CHILDREN’S book of the week
MATT MILLZ STANDS UP!
by Harry Hill, Faber & Faber, hardback £10.99, ebook £6.98
YEARS of erring on the side of surreal have really paid off for Harry Hill in his Matt Millz series.
We meet up with 12-year-old comic Matt Mills (stage name Millz) who has shot to fame overnight after an appearance on talent show The T Factor.
He was disqualified for being too young – but not before he stormed his stand-up set.
What happens to the youngster after he becomes famous? Can Matt keep his star on the rise or will he crash and burn?
Hill has weaved some of the pitfalls of the stand-up’s working life into a credible and enjoyable story.
Showing the ups and downs of being a gigging comedian, he has a team of friends on board – special mention for the uber wise 11-year-old entertainments manager Kitty, who comes across as not only old for her years, but also relatable when she could have just as easily been annoying.
Extra points for the inclusion of comedian breakdowns too, what a way to introduce some of the best funny talent from the last 60 years to a whole new generation.
LEGO HARRY POTTER HOGWARTS GREAT HALL
RRP £89.99, now £84.99 at John Lewis and Smyths Toys
KIDS can build a Hogwarts four-level tower, featuring a movable grand staircase, a potions room, a treasure room with a chest, and a turret featuring
CRA-Z-SLIMY CREATIONS SUPER SLIME STUDIO
RRP £29.99, now
£23.99 from Very.co.uk
GARY says: “Slime has been a craze, and most of what’s been bought has been tubs of green slime for a few pounds. But the Slime Studio gives children the ability to make their own in different colours, and they can add things to it, like glitter. It takes slime to another level and will have wide appeal this year.”
HARRY POTTER TRAINING WAND
RRP £24.99, now £19.99 at Amazon, Smyths HARRY POTTER fans can cast their own spells with this wand. There are 11 different spells for kids to
FINGERLINGS UNTAMED JAILBREAK T-REX PLAYSET
£24.99, from Smyths
THIS special cage comes with a T-rex called Infrared, who has eyes that glow in the dark. Contain him if you can, but if you pull the lever, he’ll bust out of his cage.
PAW PATROL ULTIMATE FIRE TRUCK
RRP £69.99, now £49.99 from Amazon, Smyths, The Entertainer and Very FOR pre-schoolers, this fire engine is the new Paw Patrol item. Gary says: “It’s everything a kiddie would expect of a fire engine – “THE big craze of the year, which I’d almost describe as a phenomenon as it’s been absolutely outstanding, is L.O.L,” says Gary. “It’s an unwrapping concept, a bit like pass-the-parcel – you strip off the layers and between them, there are different items like a little handbag or a hat that you collect, and when you get to the middle, you generally end up with a doll.