Some seriously talented writers banding together to assist the future talents of tomorrow. This hodge podge collection of short stories by authors that happen to write for children, but in all honesty are crafting tales more readily enjoyed by adults, certainly has something for everyone, and that's in a good way. From the absurdly silly to the poignant and graceful, to the heart touching and thought provoking, this collection runs a gamut of emotions.
What remains at the center of it all is a freshness, and a fondness for fun, humour, wit and charm, with a children's tale setting. There is some superbly imaginative tales, that only fans of dry, British humour could love. One story, in particular, about a boy whose parents leave him for a week, but not without a bizarre trail of notes and notices of how to fend for himself, reminded me of a Douglas Adams novel, or a Roald Dahl trip, or a Monty Python skit. That same mix of sly wit, coupled with societal commentary, situated in the absurd seems to weave its way throughout the book.
As a whole, it's a lot of fun. Taken bit for bit, equally delicious.
4 out of 5 stars
For a teacher that both loves to read and loves to teach poetry, this is a must have book. The sequel to "Love That Dog", this one gets a little deeper into the poetry and into the main character's life. It has a little bit of heartfelt sentiment, which made the first book feel complete. However, this one seems a little more forced. i do like that it explores poetic conventions a little more clearly and directly, but it also makes it come across a little more contrived. A good companion piece to the original "Love That Dog".
