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The Bolds #1
Семейство Болд
Но! За какво се разказва в книга, наречена „Семейство Болд“? За едно семейство… Което живее в една съвсем обикновена къща. На една съвсем обикновена улица. Но в самото семейство нищо не е обикновено!
Госпожа Болд изработва необичайни шапки от кутии за яйца и щипки за пране.
Работата на господин Болд е да пише смешки. А понякога е така любезен да почиства контейнерите за боклук на съседите.
Един малък досадник, това е Боби! Той непрекъснато търчи насам-натам и гризе краката на масата.
Бети, разбира се, тича след брат си! Обича да го гони, а смехът ѝ представлява нещо като крякане.
Да, те съвсем не са едно обикновено семейство!
А какво ще кажете за цяла поредица смешни книги? Работим по въпроса! „Семейство Болд“ е първата книга от серия от 6! Британско остроумни и хиенско смешни! Очаквайте „Семейство Болд. Спасители“ съвсем скоро.
Госпожа Болд изработва необичайни шапки от кутии за яйца и щипки за пране.
Работата на господин Болд е да пише смешки. А понякога е така любезен да почиства контейнерите за боклук на съседите.
Един малък досадник, това е Боби! Той непрекъснато търчи насам-натам и гризе краката на масата.
Бети, разбира се, тича след брат си! Обича да го гони, а смехът ѝ представлява нещо като крякане.
Да, те съвсем не са едно обикновено семейство!
А какво ще кажете за цяла поредица смешни книги? Работим по въпроса! „Семейство Болд“ е първата книга от серия от 6! Британско остроумни и хиенско смешни! Очаквайте „Семейство Болд. Спасители“ съвсем скоро.
268 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2015
46 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Julian Clary
51 books68 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 - 30 of 148 reviews
February 13, 2016
I saw this book and the cover immediately pulled me in (I am a cover lover after all), after checking the blurb, I knew I just had to get this book, and I did.
And I am so happy I did, because this book was amazing, it was funny, it was a bit sad at times, at times I was frustrated with a certain character, but generally I just laughed my butt off at the silliness, the bad jokes, the whole family (especially the dad).
I won't tell you their secret, though I guess, you could guess from just looking at the cover. What other creature laughs so much, what other creature is so hairy with spots, what else has such big teeth and snouts?
Still I will let people find it out themselves, it is a secret that is quickly told (in the first few pages), but I still don't want to tell anything.
I loved The Bolds, I love what they build up, and I had a laugh when they had to tell their kids about their secret and what to do with it. The kids had finally reached the age were they could be told about it, and to know what they are.
The kids were really fantastic, and I really liked them.
The parents were fun, and I especially liked the dad. He really cared about his wife and kids, he tried to cheer them up during times that weren't easy (though of course, them being these kind of critters, they always were always laughing).
Though he was also the most wild out of the Bolds. He did all sorts of things that could endanger their stay there.
There is also the typical trope of old, grumpy, bleh, dude next door. I really don't like that trope, it was the one thing that I didn't like throughout the book. Only at the ending (with the revelation) did I start to like him a bit. I still didn't like that he acted the way he did. I found it rude, bad, and I just wanted him out of the story.
I did love that little girl who was friends with the kids. I was worried about how the story would go when certain things came to light, but she really surprised me. I hope she will get a bigger role in the next one.
What happens around the middle of the book and which continues to the end? I loved it, I am sure I could have loved a story about The Bolds all the book long, but this brought some extra excitement and fun to the story. I can't wait to see these new characters in the next book, I am curious as to what happens in that one.
There are also illustrations and boy oh boy I loved them! They fit the hilarious family, the crazy antics that happened in their lives. It captured The Bolds perfectly, while I was reading I could just picture them like the way the artist did. :D
All in all this is one great, hilarious book, and I would highly recommend it. As for me? I already pre-ordered the next book and can't wait for it to come out.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
And I am so happy I did, because this book was amazing, it was funny, it was a bit sad at times, at times I was frustrated with a certain character, but generally I just laughed my butt off at the silliness, the bad jokes, the whole family (especially the dad).
