A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School

Publisher: Chronicle Books

'So, why are you late this morning?' well, says the little boy we have just seen snoozing on the pre-title page, 'it's a long story'.

Much in the same vein as Cali and Chaud's previous collaboration, I Didn't Do My Homework Because… the boy offers a series of unfortunate, and unbelievable, events as the explanation for why he is late to school again. The unlikely incidents that occurred include giant ants, ninjas, scary majorettes and a massive ape. That's even before the boy mysteriously shrinks, and then becomes gigantic and then gets caught in a chain of fairytale-esque scenes like dining on a gingerbread house and following a piper with a magic pipe.

Silly and strange, children will enjoy the formula of this arty piece and it will encourage them to think creatively for their own extreme excuses. There is a funny punchline ending and a teasing finale. Production values are high too in this neat little hardback presentation, but the crazy antics inside might be too wacky for some.

More books like this

Twit Twoo School: Mouse's Big Day

Author: Lydia Monks

Mouse does NOT want to go to school and feels sad when she gets there... but will her classmates help her see how much fun it can be? A gentle and sensitive book for nervous little ones.

Read more about Twit Twoo School: Mouse's Big Day

Tiddler

Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

Although he looks small and ordinary, Tiddler is a fish who loves to tell tall tales. But one day he is swept up in a fisherman's net and then thrown back in to an unfamiliar part of the sea.

Read more about Tiddler

Share this book with your friends

Use our Bookfinder to discover the perfect children's books for every age...