The dynamic duo of Peter Bently and Russell Ayto are back and they've arrived just in time to be included in our #ReadItMD13 theme week all about dads in books, in the run up to Father's Day on June 16th.
So does this character sound familiar to you?
He often says "Waste not, want not" before filching your pizza crusts...
He never scrapes your leftover porridge into the food recycling bin but it still manages to disappear...
He has a nice big round comfortable tummy (which is actually nice to lie on when you're being read to).
If that sounds like your dad (or you, for that matter) then you'll love Dustbin Dad. As you'd expect from Peter and Russell it's a crazy chaotic tale that ties delicious mouth-watering rhymes with succulent and sweet illustrations, enough to get your tummy rumbling before you've even turned the first page.
Dustbin Dad in the story just cannot keep his hands off food, mostly the food that everyone else leaves behind (as I said before, I'm sure a lot of you identify with this and have become highly skilled at clearing your children's plates when they leave all the best bits after dinner. Tsk!)
His greediness is his undoing, however. After the family cat is given a rather special tincture by the dentist - and dad mistakes it for a nice pot of leftover soup, things go horribly awry.
Dad starts to sprout a ginger beard. EEEK! Dad starts to sprout a tail! AAGHH! Worse yet, Dad completely transforms into a gigantic round tummied bewhiskered moggy! YIPES!
I'm not sure about your children but I think Charlotte would secretly rather like me to transform into a cat, but after seeing some of the things Dustbin Dad does (including the rather shocking antics in next door's garden) she might've changed her mind a little.
We expect the best from Bently and Ayto and we get the best. This is a rip-roaring busy and hilarious tale and I particularly loved the presentation (labels on everything!) and the easy rhyming style that makes it a joy to read.
Perhaps I'll think twice the next time Charlotte refuses to eat the (best bits) dried up ends of fish fingers, or leaves her last few mouthfuls of a blueberry muffin and just put them in the composter like I should...
Charlotte's best bit: I am sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that Peter and Russell included the unfortunate incident with next door's lawn, purely because they knew that would be every child's favourite bit. Right guys?
Daddy's favourite bit: Love DaddyMoggy's expression as he innocently rubs up against the welsh dresser and completely destroys the best crockery. Oops!
(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books)