I won't tell you their secret, though I guess, you could guess from just looking at the cover. What other creature laughs so much, what other creature is so hairy with spots, what else has such big teeth and snouts?
Still I will let people find it out themselves, it is a secret that is quickly told (in the first few pages), but I still don't want to tell anything.
I loved The Bolds, I love what they build up, and I had a laugh when they had to tell their kids about their secret and what to do with it. The kids had finally reached the age were they could be told about it, and to know what they are.
The kids were really fantastic, and I really liked them.
The parents were fun, and I especially liked the dad. He really cared about his wife and kids, he tried to cheer them up during times that weren't easy (though of course, them being these kind of critters, they always were always laughing).
Though he was also the most wild out of the Bolds. He did all sorts of things that could endanger their stay there.
There is also the typical trope of old, grumpy, bleh, dude next door. I really don't like that trope, it was the one thing that I didn't like throughout the book. Only at the ending (with the revelation) did I start to like him a bit. I still didn't like that he acted the way he did. I found it rude, bad, and I just wanted him out of the story.
I did love that little girl who was friends with the kids. I was worried about how the story would go when certain things came to light, but she really surprised me. I hope she will get a bigger role in the next one.
What happens around the middle of the book and which continues to the end? I loved it, I am sure I could have loved a story about The Bolds all the book long, but this brought some extra excitement and fun to the story. I can't wait to see these new characters in the next book, I am curious as to what happens in that one.
There are also illustrations and boy oh boy I loved them! They fit the hilarious family, the crazy antics that happened in their lives. It captured The Bolds perfectly, while I was reading I could just picture them like the way the artist did. :D
All in all this is one great, hilarious book, and I would highly recommend it. As for me? I already pre-ordered the next book and can't wait for it to come out.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 28, 2021
lol i just remembered that my english teacher lent me this children's book so i would read something in english when i was reading ya/adult 300+ pages novels at the time 🤦♀️
points for the effort, i guess? but why does he still underestimate my english skills three years later though? 🤨😐
points for the effort, i guess? but why does he still underestimate my english skills three years later though? 🤨😐
July 15, 2022
СЕМЕЙСТВО БОЛД
В семейство Болд едни хиени стават хора. Господин Болд работи писане на смешки.
Много ми харесват смешките му. Книгата е много смешна. Господин Болд е много забавен.
Издателство Рибка имат много хубави книги, и аз много ги харесвам.
В семейство Болд едни хиени стават хора. Господин Болд работи писане на смешки.
Много ми харесват смешките му. Книгата е много смешна. Господин Болд е много забавен.
Издателство Рибка имат много хубави книги, и аз много ги харесвам.
November 10, 2022
Толкова забавна и свежа книжка с огромна доза хумор!
February 6, 2017
I wasn't looking forward to reading this, it was one of the #BASH2017 books but year five chose it, so read it I did! It was fine, the children loved the funny parts, particularly the Christmas cracker jokes that Mr Bold writes for a living! The undercover hyenas were characters that the children warmed to, maybe not so much for me.
August 28, 2017
I tried to like this one! As a Children's librarian, I read a lot of silly books. But this one is one of the silliest. I was bored because even with a crazy story line (wild hyenas from Africa decide to come to England and impersonate people), I wasn't really laughing or even giggling. It was a chore to read it.
September 22, 2018
A great book to share with a six-year-old. My boy spends hours reading through the joke collection which is superbly interwoven into the storyline.
The Bolds are such ridiculously unbelievable characters that you can’t help but suspend disbelief. Just sit back, enjoy and chortle as you would at a bad Christmas cracker joke.
The Bolds are such ridiculously unbelievable characters that you can’t help but suspend disbelief. Just sit back, enjoy and chortle as you would at a bad Christmas cracker joke.
