Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Ethan's Reviews
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Prince Freddie is off to save a castle from a ferocious dragon, when he realises he really, REALLY needs a pee. But what with scary ogres, damsels in distress, and massive queues for the only toilet in the forest, it doesn't look like Freddie will ever get to go ...So when the dragon blocks his path, and accidentally sets fire to the castle, things don't look too good. Luckily, Prince Freddie is able to have a pee AND put out the fire in one go! A hilarious tale of derring-do and needing the loo, from the brilliant Greg Gormley and Chris Mould. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Mum has a new book for us to read today…The Prince and the Pee! Haha already I am giggling at the book cover, the prince looks funny with his legs all crossed…he must really need to pee. I am like any 5 year old boy, I love books about poo and wee…they are funny. I beg my mum to read the book immediately! So, the story is about a Prince who is having a relaxing holiday when his horse tells him that the castle is in in danger, there is a huge dragon! Haha a talking horse…this book gets better and better! My mum is funny and does different voices for the characters in the book, she makes me laugh…the horse is a very posh horse.Whilst on their way to save the castle the Prince realises he really needs to pee. The horse wonders why he didn’t go before they left but like me, the Prince didn’t need to go then. The Prince makes many attempts to use the loo but everything seems to get in the way, from scary ogres to pretty Princesses the Prince just cant find anywhere to pee! Eventually the Prince gets to the castle to find a dragon is standing right in the way of the entrance. The Prince does not care, he really, really, really needs to pee so he charges past the dragon to get into his castle. The dragon sets the castle on fire! What will the Prince do? There is only one thing for it….PEEEEEEE!!! Mummy’s thoughts: A fantastic book for kids age 2 – 5, my sons aged 3 and 5 thoroughly enjoyed this funny tale of toilet troubles. It reminded me a little of The Dinosaur that POOPED the bed with its fast flowing words and toilet humour. |
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Dog pals Dubbin and Todd are going on a walk before breakfast: Dubbin on his skateboard and Todd lagging behind on his paws. Not only that but Todd is also carrying a huge bone which is attracting attention from another, not so nice dog. Can Dubbin, Todd and the bone get home safely? A lovely dog story with a contemporary twist and charming illustrations. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Look mum, look at the dog on a skateboard! I really like the cover of this book its funny. The book we are reading today is about two dogs named Dubbin and Todd. Dubbin is my favourite, he rides on a skate board and goes really really fast. Todd is a bit boring, he takes ages to walk and he is always complaining about the massive bone that he has taken with him on his morning walk. Dubbin thinks Todd should bury his bone because he is moaning about it, but then a naughty dog takes the hidden bone! Will Todd get it back?? I think the pictures in this book are fun, I like that the book rhymes and my little brother likes the naughty dog who takes the bone. Mummy’s thoughts: I thought the book was enjoyable, fun and energetic. I read it to both my 5 and 2 year old sons and they loved it! Illustrations are fantastic! |
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Bears are clumsy. They don't sit still. They're much, much bigger than teachers - and they eat SUCH a lot of lunch! Yes, taking a bear to school is a BAD idea. But will this little boy find the courage to face the first day of school alone? With so much to do, like painting, dressing up, storytime, and making new friends, he just might! And Bear? He'll always be waiting at the end of the day, with a great big hug! A delightfully funny story that will reassure every child anxious about starting a new school or nursery. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Never take a bear to school is about a little boy who is quite scared to start school so he wants to take his bear. I was a little scared when I started school but once I was there I was okay because I found a friend. I really like this book, the pictures are nice and it’s quite funny. Its funny because if the little boy takes the bear to school it will be a disaster!! Bear wont be able to sit on the little chairs or run around the playground because he will scare everyone. He will eat everyone’s lunch too! The picture of bear with all the lunch is my favourite because he has apples and pears, strawberries, cake and banana…yummy. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading it again. Mummy’s thoughts: An enjoyable book that will help any child who is worried about starting school. The boys loved it! |
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Fetch!' and 'Sit!' and 'Stay!' I understand them all. Those are the words I know. But what is 'Fred'? Fred the dog may not know his name yet or how to stay out of trouble but one little boy will love him no matter what. A follow-up to I Will Love You Anyway, this touching rhyming story is full of friendship and tail wagging and will touch a chord with all children who love pets. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Fred is about a really cute dog who is very well behaved. He listens well to his owners and he can understand them. When he is told to sit, fetch ball, walk and sit he does everything he should. The only word he does not understand is FRED. He wonders what is a Fred, he wants to Fred but don’t know how. “Silly dog Mummy, Fred is his name”! The book tells the story of how Fred learns to understand his name. I really liked this book, the pictures were nice. I like dogs but Mummy wont let me have one. Maybe when I am bigger I can get a dog and name him Fred. Mummy's thoughts: We both enjoyed this book. It was well written and got me thinking about a dogs thoughts…very strange lol. I think it would be a lovely book for a child with a dog.
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Published by: Orchard Books From the bestselling, award-winning author of The Princess and the Peas comes the perfect potty training book for little princes and princesses everywhere. Prince George wants to go on adventures, but his nappy keeps getting in the way! It must be time for the prince to use the Royal Potty. But will George ever get the hang of it? This royally funny rhyming adventure will help little ones discover that life without nappies is fun! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Its a lovely sunny day today and Mummy has surprised me and my brother Harrison with a teddy bear picnic out the garden. Wow mum a new book!! Prince George and the Royal Potty by Caryl Hart with illustrations by Laura Ellen Anderson. We started to eat our lovely picnic and then Mummy read us our new book. Prince George and the Royal Potty is about a little Prince named George who wants to do grown up things.George wants to be a knight and put on armour like his big Cousin but he has a problem…his armour wont fit over his nappy!George wants to go marching with the Royal Guards but he has a problem…his nappy gets full of poop and he starts to smell really bad…. poo-eee haha. So George has to potty train just like my brother Harrison is doing at the moment. It isn’t long before George can use the potty. When George has a wee on the potty he gets really really happy! I really liked this book, it is funny and my brother Harrison likes it too. |
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Mr Mustachio has the most fantabulous moustache, of which he is very proud. But one day an impromptu picnic leads to a moustache disaster! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: This book is about Mr Mustachio, Mr Mustachio is a very tall man, a very thin man who has a super duper fantabulous moustache. His moustache is sooooo long that tall children dunk from it and small children want to tug on it. One day Mr Mustachio goes to the playground…I think he really likes the roundabout because he gets on and whirls round and round and goes really fast….he does not realise his moustache is getting all tangled around the roundabout!!! He gets stuck and has to ask everyone passing by to help him get free. In the end nothing works to get him free so a tall teacher has to snip off his moustache. ‘Mummy I think all the adults in the book have noses like carrots’ Mr Mustachio is very sad that he no longer has a moustache so he looks for something to replace it. He gets some stripey socks to replace the moustache and I think he looks really cool…much better that before. Mummy's thoughts: Ethan really enjoyed this book, we have read it many times. He really likes the illustrations and stripey socks…the roundabout is his favourite thing to play in the park so this book was a winner. |
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Everyone in the lemur family is good at jumping - even Grandma, whose speciality is being shot from a cannon. Everyone, that is, except the littlest lemur. He just can't do it, no matter how hard he tries. But there are so many jumps to choose from, surely he will manage one, and be able to take his rightful place on stage with the rest of the troupe? BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Mummy what is a Lemur? I don’t think I have seen one before…they look funny. After mummy explained what a Lemur was we started to read my new book Flying Lemurs by Zehra Hicks. This book is about a little Lemur who is scared to join in with the rest of his family who love to jump. Little Lemurs family love to jump on trampolines, out of cannons and even off see-saws! Only problem is…. little Lemur is not quite brave enough when he try’s to jump. I feel sad for the little lemur because he just wants to join in with his family. At the end of the book little Lemur pretends to be a rocket…a rocket that shoots high up into the sky! Little Lemur does a really big rocket jump and everyone is happy…little Lemur doesn’t even know that he had jumped up higher than all his family. I liked it when Lemur jumped up really high because everyone clapped and made him feel really special…this made me happy. Mummy's thoughts: This was a good easy read book that kept the attention of Ethan, he really liked it when the Lemur pretended to be a rocket. Illustrations were lovely. Good fun book. |
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Do you think vegetables are yucky? Just wait until you see what Monty the Monster has on his plate! Monty definitely does NOT want to eat his people. He'll eat his vegetables - every single one! - but he will not eat his people.This hilarious tale of fussy eating in the Monster household is guaranteed to get children giggling. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Its time for mummy and me to read my new book Eat Your People by Lou Kuenzler & David Wojtowycz. Wow mum, this book has a huge monster on the cover…I love monsters. I am interested in this book straight away. This book is about a little monster named Monty, Monty does not like eating people for his dinner. Monty thinks that people are chewy, crunchy and full of bones. Monty’s mum and dad love to eat people, his sister Monica likes eating people so much that she wants to eat Monty’s people off his plate! I did like this book, I thought it was quite funny that the monsters were eating people and the people kept trying to run off the plate to hide. My favorite part was when the monster eats all the people and then gets to eat yummy fairy cakes for dessert…fairy cakes with real fairies in them! |
