About the Author

Morris Gleitzman grew up in England and came to Australia when he was sixteen. He was a frozen chicken thawer, sugar mill rolling stock unhooker, fashion industry trainee, student, department store Santa, TV producer, newspaper columnist and freelance screen-writer. Then in 1985 he wrote a novel for young people. Now he's a children's author.

Reviews

Gr 3-6-The first title in a trilogy (Worry Warts and Puppy Fat) written and read by Australian author Morris Gleitzman, it features Keith Shipley as the optimistic preteen protagonist. Keith's discouraged and somewhat crabby parents run a fish and chips shop in London, and when the shop burns down due to Keith' carelessness, he convinces his parents to carry out his dream of moving to Australia. Hoping for paradise, they find themselves adjusting to new, but manageable, circumstances. Keith's new friend, Tracy, conspires with Keith to "hide" the negatives of the area from Keith's parents, convinced that they won't want to stay if everything isn't perfect. Eventually, Keith confronts his own pessimism and how it affects other, and realizes that no place is perfect and life is good for those who choose to make the best of things. The story contains several references that are distinctly English (quid, fishmonger, bloke), but listeners will have no problem deciphering the meaning from contextual clues. A few references to dated items (record players, slide projectors, and television shows) don't detract from the story line, and may lead to class discussions. The text, rich with similes and metaphors, can inspire students to be more creative in their own writing. Perfect for individual or group listening, this title will be a solid addition to audio collections for upper elementary students.-Kirsten Martindale, formerly Menomonie Public Library, WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

In these companion novels, Keith tackles his troubles in a loopy but wholehearted fashion. When he perceives that his parents' fish-and-chips shop in England is making them both miserable, the boy realizes that drastic action is called for. He paints the shop mango orange; his labors don't even raise a smile. Then Keith accidentally leaves a fryer on and the business burns down. He knows it's his chance to get the family to move to a sunnier, happier clime--Australia. In the second book, Keith has a fresh set of worries in the new shop, as his parents grow unhappy again. The two books combine a cheeky brand of humor with a sensible, tolerant attitude toward the emotional ups and downs of family life. A few odd words and phrases notwithstanding (``fossicker,'' ``mullock heaps''), Gleitzman's ( Two Weeks with the Queen ) colorful phraseology (``you daft bugger''; ``cockatoos playing chess in Gympie'') and his hero's quirky antics make these novels fine choices for middle-school readers. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)