February 11, 2019
Etätyökirja, luettu töitä varten.
Edelleen 2. luokan vinkkikirjoja luen. Tämä oli aika pitkähkö, eli vaatii jo hyvän lukutaidon ja keskittymiskykyä. Mutta sen verran höpsö ja kuvilla höystetty, että sopii kyllä 2.-3. luokkalaisille hyvin.
Tarina on ihan hauska - miten ihmisiä esittävät hyeenat selviävät elämästään Lontoossa? Naapurin äreä ukko tuntuu olevan vähän liian utelias ja perheen lapsille sattuu kaikenlaisia kömmähdyksiä koulussa, kun he yrittävät olla ihmisiksi. Ihmisenä oleminen ei ole niin helppoa.
Paljon huumoria, mutta myös sekaan ujutettu ajatus erilaisuudesta ja erilaisuuden hyväksymisestä.
Itseäni kuitenkin korpesi, kun kirjassa hyeenat olivat Afrikasta, jota kuvailtiin koko ajan kuin se olisi yksi maa. Tässä kirjassa yhdistetään villieläimet Afrikkaan ja villieläimet, jotka yrittävät Lontoossa elää kuten muut. En oikein pitänyt tästä mielleyhtymästä. Ja tosiaan, kirjassa siis puhutaan Afrikasta ja Lontoosta rinnakkain näin: "Lontoossa ei niin kuuma kuin Afrikassa". Vaatisin vähän enemmän lastenkirjalta, vaikka tarinan pointti onkin muualta, niin tässä kutistetaan Afrikka ja afrikkalaisuus juuri niin, kun on vuosia tehty. Argh.
En itse ottaisi välttämättä vinkkikirjaksi, mutta helpohko tätä varmaan on vinkata. Afrikka-juttua laskematta kelpo kirja.
Edelleen 2. luokan vinkkikirjoja luen. Tämä oli aika pitkähkö, eli vaatii jo hyvän lukutaidon ja keskittymiskykyä. Mutta sen verran höpsö ja kuvilla höystetty, että sopii kyllä 2.-3. luokkalaisille hyvin.
Tarina on ihan hauska - miten ihmisiä esittävät hyeenat selviävät elämästään Lontoossa? Naapurin äreä ukko tuntuu olevan vähän liian utelias ja perheen lapsille sattuu kaikenlaisia kömmähdyksiä koulussa, kun he yrittävät olla ihmisiksi. Ihmisenä oleminen ei ole niin helppoa.
Paljon huumoria, mutta myös sekaan ujutettu ajatus erilaisuudesta ja erilaisuuden hyväksymisestä.
Itseäni kuitenkin korpesi, kun kirjassa hyeenat olivat Afrikasta, jota kuvailtiin koko ajan kuin se olisi yksi maa. Tässä kirjassa yhdistetään villieläimet Afrikkaan ja villieläimet, jotka yrittävät Lontoossa elää kuten muut. En oikein pitänyt tästä mielleyhtymästä. Ja tosiaan, kirjassa siis puhutaan Afrikasta ja Lontoosta rinnakkain näin: "Lontoossa ei niin kuuma kuin Afrikassa". Vaatisin vähän enemmän lastenkirjalta, vaikka tarinan pointti onkin muualta, niin tässä kutistetaan Afrikka ja afrikkalaisuus juuri niin, kun on vuosia tehty. Argh.
En itse ottaisi välttämättä vinkkikirjaksi, mutta helpohko tätä varmaan on vinkata. Afrikka-juttua laskematta kelpo kirja.
October 4, 2022
YOUNG children will cackle with delight at the sheer genius that is Julian Clary.
His hyena family, The Bolds, have escaped the wilds of Africa and have infiltrated the delightful suburb of Teddington in the UK.
