ReadItDaddy's First Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 29th June 2018: "The Truth about my Unbelievable School" by Davide Cali and Benjamin Chaud (Chronicle Books)

The tall-tale telling kid from the superb "The Truth About my Unbelievable Summer" is back - and this time he doesn't need to stretch the truth, reality is weird enough as it is...!
It probably comes as no surprise to folk who encountered the original book that the followup would also slide into our "Book of the Week" slot. "The Truth About My Unbelievable School" by Davide Cali and Benjamin Chaud is just as weird, whacky and hilarious as the original.

This time Henry is taking a new classmate on a whirlwind tour of his school. Used to making up fantastic stories, Henry lets us in on a dark secret. His school is downright weird, though oddly his new friend seems to take just about everything in her stride.

She's not phased by the canteen which seems to randomly through mash at everyone. She's not bothered by the swimming instructor, who seems to have his own set of gills. Nor the PE Mistress who can lift the entire class up with one hand.

Potato alert! Potato alert! Run for your lives!

Perhaps she has a dark secret of her own?

Weird teachers, weirder lessons. It's a crazy school!

This is a fantastic and imaginative story full of glorious little details and visual gags. We both giggled muchly at the thought of the teachers all cramming themselves with sweets behind closed doors in the staff room. I bet that happens at your school, doesn't it?

C's best bit: Sweetie scoffing teachers, and the school dragon!

Daddy's favourite bit: A touch of Edward Gorey, a smidge of Gallic humour and a ton of charm. This is a complete win for us, we so want more in this series!

"The Truth About my Unbelievable School" by Davide Cali and Benjamin Chaud is out now, published by Chronicle (kindly supplied for review).