Meet Nicholas, who has just started school - and has encountered a rowdy group of kids known as "The Wild Ones". Nicholas' mum wants to know all about them and they sound positively terrible, but the whole family pitches in with good advice on how Nicholas can turn a foe into a friend.
In "Nicholas and the Wild Ones" Niki Daly turns his expert observational eye towards school anxieties (You may remember his utterly awesome book "Seb and Hamish" showing how one little boy coped with a new doggy friend who was a bit too energetic and yappy!)
Here he presents a new hero who would much rather take his Grandma's advice and use his imagination and brain power to overcome his issues with those naughty children.
One loves to drop on unsuspecting kids from the top of the climbing frame. Another is a slam-dunk wrestler in the diminutive guise of a little girl. Yet another loves to perform atomic wedgies on kids (it's no fun walking around with your underpants stuck up your bottom all day!) and another steals everyone's snacks at breaktime and wolfs them down with glee.
The story unfolds delightfully as Nicholas gradually and patiently deals with the situations in his own way, even making a brand new friend (Cindy the wrestler!) in the process.
A fantastic book with a ton of positive and lovely messages tucked in between its pages (and who could resist a certain scene-stealing sausage dog making a welcome appearance too!)
Charlotte's favourite bit: Nicholas' amazing "Wild Ones" conversion machine (which explains the fab end-papers!)
Daddy's favourite bit: Superb story, a hugely positive message and a delight that should go some small way towards helping kids conquer their fears about starting back at school.
(Correction - Helpfully pointed out that Niki Daily is in fact male not female! Happy to correct our review!)
(Kindly sent to us for review by Frances Lincoln Children's Books)
"Nicholas and the Wild Ones"
Written and Illustrated by Niki Daly
Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Publication Date (Hardback): 7th January 2016