How are they not noticed? Well, they are disguised as two humans of course! They have taught themselves to walk on their two hind legs and talk with the most proper of English accents – if only there was something they could do about those pesky tails that could give away their secret!
The loving couple, Fred and Amelia, find the perfect jobs – Mr Bold writes jokes for Christmas crackers and Mrs Bold makes and sells the most unusual hats.
Soon after they become accustomed to their surroundings and the hustle and bustle of human life, they welcome their first two children, Bobby and Betty.
The wacky family embark on a safari adventure and plan the heist of all heists, but could their cover be blown by their nosy neighbour?
Presley Delport (8), said, “I enjoyed reading this book before bed each night with my mom. It was so funny and I love how the children didn’t even know they were hyenas!”
It is a really cute, easy and fun read that is perfect as a bedtime story to read to, or along with, your little ones. This is the first of seven books in this wildly popular children’s book series.
His hyena family, The Bolds, have escaped the wilds of Africa and have infiltrated the delightful suburb of Teddington in the UK.
How are they not noticed? Well, they are disguised as two humans of course! They have taught themselves to walk on their two hind legs and talk with the most proper of English accents – if only there was something they could do about those pesky tails that could give away their secret!
The loving couple, Fred and Amelia, find the perfect jobs – Mr Bold writes jokes for Christmas crackers and Mrs Bold makes and sells the most unusual hats.
Soon after they become accustomed to their surroundings and the hustle and bustle of human life, they welcome their first two children, Bobby and Betty.
The wacky family embark on a safari adventure and plan the heist of all heists, but could their cover be blown by their nosy neighbour?
Presley Delport (8), said, “I enjoyed reading this book before bed each night with my mom. It was so funny and I love how the children didn’t even know they were hyenas!”
It is a really cute, easy and fun read that is perfect as a bedtime story to read to, or along with, your little ones. This is the first of seven books in this wildly popular children’s book series.
February 8, 2016
Sue and Spot are hyenas who love laughing. The plain where they lived was becoming a tourist attraction for those wanting to go on a safari. Not only were there more humans in the area, it was a fight to eat etc. When two humans, Fred and Amelia Bold, get eaten by crocodiles, Sue and Spot come up with an idea. They practised standing on two legs and even talking like humans. They decided they would take the clothing, money passports and airline tickets from the Bolds tent and head to England.
When they arrived in England they had to learn where and how to get food, cross the street and hide their tails. When they ran out of money they got jobs. They had babies and were living the life. When their grumpy, nasty old neighbour saw them, he got suspicious. Were they going to be found out? Would they end up in a zoo?
Lots of laughs and adventures with The Bolds. Early chapter readers will love this book! There are a lot of black and white illustrations throughout to add to the story. Julian Clary's humour and distinctive style comes through the text. A book to be in every local and school library.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When they arrived in England they had to learn where and how to get food, cross the street and hide their tails. When they ran out of money they got jobs. They had babies and were living the life. When their grumpy, nasty old neighbour saw them, he got suspicious. Were they going to be found out? Would they end up in a zoo?
