Laura Norder: Sheriff of Butts Canyon; Guy Bass, illustrated by Steve May

We all know that rules are good right? But having too many rules can be a bit problematic as Laura Norder is about to find out.

In the lawless Wild West the only rules are that there are no rules….except in Butts Canyon. After successfully running Ten Gun Ben out of town, self-appointed sheriff, Laura Norder - who has a love for rules - has imposed her Golden Rules on the townsfolk. Spitting, littering, running, trouble making, yee-hawing and horse hassling will all be dealt with by the firm hand of the law.

Sheriff is her name and ruling with an iron fist is her game. But when Duncan Disorderly, the most wanted bandit in the Wild West, rides into town, he brings chaos and causes havoc and is seemingly on a mission to break every single one of the Golden Rules. Facing a challenge to her authority, can Laura Norder run the masked mischief-maker out of town before Butts Canyon is completely destroyed…

More hilarious fabulousness from duo Guy Bass and Steve May. Laura Norder is a non-stop, action-packed read of hijinks in the Wild West. The Wild West is perfectly captured with dusty streets, Wanted posters, a bustling saloon, bandits and a totally bad-ass sheriff keeping law and order.

Laura is bossy, brilliant and has a complete disregard for the adults of the town. The rest of the characters are a rip-roaring pun-fest, personal favourites are Jen Errol who runs the General Store, Precious Little the gold prospector and Mort L. Coil the undertaker. Tad Tipsy the barman, Snippy Clippy the barber and Walter Spitty the bad-mannered man are all guaranteed to invoke plenty of giggles.

As well as being an absolutely wild read that will have children in fits of laughter it is a clever and lively exploration of what happens when rules get out of hand and people find themselves trapped by authority and unable to make decisions - and mistakes - on their own. I really like that from a silly story, serious discussions on people living under oppressive regimes and the power of people to change the system and challenge authority could easily arise.

True to Barrington Stoke form, the book is produced using dyslexic friendly font and colours ensuring a read that is accessible to every reader. The short chapters, the well-spaced out text  and lively illustrations are great for supporting children in building up their reading stamina.

Recommended for 8+.