By Jamie Smart
Publisher: David Fickling Books
ISBN: 9781788452434
You know Jamie Smart must be doing something right when someone walks into the room and cries: “Bunny vs Monkey! I love that book!”
It has all become something of a phenomenon. In a nutshell, there’s a wood where a group of animals lives, although they’re not necessarily a mix of creatures you’d expect to find there. Nothing is ever quiet or still for too long, though. This is because Skunky has inevitably built some maniacal machine of destruction that Monkey is attempting to use to obliterate of just generally annoy. And then there are the hopeless characters creating their own problems just by existing.
If this mix of mayhem wasn’t enough, enter Ai, a speedy aye-aye. A new ingredient to the chaos. If she’s not encouraging her friends to party at night (she’s nocturnal after all) she’s complaining that she doesn’t want to sit next to Monkey because he smells of bananas. Then there are the hyper-accurate robot doppelgangers, multiplying doughnuts and Randolph the Raccoon. Danger, explosions, and a fair few caterpillars await you.
Jamie Smart’s gift is to crank up the peril to extreme levels but have it vanquished in the daftest way possible. The characters often have very little idea of what’s going on, or how to rectify it, and bumble about until matters resolve themselves through luck or incompetence. Consequently, it’s page after page of comic silliness that you can’t help but grin at.
My particular highlight? Giant robotic walrus attacks, and Ai leaps into action, not because it’s the right thing to do, but because Pig’s going to the toilet and doesn’t want to be disturbed. From behind a bush in the background, Pig’s ears can be seen poking up, with the words, “I can’t go now!”. No wonder kids love it.
Much hilarity here, so whether it’s for yourself or a child, you’ll have a giggle.
And if you liked that: Plenty more Bunny vs Monkey books are available!
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