Lots of laughs and adventures with The Bolds. Early chapter readers will love this book! There are a lot of black and white illustrations throughout to add to the story. Julian Clary's humour and distinctive style comes through the text. A book to be in every local and school library.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2021
Книжния каталог на изд. „Рибка“ винаги е бил повече от привлекателен. Определено никой читател не би могъл да се оплаче от внимателния подбор на техните заглавия. Единственото, което ни липсваше сред тях бяха преводни детски романи. Жадуваме за продължението на поредицата „Криле § Ко.“ на Сали Гарднър, но вместо третия роман след „Операция зайче“ и „Три мариновани херинги“, наскоро получихме нещо също толкова добро. При това отново илюстрирано от Дейвид Робъртс! А новото приключение е начало на поредица, дело на английския писател и комик Джулиан Клери. И дума да няма, комедията наистина му се отдава. Обещаваме ви, че ще се хилите повече и от цяла глутница хиени. Всъщност, ще се хилите ЗАЕДНО с цяла глутница хиени, но… Ш-ш-шт! Това е тайна! Внимавайте да не изпортите работата, че ще вкарате „Семейство Болд“ в големи неприятности. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
July 20, 2017
Sopivasti pöhkö tarina siitä, miten hyeenaperhe elää ihmisten keskuudessa. Ärsyttävä hulvattomuushan sopii täydellisesti hyeenoille, joten siitä ei voi nyt kirjaa moittia. Aikuislukijana en paikoin voinut olla rinnastamatta eläinpäähenkilöiden tuntemuksia maahanmuuttoon ja jopa paperittomana elämiseen, mutta meno ei ollut mitenkään osoittelevaa. Kuvitus oli useimmiten taitettu ihan mahtavasti! Tekstiä sen verran paljon, että tämä ilahduttaa lähinnä sujuvasti ja kohtalaisen mielellään lukevia alakoululaisia.
April 29, 2016
How could I not buy this? Julian Clary and David Roberts.
Like all first-in-a-series, there's a certain amount of adjustment as we warm up to the characters, the setting the world according to The Bolds. But it's a little gem. And it will entertain a certain age group mightily with all the bum jokes!
Truly awesome David Roberts illustrations. I'm glad it wasn't me who was asked to make a baby hyena look endearing. Roberts obviously found it no challenge at all...
Like all first-in-a-series, there's a certain amount of adjustment as we warm up to the characters, the setting the world according to The Bolds. But it's a little gem. And it will entertain a certain age group mightily with all the bum jokes!
Truly awesome David Roberts illustrations. I'm glad it wasn't me who was asked to make a baby hyena look endearing. Roberts obviously found it no challenge at all...
January 6, 2018
I saw this book on a recent wander through a London bookstore and thought it was something my class might enjoy. The fact that it was written by Julian Clary, whose comedy I've enjoyed for years, was a deciding factor for me. My students loved it, so it's a win for them. A hyena "couple" assume the lives of a British couple devoured on safari and move to England, living and raising their children as humans. Much zaniness ensues.
July 31, 2019
I seriously loved this delightful book. I would HIGHLY recommend for lovers of the silly, puns, and for kidlets verging into chapter books. Despite the high page count for a newer reader, it's full of splendid illustrations to engage multiple senses. The only minor issue is British English references might pose a bit of a distraction at first, but beyond this, laugh your way to the bookstore or library and pick this one up!
August 14, 2015
Julian Clary has finally found his vocation - as a writer of children's fiction!
Honestly, though, this was really really good. I read it to my son for his bedtime story and we both loved it. Lots of laughs, and a thoroughly entertaining, engaging story. Both of us couldn't wait to read the next chapter (we might have had a few later bedtimes reading "just a bit more"!).
Honestly, though, this was really really good. I read it to my son for his bedtime story and we both loved it. Lots of laughs, and a thoroughly entertaining, engaging story. Both of us couldn't wait to read the next chapter (we might have had a few later bedtimes reading "just a bit more"!).
July 25, 2017
Rather decent book for kids. The premise is absolutely silly, but should work well with the kids. There's some hidden point to the book about immigration and living paperless, but it's all well hidden underneath the crazy stuff the Bolds do. With all the jokes and butts and whatnot, I expect the kids to like this a lot.
September 1, 2017
Aidosti hauska ja vähän syvällinenkin tarina hyeenoista, jotka ottivat tilaisuudesta vaarin ja muuttivat Lontooseen. Juttu on välillä koskettava, välillä jännittävä ja sisältää sopivasti peppuhuumoriakin.
Kakkosvinkkaukseen mukaan niille, jotka kestää vähän enemmän niin juonen, pituuden kuin ajattelunkin kannalta.
Kakkosvinkkaukseen mukaan niille, jotka kestää vähän enemmän niin juonen, pituuden kuin ajattelunkin kannalta.
