The Children who Smelled a Rat

Ahlberg and McEwen's fourth fast, funny and improbable story about the Gaskitt family is as ingenious as its predecessors.

Ahlberg's characters break conventions, with Mrs Gaskitt a taxi driver while her husband has a variety of jobs and also shares the childcare.

The children attempt to solve the mystery of their teacher's sudden personality change, while their mother chases passengers who leave mysterious packages in her taxi and their father pursues their runaway baby, whose shopping cart has carried him into an amazing adventure.

Short (sometimes very short) chapters with bright, energetic and witty illustrations careering across the pages entice young readers through the story, with quirky comments from the author interspersed. A hugely entertaining book for newly confident readers.