Mr. Stink - Softcover

Quentin Blakeis a well-known artist whose work has made him popular on both sides of the Atlantic. He has illustrated most of Roald Dahls childrens books as well as many others. He lives in London, where he teaches illustration at the Royal College of Art.

*Starred Review* Not to put too fine a point on it, but Mr. Stink stinks! “He was,” author Walliams tells us, “the stinkiest stinker who ever lived.” Why? Well, perhaps it’s because he is homeless—unless you can call the old wooden bench on which he spends all his time a home. No one ever speaks to him until the day that a sweet-natured little girl named Chloe says hello. This sets in motion a series of often hilariously funny events that involve not only Chloe but her politically ambitious mother, her insufferable younger sister, a pompous television host, and even, yes, the prime minister himself (who turns out to be pretty insufferable, too). Walliams—a British comedian-actor-writer—has a gift for crafting memorable scenes and, in the person of Mr. Stink, has created a delightfully offbeat character who may have a secret past. The cheerfully rude tone that informs most of his story takes a sharp—and rather jarring—turn for the sentimental at the end, but young readers won’t care, while readers of all ages will be thrilled by the in-a-word perfect illustrations of the great Quentin Blake (who else could draw a picture of stink?). Grades 4-7. --Michael Cart