May 27, 2017
3.5 / 5 stars
May 21, 2018
Ihan hah hah hauskaa. Vähän oli välillä hyeenat kaupungissa vitsiä venytetty liikaa, mutta tätä sopii suositella sille huonommin lukevalle segmentille.
May 24, 2018
The main idea of this book - animals trying to pretend to be humanbeeings - is quite ok and funny.
However, the book is written somehow in a silly manner.
However, the book is written somehow in a silly manner.
January 10, 2021
"Meillä on teille tärkeää asiaa", herra Ponnekas aloitti. "Mutta se on salaisuus."
Rouva Ponnekas tukahdutti jännittyneen kikatuksen.
"Nyt on katsokaas sillä tavalla", herra Ponnekas jatkoi, "että meidän perhe eroaa kaikista muista perheistä, kuten olette ehkä huomanneet."
"Ai koska me ollaan paljon karvaisempia?" kysyi Vilma ja silitteli omaa tuuheakarvaista käsivarttaan.
"Juuri niin, se liittyy tähän asiaan", hänen isänsä vastasi.
Julian Claryn Me Ponnekkaat kertoo nelihenkisestä lontoolaisesta perheestä, joka nauraa räkättää vähän väliä ja tekee kaikkensa pitääkseen erään suuren salaisuuden piilossa. Melko hyvin he tehtävässään onnistuvatkin, kunnes yrmeä naapuri alkaa tulla epäluuloiseksi ja pitää perhettä entistä tarkemmin silmällä.
Kirjan kuvitus on oikein kiva, tarina ihan ok, fontti mukavan suurta ja hauskuutta löytyy niin takapuolihuumorin kuin herra Ponnekkaan tehtailemien vitsien muodossa. Ainakaan tähän keski-ikäiseen opus ei silti tehnyt kovin suurta vaikutusta eikä edes naurattanut, höh. Täytynee luetuttaa tämä vielä kymmenvuotiaallani, niin selviää, mitä mieltä kohderyhmän edustaja Ponnekkaista on.
Pienen Helmet-lukuhaasteen 2021 kohtaan 12: kirjan päähenkilö on eläin.
Rouva Ponnekas tukahdutti jännittyneen kikatuksen.
"Nyt on katsokaas sillä tavalla", herra Ponnekas jatkoi, "että meidän perhe eroaa kaikista muista perheistä, kuten olette ehkä huomanneet."
"Ai koska me ollaan paljon karvaisempia?" kysyi Vilma ja silitteli omaa tuuheakarvaista käsivarttaan.
"Juuri niin, se liittyy tähän asiaan", hänen isänsä vastasi.
Julian Claryn Me Ponnekkaat kertoo nelihenkisestä lontoolaisesta perheestä, joka nauraa räkättää vähän väliä ja tekee kaikkensa pitääkseen erään suuren salaisuuden piilossa. Melko hyvin he tehtävässään onnistuvatkin, kunnes yrmeä naapuri alkaa tulla epäluuloiseksi ja pitää perhettä entistä tarkemmin silmällä.
Kirjan kuvitus on oikein kiva, tarina ihan ok, fontti mukavan suurta ja hauskuutta löytyy niin takapuolihuumorin kuin herra Ponnekkaan tehtailemien vitsien muodossa. Ainakaan tähän keski-ikäiseen opus ei silti tehnyt kovin suurta vaikutusta eikä edes naurattanut, höh. Täytynee luetuttaa tämä vielä kymmenvuotiaallani, niin selviää, mitä mieltä kohderyhmän edustaja Ponnekkaista on.
Pienen Helmet-lukuhaasteen 2021 kohtaan 12: kirjan päähenkilö on eläin.
March 30, 2024
3.0
This was…weird. The storyline was highly implausible, but the plot wasn’t nearly intriguing enough to carry the book. The drawings were great (and plentiful), so that helped. My seven-year-old wasn’t bored, but he wasn’t totally engaged either.