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Daniel O'Dowd is so loud he doesn't listen to others. So, when a comet is heading towards Hamilton Shady, Daniel has to help the town's mad professor by using his supersonic voice but, if he doesn't listen to instructions, things are going to end badly! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Mummy can I get a pair of headphones like the boy on the cover of our new book…please…please. I love reading new books with mummy its my favourite part of my day. Tonight we are reading a book in The Ever So Series By Julie Fulton. Daneil O’Dowd is about a boy who is really loud, he does not listen to anybody. He shouts wherever he goes like the zoo where he shouts so loud he scares the animals and makes them hide. When he shouts at school his teacher tells him that if he stopped shouting he might hear something useful. My mummy tells me to be quite sometimes, especially when we are on the bus…but I get so bored on buses. One day the class go to visit a professor who builds really cool things. The professor has made a telescope made out of cheese….I like cheese mum but I don’t think you could make a telescope out of it…could you?? Daniel has a look in the telescope and sees a huge rock in space heading for Earth! Because Daniel shouts so loud the professor sends him up to space to shout at the rock and shatter it.I like the part of the book when Daniel is in space because he can see all the stars and an alien. Daniel shouts at the rock and saves the day, he is so happy and loud that he cant hear the professor tell him how to return home from space. Daniel gets scared then he remembers that if he don’t shout he will hear something useful instead. He hears the professor and gets back home safe. I really liked this book, we read it twice in one sitting because I like the alien in the spaceship and when Daniel goes to space. Mummy's thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this book to my son. The words flowed very nicely and the story kept my sons attention very well. Great illustrations, another great book by Julie Fulton. |
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Pete the badger likes everything to be neat and tidy at all times, but what starts as the collecting of one fallen leaf escalates quickly and ends with the complete destruction of the forest! Will Pete realise the error of his ways and set things right? Lush foliage and delightfully funny characters abound in this dramatic tale of overzealous neatness that delivers its message of environmental preservation with subtlety and humour. The freshness and vibrancy of the illustrations, the endearing charm of the animal characters, and the many deft comic details throughout make this a very special book. With a sumptuous double-sided jacket and a breathtaking series of die-cuts from the cover through to the title page, once you enter this forest, you'll never want to leave. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Mummy and me love to turn the off the TV and sit together to read, we have many books but I love nothing more than getting a new one! My new book is called Tidy and it’s by Emily Gravett. The first thing i notice is the book cover, it has lots of trees with red and brown leaves on them. Is that Autumn trees mummy? This book must have some falling crunchy leaves in it! |
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Digger-mad Brad is not cut out for a pirate's life, instead he dreams of life on a building site. When the Salty Dog sets sail, can he prove to Captain Blood that pirates do drive diggers after all? A rip-roaring rhyming pirate tale for those digger-loving scallywags out there! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Wow Mummy a pirate book! I love pirates….Ahoy Me Hearties! My favourite part in the book was the bit with the big octopus was trying to get on the ship and when Brad drives the digger and is happy. I really like the pictures in this book and I could recognise many words, I loved the quiz at the end of the book, I got all the questions right that mummy asked me :-) Mummy's thoughts: |
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Tom's granny is a witch and when Tom says that The Three Little Pigs story is boring, Granny uses a spell to 'magic' him into the book. Tom must be clever to avoid being eaten by the big bad wolf! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: I really love reading new books with my mummy and I especially love the new early readers ones we have got because there is a quiz at the end of the book. I say to my mummy that I am going to listen really hard to the story so I can answer the questions at the end! The Four Little Pigs is about a little boy named Tom. Whenever Tom goes to stay at Granny Mag’s something magical happens because she’s a witch…Oh NO mummy…I have a Granny Mag’s! I don’t think she is a witch though?? One night Granny Mag’s reads Tom a bedtime story but its The Three Little Pigs and Toms knows the story well…he’s really bored so Granny Mag’s makes it exciting by using magic and she puts Tom into the book. ‘He looks funny mummy, why is his nose like a pig!’ Tom has turned into a little pig and because he knows The Three Little Pigs story so well he wants to warn the pigs that the wolf is coming to blow there houses down! Tom changes the story and saves the day he goes back home and the front cover on the book has changed from three little pigs to four. Mummy's thoughts: A great book that has been adapted from an original picture book so that children can make the essential transition from listener to reader. The story was fun and the illustrations were clear and colourful. My son enjoyed the Quiz at the end. |
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It's not easy being small. Especially not being able to reach things. Like the hook to hang a coat, a shelf to get the toys, or the pedals of a bike. Kitchen sides, the shower, and a light switch are all too high. But the love of a father is an amazing thing. With dad close by anything is possible. With dad close by nothing is out of reach. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: I usually read my new books with my mummy but today mummy said ‘read that one with daddy’ Daddy sat with me and we began to read My Dad will do by Martin Thomas. Instantly I recognised the drawings…the drawings looked very much like my other book I read with mummy yesterday. I love elephants, I was eagerly waiting to start the book. This book is about a baby and a daddy elephant. Baby elephant is so small he can’t do the things that daddy can, baby can’t hang his coat up high, he can’t reach up to get his favourite games off the shelf, he’s so small he can’t even reach the pedals on his bike! Don’t worry baby elephant, daddy is there to do these things for you. Daddy is always there to help baby do the things he can’t until he grows big like daddy. Mummy's thoughts: This is the second book we have read by Martin Thomas and again, great illustrations by Ag Jatkowska, well written and defiantly makes Ethan happy. It was lovely to watch my husband read this book to our son as you could see them bonding and smiling. Excellent book. |
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It's not easy being small. Nothing is simple. Not speaking, sleeping or walking. Not counting, reading or swimming. Not even hopping or skipping or jumping! But the love of a mother is an amazing thing. With mum close by there's no need to be scared. With mum close by anything is possible. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: My Mummy surprised me this morning with two new books, the first book being My Mum is there by Martin Thomas and illustrated by Ag Jatkowska. This book is about you mum! Can we read it please, please… The book is about a mummy elephant and a baby elephant. Mummy elephant is always there for the baby…just like my mum is for me. The mummy elephant is there to help baby learn, mummy elephant is always there when baby wants to explore, read books and look at stars. Baby is always learning new things and mummy is always there. I really like the picture of the mummy elephant holding the baby elephant on the front cover, it makes me feel happy and loved. Every page my mummy read and turned I gave her a big kiss and hug because I know my mummy is there to help me learn and tuck me up in bed at night. This book really made me feel happy and I loved the drawings of the moon and stars. Mummy's thoughts: This book was well written and beautifully illustrated. The book kept the attention of my son and I got lots of kisses and hugs from my little on as we read. A must have book for Mothers Day! |
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One day a fantastic idea pops into Professor McQuark’s head to create an ‘Oojamaflip’ but what is one and will it win her first prize at the town science fair? BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Yipee!! My new books have arrived today. I open the parcel and pick out the first one I would like to read.Professor McQuark and the Oojamaflip grabs my attention straight way. I like the inventor on the front page, the book is also blue which is my favourite colour. The book is about a professor who makes an invention and then takes that invention to the science fair…the invention she makes is to big to fit through any of the doors at the science fair so the professor has to park it in the car park. Everyone comes out to the car park at the end of the story to see the Oojamaflip. I like the inventor in the book because she is funny, she wears odd socks and only one shoe…I point this out to my mum on every page. The book is really colourful and the pictures are really good. I was a little disappointed that the book ended so quickly I wanted to read more. Mummy thinks the book is great for any child into wacky science and inventions. |
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It’s Zebra’s birthday but the crocs are not invited! Chomper, Snapper and Cruncher want to eat everyone up, but without an invitation, they must come up with a plan to get into that party! But they didn’t realise that they would actually end up enjoying themselves a little bit too much! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Wow mummy a book about crocodiles! Crocodiles are naughty, will the crocodiles in this book be naughty like in Peter Pan?? I was really excited to read my new book Strictly No Crocs by Heather Pindar, my favourite DVD at the moment is Peter Pan so anything to do with pirates and crocodiles gets my attention. This book is about a zebra having a birthday party and inviting everyone to the party but not the crocodiles. The crocodiles decide to sneak into the party so they can eat everyone! The crocodile dress in disguise so no one will notice them. At the party the crocodiles start to have lots of fun, they play on the bouncy castle and play pass-the-parcel. They sing happy birthday to zebra and then go home. They have fireworks and then the party is over. The crocodiles are sad to go home, I get sad when I have to leave parties too. On the way home the crocdiles say what a great time they had and then they realise they didn’t eat everyone! Don’t worry crocodiles you have Giraffes party next week! I loved the pictures in this book and I liked the funny clothes the crocodiles dressed up in to go to the party. This book really kept me interested and I enjoyed reading it with my mummy. |
