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Charlie #3
Charlie Morphs Into a Mammoth
The third hilarious adventure for Charlie McGuffin, the boy who changes into animals when he gets nervous.
Charlie McGuffin is closer than ever to being able to control his crazy ability to turn into animals - he's even able to use it to turn the tables on school bully Dylan.
But there are some things Charlie can't control, like the arguments his parents keep having (which are making him more worried than ever) or the spate of mysterious animal disappearances spreading through town (which seem somehow to be connected to Charlie himself) or the fact that he doesn't have a date for the school dance (which is coming up fast).
With the support of best friends Flora, Mohsen and Wogan, can Charlie unravel the mystery of the pet-nappings in time to shake a tail-feather at the disco? Or will his hidden adversary reveal Charlie's biggest secret to the world...?
Charlie McGuffin is closer than ever to being able to control his crazy ability to turn into animals - he's even able to use it to turn the tables on school bully Dylan.
But there are some things Charlie can't control, like the arguments his parents keep having (which are making him more worried than ever) or the spate of mysterious animal disappearances spreading through town (which seem somehow to be connected to Charlie himself) or the fact that he doesn't have a date for the school dance (which is coming up fast).
With the support of best friends Flora, Mohsen and Wogan, can Charlie unravel the mystery of the pet-nappings in time to shake a tail-feather at the disco? Or will his hidden adversary reveal Charlie's biggest secret to the world...?
- GenresChildrensMiddle Grade
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2020
11 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Sam Copeland
21 books65 followersSam Copeland is a Waterstones Children's Book Prize shortlisted author. He is from Manchester and now lives in London with two smelly cats, three smelly children and one relatively clean-smelling wife. He works as a chicken whisperer, travelling the world using his unique gift to tame wild chickens. Charlie Changes Into a Chicken was his first book. It was followed by the sequel Charlie Turns Into a T-Rex, and the third in the series - Charlie Morphs into a Mammoth - which was published in February 2020. His latest book Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything will be released in January 2021. His books have been translated into 26 languages, which is wild really. www.sam-copeland.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 19, 2020
Will Charlie change into the animal specified on the cover this time? Or once again not? Also who is stealing all the animals?
The third book in the Charlie series and I loved it. It was funny, but also sad, had some realistic elements, I love the ability to change into animals though I wouldn't be too fond of at times losing my mind and forgetting who I am (and then eating poop.............), there is friendship, fun references, the author at times pops up (and has a terrible attitude), and there is more. This book definitely didn't bore me, instead I read it in one go (well in as much one go as I could).
In this one Charlie has more problems than just the divorce of his parents. Someone is stealing animals left and right and all the evidence points to multiple animals. What is Charlie's skill again? Yes... Poor Charlie. I was looking forward to seeing how his friends and he would fix this mess and if they would find out who did it (though I knew it from the start :P). I had a bit of a laugh at the randomness of the stealing and also thought it was extremely silly that people at the zoo couldn't see one bone from another.
There is also a dance, and with that two characters who get more spotlight in this book, Daisy and Lola. I am still not too sure how I felt about the girls. There constant Yes, No, regarding the dance got highly annoying. Make up your mind! But they proved to be quite valuable in things that our group was up to. I hope these girls will make another appearance in the next book.
Charlie's life is really not the easiest. In the first book his brother was sick, in the second his parents were about to lose everything, and in this one his parents decide a divorce is best. Add to that the fact he can change into animals and has, for most of the book, not really much control of what he wants to be. If he thinks about penguins he changes into a chicken (yes, finally) and so on. Then there is Stupid Dylan who should just go to the moon and not come back. I felt so sad that he had to go through all of this. I am glad he had his friends who loved him and tried to help him.
BIG BIG Plus points to the reference to Jurassic Park. The one with the kitchen and the deadly penguins. I loved it and was giggling in delight while reading it. I read it aloud to my hubby and he was also approving. The illustration was a nice addition and made the scene and reference even better.
I did think it was weird that Charlie was the only one to apologise in the end and Dylan didn't do any sorrys or excuses. Come on, I get you were hurt with what happened back then, but Charlie didn't do it on purpose, tried many times to make it up to you which resulted in you hissy fitting and running away, of course the dude is giving up then. Sorry, if my friend did this I would have done the same. Eventually it is just over. Plus, I am not sure how I felt with another part of this ending... I won't tell what as it is a spoiler and I am too lazy at the moment to use spoiler tags, but it just felt weird and in my eyes a bit forced..
I also thought it was a shame, then again I should have expected given it is apparently an annoying little gimmick, that we don't really see Charlie morph into a Mammoth. I don't count that last illustration, who is to say that that is Charlie? Given all the things that happen in this book for all we know mammoths could still be alive somewhere. :P
The narrator stuff was fun, but did get a bit old, especially given the tone the author had. It was just a bit too much for me. Though I had a laugh at what Sarah Horne did, good job!
All in all, another delightful and fun book and I hope that we will be getting more Charlie books. I wonder what will be in store for him next, hopefully more happiness. I definitely don't want this to be the end.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The third book in the Charlie series and I loved it. It was funny, but also sad, had some realistic elements, I love the ability to change into animals though I wouldn't be too fond of at times losing my mind and forgetting who I am (and then eating poop.............), there is friendship, fun references, the author at times pops up (and has a terrible attitude), and there is more. This book definitely didn't bore me, instead I read it in one go (well in as much one go as I could).
In this one Charlie has more problems than just the divorce of his parents. Someone is stealing animals left and right and all the evidence points to multiple animals. What is Charlie's skill again? Yes... Poor Charlie. I was looking forward to seeing how his friends and he would fix this mess and if they would find out who did it (though I knew it from the start :P). I had a bit of a laugh at the randomness of the stealing and also thought it was extremely silly that people at the zoo couldn't see one bone from another.
There is also a dance, and with that two characters who get more spotlight in this book, Daisy and Lola. I am still not too sure how I felt about the girls. There constant Yes, No, regarding the dance got highly annoying. Make up your mind! But they proved to be quite valuable in things that our group was up to. I hope these girls will make another appearance in the next book.
Charlie's life is really not the easiest. In the first book his brother was sick, in the second his parents were about to lose everything, and in this one his parents decide a divorce is best. Add to that the fact he can change into animals and has, for most of the book, not really much control of what he wants to be. If he thinks about penguins he changes into a chicken (yes, finally) and so on. Then there is Stupid Dylan who should just go to the moon and not come back. I felt so sad that he had to go through all of this. I am glad he had his friends who loved him and tried to help him.
BIG BIG Plus points to the reference to Jurassic Park. The one with the kitchen and the deadly penguins. I loved it and was giggling in delight while reading it. I read it aloud to my hubby and he was also approving. The illustration was a nice addition and made the scene and reference even better.
I did think it was weird that Charlie was the only one to apologise in the end and Dylan didn't do any sorrys or excuses. Come on, I get you were hurt with what happened back then, but Charlie didn't do it on purpose, tried many times to make it up to you which resulted in you hissy fitting and running away, of course the dude is giving up then. Sorry, if my friend did this I would have done the same. Eventually it is just over. Plus, I am not sure how I felt with another part of this ending... I won't tell what as it is a spoiler and I am too lazy at the moment to use spoiler tags, but it just felt weird and in my eyes a bit forced..
I also thought it was a shame, then again I should have expected given it is apparently an annoying little gimmick, that we don't really see Charlie morph into a Mammoth. I don't count that last illustration, who is to say that that is Charlie? Given all the things that happen in this book for all we know mammoths could still be alive somewhere. :P
The narrator stuff was fun, but did get a bit old, especially given the tone the author had. It was just a bit too much for me. Though I had a laugh at what Sarah Horne did, good job!
All in all, another delightful and fun book and I hope that we will be getting more Charlie books. I wonder what will be in store for him next, hopefully more happiness. I definitely don't want this to be the end.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 9, 2021
Mijn dochter vond het weer geweldig. Leuk om voor te lezen.
November 12, 2020
Voortdurend hardop lachen gegarandeerd, Sam Copeland is gewoon een hilarisch genie!