This was…weird. The storyline was highly implausible, but the plot wasn’t nearly intriguing enough to carry the book. The drawings were great (and plentiful), so that helped. My seven-year-old wasn’t bored, but he wasn’t totally engaged either.
January 30, 2019
Hmm a tad boring but also i think kids will love it, just a tad too much for me.
October 2, 2020
Great read aloud with my 9 year old. Funny and outlandish book, kept us laughing, my son was particularly fond of the extra jokes thrown into book.
June 4, 2022
I love this book. It is really funny and the story is about the hyena's family.
October 21, 2023
A fun read for middle primary students.
January 24, 2025
I really like it! I will read a book in this series once again!
April 25, 2023
Heerlijk Kinderverhaal. Luchtig, grappig, fantasierijk en avontuurlijk
February 12, 2016
Synopsis from the Andersen Press website
Mr and Mrs Bold are just like you and me: they live in a nice house (in Teddington), they have jobs (like writing Christmas cracker jokes) and they love to have a bit of a giggle. One slight difference: they’re hyenas. Yes, that’s right – they’re covered in fur, have tails tucked into their trousers, and they really, really like to laugh.
So far, the Bolds have managed to keep things under wraps, even when their children Bobby and Betty were born. But the nosy man next door smells a rat (or a hyena), and a trip to the local wildlife park, and the brilliantly wacky heist that results, could be the end of Teddington’s best-kept secret. Whatever will the neighbours think?
The Bolds
My review:
Julian Clary has branched out into the wondrous world of children’s fiction! My 7 year old pronounced the book as “BRILLIANT!” as a reviewer for Lovereading4kids. But what will grown ups make of it?
Right from the off you can hear Julian Clary’s voice telling this story. Knowing his cheeky sense of humour, I was intrigued by how it would translate into a funny story for children.
But first thing’s first: The cover sets the tone for the characters and their story inside. David Roberts, artist extraordinaire, has really surpassed himself with his depiction of the hyena characters. The front cover shows crazy grins firmly plastered on The Bolds’ faces, and the title page shows them all roaring with laughter. Straight away we are enticed by these exotically dressed creatures, and their tendency to break into cackling laughter. At the start of the book we meet the hyenas, Spot and Sue, in their natural habitat, near a safari park in Africa.
One day a foolish English couple wander into the bush, and under the intense heat take a dip in a pond. Before you know it, the couple are snapped up by a hungry crocodile for his dinner, and Spot and Sue have grabbed the passports of the unfortunate victims, and decided to embark upon an adventure to live as humans in the UK. What a BOLD idea! So Spot and Sue transform themselves into Fred and Amelia Bold, and start a new life walking on two legs. They go to great trouble to hide their true identities…can they keep the truth a secret?
As an aspiring writer I’ll tell you a few things that I’ve noticed about this book. The first thing I observed was that this really has Julian’s voice stamped all over it. But that’s a good thing as it gave me a lot to chuckle about reading it aloud (goodness knows a frazzled parent needs a bit of a pick-me-up at bedtime!), and makes this book really unique and entertaining. There are lots of chatty, “telling” preambles, in a manner that I found similar to David Walliams books (and which have proved so popular). I can just hear Julian saying, ” …but I digress…” , but this lends the story a very personal touch, as if an adult were telling a story from memory. It gives the story a very cosy and informal feel.
The dialogue is fun and irreverent, and Julian pokes lots of fun at the ridiculousness of modern life as The Bolds adjust to Teddington society. There’s toilet humour aplenty, and generous dollops of one liners. Yet throughout this silliness we develop a fondness and sympathy for these furry imposters. We are most indignant at the way their frosty neighbour Mr McNumpty treats them. And you just know that the trip to the local safari park will be memorably eventful!