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When rain comes to the parched African savannah, the animals use all their senses to track the storm. The porcupine smells rain in the air. The zebra sees lightning. The baboons hear thunder. The rhino feels the first drops. And the lion tastes the cool water. For a time, the grasslands abound with new green leaves, juicy fruits and fresh pools of water. But soon the hot sun dries out the land, and the animals must again wait for the next big rain. Manya Stojic's picture book debut is as satisfying and refreshing as the rain she describes. With paintings that are exuberant and saturated with colour and simple text that rolls off the tongue with pleasure and ease, here is a book parents and teachers will enjoy sharing again and again. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: First thing I notice about my new book is the front cover. On the cover of the book it has a monkey and rain drops. The rain drops are raised and I really like the feel of them, the raindrops are soft and smooth. |
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Join Teddy and his friends for a special occasion. Hip hip hooray it’s his birthday! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: I'm excited to start reading my new book Teddy's Birthday by Anne Faundez. My mum gave it to me as a boxing day treat this Christmas to get me away from the T.V and Christmas movies. |
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The ultimate guide to becoming a cowboy. This activity book contains maps of the cowboys' favourite stomping grounds, a dress-your-own-cowboy paper doll (with cut-out clothes, colonial spurs, woollies and batwing chaps), a talk-like-a-cowboy guide, a sheet of super-cool stickers, and real-life cowboy recipes to try cooking at home. And for when you're ready to become a cowboy, you can pick and choose your own ranch name. Beautiful illustrations and fun activities from illustrator Alice Lickens, who was awarded the prestigious Sendak Fellowship in 2012, make this an exquisite gift book to treasure, ideal for aspiring cowboys and cowgirls of all ages from 3 to 83. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Before I settle down to read my new book How to be a cowboy I run to my bedroom to put on my cowboy costume and hat. I love cowboys so I'm really excited to start reading. Wow this book is filled with stickers and fun things to do. This book teaches me lots and lots about being a cowboy. I learn what is on a ranch, I learn about the different types of horses and hats cowboys have. I even learn how to talk like a cowboy too! I learn how you can tell a lot about what a cowboy does for a living or where he lives just by the designs on his cowboy boots. My favourite cowboy boots are the ones with swallows and flowers on them as im a wild roaming cowboy ye ha! This book has recipes for me and mummy to cook and the book has a pull out cowboy and clothes so I can have a go at dressing a cowboy. Mummy enjoyed this activity book too. |
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After unhappily finding that his family are collectively known as 'a litter of pups', Pickles Pug travels far and wide to find an alternative name, meeting various new friends along the way. What great adventures lie ahead? Will this young pup get himself out of a pickle? BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Mummy keeps asking me to read my new book but I tell her the front is no good, it's not colourful and fun like the other books we read together. I start reading with mummy and I soon find that I like the story I want to keep reading about a curious pug pup named Pickles. Pickles is from a litter of pups but asks why are puppies called a litter they are not rubbish?! Pickles sets out to find out what other groups of animals are called. I find out that a group of owls is called a parliament, group of mice is called a mischief of mice and a group of fish is called a school...a school of fish was my favourite. Even though pickles is meeting new animals and finding out what there groups are called Pickles misses home so he heads back home to the litter of pups. Mum was right, I did enjoy my book once I started reading it :-) |
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Arnold doesn’t want to go to school…not without his pet whale! Luckily, his neighbour Dora is on his side and together they get the whale into various school situations. Their teacher, Mrs Oates, is not too impressed though! BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: Not without my whale is a book about a boy named Arnold who has a whale. Arnold wants to take his whale to school but everyone thinks his whale is to noisy, to wet, to big and to smelly to go school. Luckily Arnolds neighbour Dora is on hand to help and she has all kinds of ideas to make it possible for the whale to go to school with Arnold. The drawings are really good in this book and I did like it that Arnold made new friends other than whale in the end. |
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Danny and Dinosaur want to watch telly but Mum won't let them until they've tidied their room. So Danny thinks of a plan to make all the mess go away - he gets Dino to eat it all up! But just when they think they can get away with it, there's a rumble in Dino's tummy - another EXPLOSIVE adventure is about to begin. BUY IT ON AMAZON Review: This book is about a little boy named Danny who has a dinosaur for a friend. Danny wants to watch cartoons but his mum say no...not untill he cleans his bedroom. When Danny goes to tidy his room he can see it will take him ages to clean so decides to get dinosaur to eat all of the mess instead. The dinosaur eats everything including the hamster and the the cage, even Dannys bed. When all has been eaten Danny realises he can't get out of his bedroom to watch cartoons as dinosaurs belly has got so big it's blocking his bedroom door! Dinosaur has got so full he's about to pop, he can't control his bum anymore so he poops everywhere. I laughed so much I almost wet myself, it was so funny even my 5 year old cousin was laughing. Mum had the giggles and daddy too! Mum thought it was pretty cool that two guys from the band mcfly could write such a funny book about poop. |