Dit boek vond ik ietsje minder leuk dan de vorige twee, maar nog steeds leuker dan de meeste andere boeken :)
Dit boek vond ik ietsje minder leuk dan de vorige twee, maar nog steeds leuker dan de meeste andere boeken :)
August 21, 2020
It is much better than I thought. Not just pure silliness, but with actually an exciting plot, hilarious dialogues and tender moments about family, friendship and hope. There's a backstory (I always thaw for them -- they show more depth to the story) and a hopeful, bittersweet message lingering at the end. Before I start it I thought I'm too old for a book written for children, but then I decide it is okay for overaged 'children' too.
April 23, 2020
The victim apologises to the bully
March 24, 2021
A very fine end to an excellent series. The penguins/jurassic park scene had us all in absolute stitches.
January 18, 2024
Szó szerint évek óta várom, hogy megjelenjen magyarul, végül meguntam, és elolvastam angolul.
Továbbra is vicces, kalandos és aranyos ez a sorozat, aminek még az altesti poénokat is meg tudom bocsátani, ugyanakkor mindig foglalkozik kényesebb, nehezebb témákkal is, mint válás, ellenségeskedés, kiskamaszok közti vonzalom. Emellett informatív is, pl. a fonálférgekről sok újat megtudtam.
Ami miatt nem 5 csillag, hogy kevésbé volt vicces, mint az eddigi részek, és néhol sok volt nekem a sok kiszólás, kikacsintás. Ugyanakkor nagyon bírtam a leveleket, különösen egy bizonyos D. Trumpéit, és a pingvinek bemutatását, hát azon szakadtam a nevetéstől.
Ó, és most jöttem rá, hogy az angol címek alliterálnak, change-chicken, turn-T-rex, morph-mammoth. Kár, hogy magyarul ez visszaadhatatlan.
Továbbra is vicces, kalandos és aranyos ez a sorozat, aminek még az altesti poénokat is meg tudom bocsátani, ugyanakkor mindig foglalkozik kényesebb, nehezebb témákkal is, mint válás, ellenségeskedés, kiskamaszok közti vonzalom. Emellett informatív is, pl. a fonálférgekről sok újat megtudtam.
Ami miatt nem 5 csillag, hogy kevésbé volt vicces, mint az eddigi részek, és néhol sok volt nekem a sok kiszólás, kikacsintás. Ugyanakkor nagyon bírtam a leveleket, különösen egy bizonyos D. Trumpéit, és a pingvinek bemutatását, hát azon szakadtam a nevetéstől.
Ó, és most jöttem rá, hogy az angol címek alliterálnak, change-chicken, turn-T-rex, morph-mammoth. Kár, hogy magyarul ez visszaadhatatlan.
February 6, 2021
Lenny (6) says: Really funny and if you like animals and have a good sense of humour you should read it. My favourite character is Mr. Wind because his name sounds like "wind" as in trump. I like the letters from the author to the publisher.
August 14, 2021
Hauskan lastenkirjasarjan kolmas osa naurattaa edelleen.
August 3, 2020
My 7 yr old and I both enjoyed this a lot. Sam Copeland finds a good balance between the crude (think fart jokes for the most part - thought the opening poo sequence was pushing it), the silly (the French pigeons are a highlight while the Jurassic Park with penguins homage led my 7 yr old to exclaim, '...wait a minute' as he twigged what was happening) and the emotional. In fact, it's this aspect that I find most affecting.
In this one, Charlie's parents are separating and there's no easy answer or reversal (like the last book where things worked out a little too easily). Charlie is upset and the simple and non judgmental description of this is refreshing. He cries, he needs support, he finds it hard to cope and deal with his feelings and is allowed to express his emotions. Refreshingly positive roll modeling for boys. It also reinforces the message that we are stronger together and having friends can help, even when the actual situation doesn't change.
I also liked the resolution with Dylan. While I can see this could be construed as the victim apologising, I felt that the concept of reaching out to someone also clearly going through a hard time and offering them friendship was valuable. It offered an empathic approach and fit with the characters. Maybe a little too easy but thought provoking.
