Agatha Parrot and the Floating Head: Agatha Parrot Series, Book 1 [Kindle Edition]

Agatha Parrot is a brilliant character with a bright and witty voice. She narrates her own story (which is why the book is described as 'typed out neatly by Kjartan Poskitt' - Agatha is the author and Poskitt has just recorded her story for her). As a first-person story, Agatha introduces us to her friends before the story properly begins, and she is able to lead the reader through in quite an explicit way, which is good for newly independent readers as well as fitting with her quirky style.

The plot concerns Agatha's class, who are going to be taken on a special trip as a reward for all having full attendance for the half term. Agatha's friend Martha has an incident with a crazy pizza (octopus paste...) and gets sick. Naturally, Agatha has to pretend that Martha is not sick and is at school, with the help of a balloon, Martha's coat and some newspaper-stuffed trousers. Hilarity ensues as she battles to save the class trip.

This series is bound to be compared with Mr Gum, as they share an illustrator, but I would say that this book is somewhat gentler in its humour than Mr Gum. At the same time, although the main characters are girls, this is not a girly-girl book - Agatha is too feisty for sparkly pink princessy fluffiness, I should think! The plot is crazy and hilarious, but it isn't as far-fetched as Mr Gum, possibly due to its school setting. I felt it was more like Kes Gray's recent Daisy chapter books in tone and style.

Overall, I found this a really entertaining read, which had us laughing out loud in a couple of places (I shared it with my seven-year-old daughter). The plot is appropriately simple and linear and although I knew what was likely to happen (my daughter didn't of course), the delivery itself was so funny and well-delivered.

I bought this for my 8-year old daughter for Christmas and she loved it. She really related to the characters and spent a long time explaining to me which of her friends were most like the different girls in the story. She devoured it in two evenings even though she is not the most enthusiastic reader. That is the only negative point - it was over too quickly; there are 190 pages but not many words on each page. It does mean she is keen to get the sequel with her Christmas money.

My 6 year old and I stumbled across this book the week it was published and have loved reading it together. Brilliantly illustrated and told in the first person by Agatha Parrot, the direct-to-reader voice really appeals and the antics are harmless, fun and believable. Definitely makes a welcome change from Horrid Henry - and this is one for the girls. Reminds me a bit of Lauren Child's Clarice Bean, but different enough to stand on its own. We ended up rationing the chapters to make the story last and it made the nightly bedtime read more entertaining all round. Even our cats came in to listen! Looking forward to the next in the series.