Childish

Childish by Morris Gleitzman, (Penguin Books) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9781761343759

Reviewed by Di Bates

Here is another humorous stand-alone novel from the man who is one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors. It’s about a boy, Arkle (known as Arkie), who, with the help of a Chinese girl, Dorothy (Dot), attempts to get potholes repaired. The mission starts because of Dot falling off her delivery bicycle and being hospitalised with a severely broken leg – thanks to a hole in a local road.

Showing much persistence and responsibility, Arkie manages to navigate bureaucracy in his pothole repair quest. He meets with Gavin who’s council’s Road Integrity Relations Executive, Sharon, the Public Infrastructure Liaison Manager and the Public Infrastructure Liaison Manager. He also goes with Dot to a utility’s AGM where he speaks into the microphone: his speech goes viral which demonstrates the negative power of social media. Another thing this plucky boy does is to organise a Chinese lunch for utility workers. And he’s interviewed by a TV reporter. But do the many potholes get repaired by the end of the book? Well, sort of…

As usual, Gleitzman’s writing appeals to the average reader (aged 7+ years), with lots of ‘poo’ words, eg ‘in the poo’, ‘for poops sake’, ‘pooey-bums’ and ‘poop.’ Surprisingly, his characters have old fashioned names, such as Phyllis and Dorothy. There’s a teacher who asks her students to call her Serena; grandfather (deceased) was known as ‘Gaff’.

Arkie and Dot take on grumpy grown-ups with bravery, patience, and creative thinking. The book explores themes of friendship, resilience, and youthful enthusiasm.