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Funnybones
Funnybones: Bumps in the Night
Bumps in the Night is one of the titles in Allan Ahlberg's iconic children's picture book series about skeletons, Funnybones. Despite being set in a dark dark house, this brightly coloured book is perfect for early readers!
No matter where they are, the two skeletons keep going bump in the night - clonk!
There's only one thing to "Send for Doctor Bones!"
'There can be few families in the British Isles who do not possess at least one well-thumbed Ahlberg' - Independent on Sunday
Allan Ahlberg has published over 100 children's books and with his late wife Janet, created such award-winning children's picture books, including Peepo! , Each Peach Pear Plum and the Kate Greenaway Medal winning The Jolly Postman . Other titles in the Funnybones series include Funnybones , Mystery Tour , The Ghost Train , The Pet Shop , The Black Cat , Dinosaur Dreams , Skeleton Crew , Give the Dog a Bone and A Brilliant Bone Rattling Collection , all of which are available from Puffin.
No matter where they are, the two skeletons keep going bump in the night - clonk!
There's only one thing to "Send for Doctor Bones!"
'There can be few families in the British Isles who do not possess at least one well-thumbed Ahlberg' - Independent on Sunday
Allan Ahlberg has published over 100 children's books and with his late wife Janet, created such award-winning children's picture books, including Peepo! , Each Peach Pear Plum and the Kate Greenaway Medal winning The Jolly Postman . Other titles in the Funnybones series include Funnybones , Mystery Tour , The Ghost Train , The Pet Shop , The Black Cat , Dinosaur Dreams , Skeleton Crew , Give the Dog a Bone and A Brilliant Bone Rattling Collection , all of which are available from Puffin.
ebook
First published April 11, 1994
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About the author
Allan Ahlberg
313 books174 followersAllan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 22, 2020
The Funny Bones books are very good and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. I remember them from when I was young! Sure the Animated version differs from the Book but the Outcomes Still the Same, "Send For Dr. Bones!"
October 5, 2024
My daughter absolutely loves this one and finds it funny when they are trying to put themselves back together. the illustrations are lovely and the nostalgia is a big selling point now for these books but they are perfect to read in October
January 26, 2024
In the dark dark cellar of a dark dark house, a little skeleton is reading a comic. In the dark dark street of a dark dark town, a big skeleton is walking the dog.
Funnybones and these sister books were a big part of my childhood. Finding them again has brought a smile to my face and memories flooding back.
This story sees the accident prone skeletal family having to call 'Doctor Bones' over.and over again due to 'bumps in the night'.
Lots of laughs. 4 stars.
Funnybones and these sister books were a big part of my childhood. Finding them again has brought a smile to my face and memories flooding back.
This story sees the accident prone skeletal family having to call 'Doctor Bones' over.and over again due to 'bumps in the night'.
Lots of laughs. 4 stars.
June 25, 2017
Allan Ahlberg presents a series of short adventures, all of which have one outcome - "Send for Doctor Bones!"
A little skeleton is reading a comic in the dark, dark street of a dark, dark town while a big skeleton is walking the dog. The big skeleton hurries home, the little skeleton hurries out of the house and 'Bump', they go bump in the night. What is the answer? "Send for Doctor Bones!"
At school a big and little skeleton are doing their own thing, making a chair and painting a picture respectively. They decide to show each other their work but unfortunately they go bump in the night again and once more it is "Send for Doctor Bones!"
The two skeletons go to the park and enjoy the swing and playing with the dog but when they play football they clash and are injured ... the answer is obvious,"Send for Doctor Bones!"
The two of them then decide to paint the cellar using a variety of loud colours. But it is still dark in the cellar so they decide to paint it white and, you can imagine what happens, they can't see each other, go bump once more and again it is "Send for Doctor Bones!"
A variety of other activities follow but each of them ends up the same - "Send for Doctor Bones!"
Eventually they are tired out and, having painted the cellar black again so as to see each other, they go to sleep, snug and safe at last from bumps in the night - that is until they both begin dreaming ...
A little skeleton is reading a comic in the dark, dark street of a dark, dark town while a big skeleton is walking the dog. The big skeleton hurries home, the little skeleton hurries out of the house and 'Bump', they go bump in the night. What is the answer? "Send for Doctor Bones!"
At school a big and little skeleton are doing their own thing, making a chair and painting a picture respectively. They decide to show each other their work but unfortunately they go bump in the night again and once more it is "Send for Doctor Bones!"
The two skeletons go to the park and enjoy the swing and playing with the dog but when they play football they clash and are injured ... the answer is obvious,"Send for Doctor Bones!"
The two of them then decide to paint the cellar using a variety of loud colours. But it is still dark in the cellar so they decide to paint it white and, you can imagine what happens, they can't see each other, go bump once more and again it is "Send for Doctor Bones!"
A variety of other activities follow but each of them ends up the same - "Send for Doctor Bones!"
Eventually they are tired out and, having painted the cellar black again so as to see each other, they go to sleep, snug and safe at last from bumps in the night - that is until they both begin dreaming ...
January 14, 2019
One of the weaker books in the Funnybones series, but still filled with delightful illustrations and humerus moments.
Big skeleton and little skeleton can't stop going bump in the night, resulting in lots of trips to Doctor Bones! Particularly enjoyed the page filled with multicoloured skeleton dogs, although the random DIY section did make the story feel a little incoherent.
Big skeleton and little skeleton can't stop going bump in the night, resulting in lots of trips to Doctor Bones! Particularly enjoyed the page filled with multicoloured skeleton dogs, although the random DIY section did make the story feel a little incoherent.
July 30, 2021
Another good book in the funnybones series. There was only the “FunnyBones” original book out when I was a child. So that’s why I’m reading the later versions as an adult. Loved the first book. The newer ones are just as good. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S
November 30, 2025
Allan Ahlberg has created another fun, spooky vibes story with his Bumps in the Night book. It was humorous, Halloweesque, and it was easy to read, making it an excellent choice for an October read for students, teachers, and guardians alike.
October 21, 2023
The imagery and composition is unique and exciting.
April 23, 2014
Bumps in the Night is one of the iconic children’s picture book series about skeletons, Funnybones. The skeletons keep bumping in the night regardless of where they are or what they are doing. Its a great picture book for young children with colourful illustrations and good use of repetition of words 'in the dark dark celler of a dark dark house..' enabling the children to learn words and proactively engage. loved this book, it bought back memories of when i was a child. I must have read all the funnybones collection.
Appropriate age range- 3+
Appropriate age range- 3+
September 5, 2011
A great joke book for children to enjoy. It has good, colourful illustrations and repetition: "In the dark dark classroom of a dark dark night school", allowing children to learn words. I remember this book from primary school as well as the others; The Ghost Train and The Pet Shop which are great fun. What else is humouring with Bumps in the Night is that they are covered in plasters when they are skeletons!
August 22, 2011
Pants! This was very disappointing, as the original Funny Bones was a firm favourite in our house. This one, I doubt will be read again before it is returned to the library. Not good.
Although, maybe I'm not being very fair, as we are reading the far-superior 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl. Not many books are going to be able to compete really. Until my little girl gets a bit older of course.
Although, maybe I'm not being very fair, as we are reading the far-superior 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl. Not many books are going to be able to compete really. Until my little girl gets a bit older of course.
September 6, 2019
This book will take the reader on quite a bumpy ride with the clumsy skeletons. Not my favourite in the series, but at least the brilliant illustrations make it worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews