Title: The Day I Became the Most Wanted Boy in the World
Author: Tom McLaughlin
Illustrator: Tom McLaughlin
Publisher: Walker Books
Genre: Children’s fiction, Humour
Book format: Paperback
Sweet Strawberries: 
Description: Nine-year-old Pete is having the WORST DAY EVER. He’s irritated a local gangster, befriended an uber-annoying neighbour and, to top it all off, ACCIDENTALLY ROBBED the local corner shop.
Now Pete is in a race against time to prove his innocence – but it’s tricky to do that, especially when everyone thinks that you’re the MOST WANTED BOY IN THE WORLD!
*Free copy provided by publisher for review…
Review: This is a funny and silly story. Pete loves snooker and just wants to watch a snooker match on television, but his mother sends him grocery shopping instead, a trip which is about to get him into a lot of trouble. The book is filled with thick pages and there’s some great black and white illustrations throughout the easy to read text.
As Pete and his neighbour Sammy start walking to the shops, they bump into someone, Pete’s shopping list gets muddled with another piece of paper, a mistake which is about to get Pete and Sammy into a lot of trouble with the Police! I don’t want to give away too much detail, but the way that the mix up happens and the subsequent adventure the two go on trying to clear their names is very funny. The story centres on Pete and his love of snooker, he’s a kid who doesn’t have many friends but tries to pretend that he’s fine, and it’s that added aspect of the story that really makes it appealing for me, as I’m sure there are some kids that can relate.
Pete’s character and the silliness the two of them they get up to is good. I like the way they keep getting into more and more trouble,, while trying to clear they names, and it’s all done is a farcical way which makes me smile and laugh out loud in some places. I really like the humour, it’s so simple and silly. The ending of the story is also good, and a nice one with what happens with Pete and Sammy. The back of the book has extra activities to do, such as how to draw some of the characters. These added activities make the book even better as I’m sure many kids will enjoy doing these.
The illustrations are all in black, white and grey and look like those on the front cover. They depict the characters faces and expressions well and there’s something about the very silly blocky illustrations that makes the book all the more funny. The chapters in the book, rather than being simply numbered are instead shown as hours in Pete’s day (the first chapter being 1pm, the next 2pm, etc.).
I’ve now read two books by Tom McLaughlin (and yes it’s impossible not to spot the ‘laugh’ in his name!) and I can’t wait to read more. This book is very funny and silly and just perfect to make you smile and laugh.
Do you like this book? What about other funny/silly stories? Have you read any otherTom McLaughlin books? Let me know what you think in the comments below 🙂
The Strawberry Post 