resilience and giving others a “fair-go”.

Highly recommended for 8-12s.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid middle-grade book by Morris Gletitzman. Some is usual Gleitzman fare - naive, kind-hearted, young protagonist with a desire to change the world and getting way out of their depth. However, this turned a bit darker than many of his novels and the adventure had a harder edge. I would have liked to explore more of what the next year would have brought to Ludo & his Dad.

I have never been involved in Scouts & so never knew the Scout's promise was so all-encompassing! I think we could do worse than adopt it as a personal philosophy.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this audiobook, especially in the lead up to a federal election, and my son has recently been watching the series of Rake where the main character enters federal parliament!

It wasn't quite what I expected, which I always enjoy. An idealistic young man goes to Canberra and is determined to change things.

This was great promotion for the Scouts (I was a Guide growing up), as well as showing the power of friendship, being true to yourself, and how little things can make a difference.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, cute read. I would definitely be recommending this to kids who've been through scouts or guides or something similar, but as someone who hasn't, there were a few things I felt a bit disconnected from.

It was certainly interesting to see a 'who-dun-it' style book aimed at this age range - I think I would have preferred it to be longer (which I don't normally say about kids books).

Review to come on https://theteacherslibrary.org

[Kerryn Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read anything other than the Once series by Morris Gleitzman but I really enjoyed this. I had hoped for more connection to politics but in the end the story of a family that is trying to figure out how to make a big change in circumstances work for them when their family is no longer whole was interesting. Scouts, friendship and standing up for what you believe in made this a great read for primary school age children upwards.

[Julene Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ludo is a good scout and is father is a newly elected MP.The book follows him helping the homeless and ultimately discovering a secret that makes Dad have a new perspective.
A friend recommended this book and I was pleasantly surprised by its plot and themes. It relies heavily on scouting and promises made. Would be a good book for upper primary or junior high school children. Morris Gleitzman certainly puts his words together well and the story flows.

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from one of Australia’s best loved storytellers and this year’s Children’s Laureate, Morris Gleitzman. With the plot centring on the ethics of Australian politics, this is a timely book. It allows for plenty of discussion about the behaviour of those on power and what it truly means to be a leader.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book just didn’t gel for me. I found Ludo a bit grating rather than charming and whimsical. The dad was absent from the story too much and it was all too far fetched. It was possible to make a funny story about Canberra and politicians without throwing in kangaroo culling, threatening advisors and conspiracy plots.

[Pip Snort · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ludo is a sweet, kind and lovely boy who means what he says and takes his promises seriously. Frankly, he is a bit too saintly and thus he is pretty hard to believe. But he is very sweet and earnest and does his best to solve adult problems and hold the adults in his life accountable for their actions.

[Cicero · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a palatable introduction to new ideas regarding the complicated world of politics, and was definitely a humerous and engaging execution. This book was thoroughly enjoyed by my 10 year old students.

[Julie Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is how Australian politics should be! Ludo reminds us all of what it is to lead, to follow and to take care of others.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best. Lots of conveniences in the last 30-odd pages. Still warm and zippy Gleitzman style.

[Wes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book, makes me want to join parliament to help people and join the scouts!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Met him too yay Morris

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suitable for Year 4 to Year 7. A good story with relevant issues.

[JEFF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good opinon.

[Josephine Burks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cool book. I grew up reading Gleitzman novels. Nice to read one of his books as an adult.

[Nin Ja · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has a moral to the story and it has some spicy parts in the story. I recommend this for 10-12 year olds.

[Heidi Schnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to my year 3 class. Some liked it some didn’t. I found the end a bit anticlimactic but I did enjoy the heart of the kids in the book

[Emily Decis]

Class novel.

[ibrahim f · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was fun but not the most enjoyable. It displayed the government in a bad light which was why I enjoyed since it showed how our leaders aren’t what they seem.

[Ms Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh he's good isn't he! This is Gleitzman's new one and man is it full of cynicism of Australian politics (rightly so!). Ludo's dad is elected into parliament so they move to Canberra. Ludo is a very helpful person (a scout no less) and his motivation is to help others. He's also guided by his dead mum's fervent belief in helping others. So when he learns that Canberra has lots of homeless people he sets out to help them but gets caught up in a bigger problem and issue when he and his friend Henry find a dead man. This could be a good one for young people interested in politics but it could also be quite confronting and may raise some questions about kangaroo culling, homelessness and politics. Not such a bad thing, hey?

[The Teacher's Library]

This was cute! Not my favourite Morris Gleitzman, but still a quick and cute read.

Review to come on https://theteacherslibrary.org

[Helen Hanna]

I would not give it to my nine year old to read however, it was a good story. I liked the humour in it.