Sarah Horne also shouldn't be neglected for bringing this all to life in a wonderfully stylised way that fits perfectly.
Most pleasingly, my son asked once it was over when the next one is coming out. What more could you ask for?
In this one, Charlie's parents are separating and there's no easy answer or reversal (like the last book where things worked out a little too easily). Charlie is upset and the simple and non judgmental description of this is refreshing. He cries, he needs support, he finds it hard to cope and deal with his feelings and is allowed to express his emotions. Refreshingly positive roll modeling for boys. It also reinforces the message that we are stronger together and having friends can help, even when the actual situation doesn't change.
I also liked the resolution with Dylan. While I can see this could be construed as the victim apologising, I felt that the concept of reaching out to someone also clearly going through a hard time and offering them friendship was valuable. It offered an empathic approach and fit with the characters. Maybe a little too easy but thought provoking.
Sarah Horne also shouldn't be neglected for bringing this all to life in a wonderfully stylised way that fits perfectly.
Most pleasingly, my son asked once it was over when the next one is coming out. What more could you ask for?
July 16, 2021
This is one of the best books I have read! It is so, so funny. The illustrations are great too, one of them with a hidden message- which was also hilarious. My little brother did not understand it at first, so I'd say the story is slightly hard to catch up with, maybe. So then I read it to my brother and he said, 'It's so funny!'. Both of us loved it. Even though I haven't read the previous books, it was great.
Spoiler alert: Why does Charlie not morph into a mammoth? It's in the title...
Spoiler alert: Why does Charlie not morph into a mammoth? It's in the title...
January 20, 2023
Yet more rip roaring hilarity from Sam Copeland! We absolutely loved this - my husband and I fought over who was on bedtime reading with this one meaning all four of us howled together at this wonderful book (chapter 10!!! No spoilers but brilliant!)
Ages 43, 39, 9 and 7 LOVED it 😀
Ages 43, 39, 9 and 7 LOVED it 😀
February 6, 2021
A cute end to a cute series. Glad we read this one. :) I appreciate Copeland tying family issues like moving/divorce into funny books, too.
April 8, 2021
Love everything Sam Copeland writes!!! Incredibly funny yet touches on serious issues in a way kids can understand. Brilliant.
June 19, 2021
What a way to end a FABULOUS series!!! I have done nothing but laugh all the way through. I love all the little additions he does during the books which just makes it even better! A must read!!!!!
March 28, 2022
We have been reading the Sam Copeland books with our Year 3 class.
February 14, 2020
Charlie Morphs into a Mammoth is another brilliant entry in this hilarious series.
It's incredibly rude and crude, disgusting at times, but there's so much heart and empathy here, a story about friendship, families falling apart, and poo.
It's incredibly rude and crude, disgusting at times, but there's so much heart and empathy here, a story about friendship, families falling apart, and poo.
February 29, 2020
I must confess, I was really surprised I liked this. On the whole I don't enjoy comedy books, but this was great. Great characters and some tender moments too.
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April 20, 2020Good
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July 21, 2020Magpies review
September 6, 2020
Hilarious book! 😂 I love the Charlie series and always makes me laugh loads! I'd definitely recommend this to ages 8-12!
November 11, 2020
Deze was weer minstens zo grappig als deel 1. Heb hardop gelachen!
July 3, 2021
Το καλύτερο από τα τρία της σειράς.
Πολύ αστείο και με ωραία μηνύματα για τα παιδιά.
Πολύ αστείο και με ωραία μηνύματα για τα παιδιά.
August 30, 2021
We laughed out loud. If anything, this book made me and my 7 year old son laugh even more than the previous two books..
February 5, 2022
Loved this one so much. I think it is by far my favourite in the series.
July 22, 2023
Miss 8 enjoyed reading all three of the Charlie books.
February 11, 2024
Another winner from Sam Copland we all loved it 🥰
September 10, 2025
I loooooved the part when Charlie morphed into a tiny, cute marmoset and his friends wanted to cuddle him! I totally understand the feeling!
March 24, 2022
Opnieuw voorgelezen aan mijn klas. Superleuk boek!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews