Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading Level: Late Elementary, Middle School

With tongue-in-cheek, Pratchett creatively tickles the funny bone with characters who surprise and delight. You’ll read about Santa’s off-season job hunt, a time traveling bus, tiny carpet people, and a young couple in love who must navigate a competitive blindfolded dancing competition while trying not to step on eggs. The absurdity resembles Roald Dahl’s crazy characters, but I much prefer Pratchett’s more respectful treatment of human beings.

Potential concerns:

  • Mention of cussing. A reference to someone using swear words (though not explicitly stated)
  • Violence. The use of guns and threats: “I will blow your head off.”
  • Name calling, for examples: “Get him down you crazy booby,” “Woothing mouse sherters,” “Ninny gremblers,” “Beastly trespasser claim jumper”
  • Witch Doctor. One story is about a cave man and if I remember correctly, a witch doctor is mentioned in that one. This is not prominent in the overall book.

The humor is not for everyone, but I think some will laugh out loud and enjoy this creative, good-hearted fun.