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

Monday 24 January 2022

Review: Read This Book and Never Fart Again

The Fart Monster is back.

In this book he seems to have had a change of heart away from ongoing flatulence.

Or has he?

A poor (unnamed) child had been embarrassed when he farted in class and his peers used it as an opportunity to tease him.

In desperation, he turns to the Fart Monster, who puts his efforts into teaching him the various ways to abstain from tootin' trumpets and bottom bazookas forever.

The Fart Monster takes him through a series of exercises, each guaranteed to eliminate under-thunder and roars from the rear.

Maybe.
The narrative is told in comic book style, a dialogue between the monster proposing progressively more bizarre and silly ways to stop farting and the child enthusiastically adopting each suggestion.

To no avail of course.

In the end, the Fart Monster normalizes what is a perfectly healthy - albeit funny - bodily function. One that is impossible to eliminate altogether.

Stanton's bold, cartoonish illustrations are minimalist and cute and depict the child's embarrassment and growing skepticism beautifully, despite the limited colour palette.

Title: Read This Book and Never Fart Again
Author: Tim Miller
Illustrator: Matt Stanton
Publisher: HarperCollins, $19.99
Publication Date:
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780733339042 
For ages: 3 years +
Type: Picture Book