Wigglesbottom Primary: Dino Chick; Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Becka Moor

There’s never a dull moment at Wigglesbottom Primary and Miss Riley’s class are up their usual tricks in the seventh book in the series.

There’s lots happening for the children of class 2R at Wigglesbottom Primay School. In the classroom, there’s a mysterious coloured egg that a dinosaur could hatch out of at any moment. A new girl with a big secret has joined the class and needs showing around school. And if they don’t bake lots and lots of cupcakes then the parts of the school may close. What are 2R going to do? Have a lot of fun…

Like cheese and pineapple, Pamela Butchart and funny are words that go perfectly together and this seventh title in the series is another fabulously funny read. Her latest three stories about the life of the children of class 2R and their teacher Miss. Riley, are exciting, engaging and best of all, loaded with enough rib-tickling and funny moments to make you fall of your chair.

As you would expect from Butchart, the stories are brilliant and nail life at primary school absolutely perfectly. There’s rule breaking, classroom politics, the danger and fear of approaching the forbidden staffroom, the idea that the teacher toilets are glamorous, the silence that descends when there’s a knock on the classroom door and the knowing that Miss. Riley is serious because she used her stern voice. As a primary school teacher, I was merrily giggling away as I turned every page and could see the kids I have taught replacing the kids in the story.

The familiar setting and all of the situations in which the classmates find themselves will be relatable to young readers as will the unique view of the world that the kids of 2R have. The action is loaded with misunderstandings that turn the mundane into the wacky and wild as the children’s imaginations spiral out of control and lead to funny moments galore. It is easy for children to see themselves in the story and that’s what they will love about it - all of the things could easily happen to them!

Butchart’s classroom capers have the perfect accompaniment in Becka Moor’s artwork. Illustrated throughout in shades of green, the action is bursting with fun, mischief and mayhem.

If you’re looking for laugh-out-loud early chapter books for children, Pamela Butchart and the Wigglesbottom Primary series is a very good place to start (books can be read in any order).

Recommended for 6+.​