'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Saturday 6 April 2019

Review: Fing

David Walliams is back with another hilarious adventure that will have kids giggling their way from beginning to end. This one is aimed at a slightly younger audience than most of his novels, with less text and more illustrations by the talented Tony Ross.

The story centres on the Meek family. Mr and Mrs Meek, who are quiet, sensible librarians, and their daughter Myrtle.

Mr and Mrs Meek like to keep a peaceful household, and do their best to avoid confrontation with their strong willed child. Myrtle, on the other hand, is very good at loudly demanding everything she wants. And more and more and more of it.

But what can a child ask for, when they already have everything they could possibly need, and more? Well, a Fing, of course.

What, might you ask, is a Fing? Mr and Mrs Meek ask that very same question. In fact, they go straight to the library to find out, determined to avoid another outburst from their spoiled offspring. Eventually, having exhausted all the books in the library, they dare to venture where they know they are not allowed to step foot… the ancient vaults of the library.

In this most secret and forbidden place they stumble across The Monsterpedia, a terrifying book of long extinct and mythical creatures that are revolting, disgusting and horrifying. In this most unlikely of places, they discover the dreadful truth of a Fing. But surely, they could never find a REAL one, could they?

And so begins an adventure so bizarre and hilarious that the kids will not be able to read this book quietly, or put it down until it is finished!

To engage younger, or more reluctant readers, Tony Ross’s brilliant illustrations appear on almost every page. These images, along with clever use of text positioning and fonts to emphasise words, will really draw kids into the hilarity of the story. The illustrations are an integral part of this book, creating their own humour with over the top characters, expressions and moments.

Walliams certainly has a knack for knowing what kids find funny. This book is full of laugh out loud moments for independent readers as young as six, through to upper primary and lower secondary school fans of Walliams' humour.


Title: Fing
Author: David Walliams
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: HarperCollins, $19.95
Publication Date: 22 February 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780008349080
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction