ReadItDaddy's First Book of the Week - Week Ending 22nd April 2016 - "Asterix and the Missing Scroll" by Jan-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad (Orion Children's Books)

We've been hugely excited about the new Asterix adventures - but could they possibly match up to the classics we've loved for years?
The answer is a firm and resounding YES and a well deserved "Book of the Week" award from us!

Asterix's adventures are now ably chronicled by Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad, paying glorious homage to the original Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo books that I loved when I was a wee whippersnapper and Charlotte has also loved too since I introduced them to her.

So what are our gallant pair of Gauls up to this time?

Julius Caesar has finally polished off writing his memoirs with the aid of his trusted scribe Libellus Blockbustus.

One particular passage is causing much consternation, the chapters chronicling Caesar's various defeats by the Gauls does rather stick out like a sore thumb. Keep it in and the world will know that Caesar was given a sound smacking by the Gauls. Leave it out and the world will think that Caesar was a glorious leader who ran roughshod over Europe and came, saw, and conquered everything he encountered.

When the missing scroll is surreptitiously purloined by Confoundtheirpolitix, a reporter and activist, it's a race against time to ensure that the truth is published and that the reputation of the Gauls remains intact. But with Caesar's mightiest warriors on the warpath, will Asterix and Obelix have enough magic potion to pull off one more victorious battle where the pen may yet prove mightier than the sword?

As you can see, Ferri and Conrad have done a glorious job of capturing the essence of a brilliant Asterix adventure!

This is a brilliant 36th adventure for Asterix and Obelix, we absolutely loved it to bits and think that Ferri and Conrad have pulled off a minor miracle here, both retaining the glorious classic look and feel of older Asterix titles but also putting their own stamp on things. The story is fast paced and extremely cheeky and funny with some brilliant digs and in-jokes about everything from politics to the press.

When we first heard about the new adventures, we held our breaths because we truly couldn't believe anyone could pick up the reins with such style and aplomb. We can breath easy, Asterix and Obelix are in extremely safe hands! What a brilliant, brilliant adventure and we can't wait for more!

Charlotte's favourite bit: Vitalstatistix's rather fearsome other half Impedimenta! You really wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her!

Daddy's favourite bit: I absolutely LOVED the rather sweet homage to Goscinny and Uderzo at the end of the story. Won't spoilt it for you but watch out for it, it's lovely!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Orion Children's Books)

"Asterix and the Missing Scrolls"

Written by Jan-Yves Ferri

Illustrated by Didier Conrad

Published by Orion Children's Books

Publication Date: 24th March 2016