Roddy Doyle is best known for his adult literature. He won the Booker Prize in 1993 for Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. He is a popular Irish author, whose books I have bought and shelved. I do not know why. But there is one book of his that refuses to remain on the shelf and that is The Giggler Treatment, one of his children's short chapter books.
There of my children (ages 7-11) seem to read it in between every other book they read.
So, finally I picked it up. It is a crazy book that focuses on poo and the creatures who seem to put it in people's paths. The book is about the creatures who defend children against the nastiness of adults. Doyle seems to have targeted the humour correctly. The children, of both sexes, think it is hilarious! Brian Ajhar's illustrations add to the funniness of it, as well.
It is not a book to read aloud because as an adult, you might ruin the mood, if you don't think it is so funny. This is one of those books, like Harry Potter, where you hand it over and don't look at it again. The only difference is that this is a 107 short pages long. A quick read, apparently well worth it.
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