There’s an exciting, action-packed climax, and a very satisfying twist at the end, so all in all this is a very neatly constructed story.
This is an upbeat, heartwarming book that is bound to be popular with children and adults alike. Furthermore, the book is an absolute must if you are a David Roberts fan with its very generous proportion of illustrations to delight young readers. I’m actually hoping they will produce a picture book spin off about Miranda the marmoset who is the cutest creature I have ever seen!
Well worth a read!
Pippa Wilson
hellopipski.wordpress.com
@hellopipski
Mr and Mrs Bold are just like you and me: they live in a nice house (in Teddington), they have jobs (like writing Christmas cracker jokes) and they love to have a bit of a giggle. One slight difference: they’re hyenas. Yes, that’s right – they’re covered in fur, have tails tucked into their trousers, and they really, really like to laugh.
So far, the Bolds have managed to keep things under wraps, even when their children Bobby and Betty were born. But the nosy man next door smells a rat (or a hyena), and a trip to the local wildlife park, and the brilliantly wacky heist that results, could be the end of Teddington’s best-kept secret. Whatever will the neighbours think?
The Bolds
My review:
Julian Clary has branched out into the wondrous world of children’s fiction! My 7 year old pronounced the book as “BRILLIANT!” as a reviewer for Lovereading4kids. But what will grown ups make of it?
Right from the off you can hear Julian Clary’s voice telling this story. Knowing his cheeky sense of humour, I was intrigued by how it would translate into a funny story for children.
But first thing’s first: The cover sets the tone for the characters and their story inside. David Roberts, artist extraordinaire, has really surpassed himself with his depiction of the hyena characters. The front cover shows crazy grins firmly plastered on The Bolds’ faces, and the title page shows them all roaring with laughter. Straight away we are enticed by these exotically dressed creatures, and their tendency to break into cackling laughter. At the start of the book we meet the hyenas, Spot and Sue, in their natural habitat, near a safari park in Africa.
One day a foolish English couple wander into the bush, and under the intense heat take a dip in a pond. Before you know it, the couple are snapped up by a hungry crocodile for his dinner, and Spot and Sue have grabbed the passports of the unfortunate victims, and decided to embark upon an adventure to live as humans in the UK. What a BOLD idea! So Spot and Sue transform themselves into Fred and Amelia Bold, and start a new life walking on two legs. They go to great trouble to hide their true identities…can they keep the truth a secret?
As an aspiring writer I’ll tell you a few things that I’ve noticed about this book. The first thing I observed was that this really has Julian’s voice stamped all over it. But that’s a good thing as it gave me a lot to chuckle about reading it aloud (goodness knows a frazzled parent needs a bit of a pick-me-up at bedtime!), and makes this book really unique and entertaining. There are lots of chatty, “telling” preambles, in a manner that I found similar to David Walliams books (and which have proved so popular). I can just hear Julian saying, ” …but I digress…” , but this lends the story a very personal touch, as if an adult were telling a story from memory. It gives the story a very cosy and informal feel.
The dialogue is fun and irreverent, and Julian pokes lots of fun at the ridiculousness of modern life as The Bolds adjust to Teddington society. There’s toilet humour aplenty, and generous dollops of one liners. Yet throughout this silliness we develop a fondness and sympathy for these furry imposters. We are most indignant at the way their frosty neighbour Mr McNumpty treats them. And you just know that the trip to the local safari park will be memorably eventful!
There’s an exciting, action-packed climax, and a very satisfying twist at the end, so all in all this is a very neatly constructed story.
This is an upbeat, heartwarming book that is bound to be popular with children and adults alike. Furthermore, the book is an absolute must if you are a David Roberts fan with its very generous proportion of illustrations to delight young readers. I’m actually hoping they will produce a picture book spin off about Miranda the marmoset who is the cutest creature I have ever seen!
Well worth a read!
Pippa Wilson
hellopipski.wordpress.com
@hellopipski
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews