The Odds: Run, Odds, Run

The Odds: Run, Odds, Run by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN: 9780733340642

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

In this sequel to the bestselling graphic novel The Odds, Kip is in real trouble. The ten strange characters that escaped from her imagination have drawn the attention of the Woman in the Suit, and now Kip, her dad and the Odds are on the run. Can Kip keep the Odds together, when she is falling apart? And why does the Woman in the Suit think that Kip is ‘the one with the power’?

Matt Stanton’s quirky take on dealing with anxiety and accepting every part of ourselves – no matter how odd – will appeal to all kids aged seven and older who feel as though they don’t fit in. Each entertaining episode in the book balances humour with heart, and the brevity of the text is a godsend for those youngsters who dislike wading through wads of words.

Matt’s black-and-white illustrations feature clean lines and engaging characterisations. Their simplicity ensures that the visual story is easy to follow for small eyes. Despite the prevalence of enclosed comic-strip cells, there is plenty of movement on the pages to drive the story forward in an exciting way.

Fans of the Funny Kid series and other Matt Stanton books will adore The Odds: Run, Odds, Run. It’s an imaginative journey along a path of self-discovery that encourages each young reader to celebrate every facet of their unique personality.

Funny Kid: Prank Ninjas

Funny Kid: Prank Ninjas by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) ISBN 978 0 7333 4062 8 RRP $14.99 

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

The latest of Matt Stanton’s Funny Kid series, Prank Ninjas is again about Max Walbut, his duck, and his friends in the town of Redhill. This time the focus is on pranking – specifically ninja pranking – which gets going right from the first page. Max fools all his friends in a cinema, which leads to taking sides. This leads to getting into trouble, then payback, which gets them into more trouble. They get caught by the Mayor Lopez who announces a dreaded Kid-Free Zone for the town. When they discover they’re not the only ones doing the pranking, the kids unite and plan one last elaborate prank to find the culprit.  

 

With Matt Stanton’s distinctive cartoon illustrations, the story goes at a cracking pace with lots of humour (including quite a bit of toilet humour). Max and his friends Hugo, Pip, Tyson, and Max’s frenemy Abby are on school holidays. After the prank in the cinema, Max’s friends retaliate, and they start a pranking war in Redhill Bargain Busters. Max enlists the help of Hugo (who has an annoying habit of reading all the time) to try to get hold of Abby’s journal. For some reason, Max suspects Abby is in love with him, and he reasons that if everyone else finds this out, she will be humiliated.

However, things go wrong when they run up against a cling film maze at the library and some swapped over toilet signs, that neither group is responsible for. By order of the mayor, all kids in Redhill must stay home unless accompanied by an adult. And it’s all Max and his friends’ fault. Or is it? Blamed for something they didn’t do, the kids all team up to discover the ninja behind the pranking and to finally make them pay.

Included at the end of the book, is the first chapter of another of the author’s books – The Odds. This is the tenth book in the Funny Kid series, suitable for children aged 8+ years.

Happy Farter’s Day

Happy Farter’s Day by Tim Miller and Matt Stanton (Harper Collins Children’s Books) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9780733339035 RRP $24.95

Review by Karen Hendriks

The bestselling creators of the Fart Monster and Dinosaur Dump have created a unique perspective on the close relationship fathers have with their kids. This is a book for kids to read with their Dad.

Sometimes all kids want to do is have a little fun when they read. And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate fatherhood than reading this hilarious book. How bad can a fart really be? Well, you are about to find out as ten friends share how their Dads’ bottoms erupt. Each Dad has their own unique and distinct farting style and to make it even funnier the genius of Matt Stanton’s illustrations adds more layers of humour. The characters facial expressions are a crack up.

The text dances with four lines on each page supported by the cartoon-like illustrations in bright colours. This picture book is a rip roaring read that celebrates the relationships that kids have with their fathers. Peg your nose and take a deep breath as you explore the world of Dad’s farts. You won’t be disappointed.

There is a Monster on My Holiday Who Farts

There is a Monster on My Holiday Who Farts by Tim Miller, illustrated by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) HB RRP $24.99   ISBN 978-0-733334-65-8

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Monster who Farts is back, so get your passports ready for some hilarious fun!  This story is cleverly written and illustrated for children, and might I say adults, too.  Co-creators, Tim Millar and Matt Stanton, not only know their young audience well, but their approach is fresh and original. 

A family trip around the world: who could possibly be the unexpected, extra passenger? A farting monster of course! This embarrassing problem becomes obvious when on the plane to the first stop, Japan, there’s unexpected turbulence. The reader is left guessing.  Is the farting monster responsible or is it someone else?

The colorful illustrations with comical facial expressions and gassy puffs entertain and delight, but also add cheeky fun to complement the text.  For example, the Mona Lisa’s smirk is turned to a look of smelly distaste.  The author and illustrator tango dance together briskly to tell this fart tale.

The reader travels with the family from country to country, and points of interest in the simple text provides extra fun. For example, ‘The Leaning Tower of Pisa finally topples -- ‘because there’s a monster on my holiday who farts.’

Subjects such as family, travel, culture and geography make this story so much more than a just simple fart tale.  This is one of those books that a child will want to visit again and again, as laughter really does make the world go around.

There’s a Monster Under My Christmas Tree Who Farts

There’s a Monster Under My Christmas Tree Who Farts written by Tim Miller; illustrated by Matt Stanton (ABC Books)
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN 9780733332951
Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness

From the pungent creators of ‘There’s a Monster Under My Bed Who Farts’ comes this sequel, which sees decorating the Christmas tree a rather dangerous task.

No doubt to delight younger readers, Miller writes of the monster’s ‘bauble bombs’ and ‘bottom burps’ which not only are off-putting when trying to wrap presents, but have a terrible effect on the reindeers' carrots!

Miller and Stanton take us through other Christmas traditions where the monster causes havoc, ruining the Christmas Santa photo, scaring off the Christmas carollers and generally destroying everyone’s Christmas cheer.

Worried that Santa won’t visit or that he’ll be on Santa’s naughty list because of the monster’s windy habit, the boy in the story creeps downstairs only to see Santa and the monster under the Christmas tree together – both enjoying the release of simultaneous flatulence!

This title certainly sees Santa in a new light and will suit readers from 3 – 7.