The Spookoscope by Ceci Jenkinson
Another adventure for Oli and Skipjack and this time they are having a bit of trouble with ghosts! Lord and Lady Spiffing own a great big haunted mansion but the roof is falling down and they have to rely on money from tourists to keep the building upright. They have hired Madame Moonbeam a clairvoyant (and fraud) to tempt their spiritual ancestors into spooking all these visitors but even so they just can not keep their heads above the water and it looks like Lord Spiffing will have to face a fate worse than death; selling his prize cow, Mildred.
So when the boys come and visit bringing their Spookoscope with them and see a real ghost who happens to know the secret location of some hidden treasure, the Spiffing's invite them to stay the weekend and help find it. However there are two BIG problems. First of all, the devious Madame Moonbeam is out to sabotage their attempts so that she doesn't end up unemployed and secondly, Skipjack is being haunted. The nasty and smelly werewolf ghost, Norman, has sworn to haunt the boy forever if he does not help him get revenge on Lord Spiffing for old grievances before the weekend is over. The two heroes must find the treasure, outwit Viola Moonbeam, find some way to save Skipjack and get the Spookoscope back to Oli's brother, on pain of a fate worse than death, before it's to late!
The third outing for Oli and Skipjack, this is definitely the best one yet! The story is never falters and is tremendously entertaining as the plot falls cleverly into place. Ceci Jenkinson also has a real talent for making her readers laugh, the book is riddled with jokes for both children and adults but she also writes in such a way that her amusing scenes spring to life before the reader. The characters are great, especially the quirky Lord and Lady Spiffing with Lord S having a strange penchant for sharp axes and a love of all things cow related. The ghosts are by not at all frightening, with fantastically funny and slightly ridiculous behaviour. It's difficult to be afraid of a ghost when it's being sucked up someone's nose!
Ceci Jenkinson really knows how to write for children and has created a fun and entertaining book for kids that is also quite educational with no fear of using big difficult words. It's perfect for adults to read to their child or can also be easily enjoyed alone.
Our thanks to Faber for sending us a copy.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass.
So when the boys come and visit bringing their Spookoscope with them and see a real ghost who happens to know the secret location of some hidden treasure, the Spiffing's invite them to stay the weekend and help find it. However there are two BIG problems. First of all, the devious Madame Moonbeam is out to sabotage their attempts so that she doesn't end up unemployed and secondly, Skipjack is being haunted. The nasty and smelly werewolf ghost, Norman, has sworn to haunt the boy forever if he does not help him get revenge on Lord Spiffing for old grievances before the weekend is over. The two heroes must find the treasure, outwit Viola Moonbeam, find some way to save Skipjack and get the Spookoscope back to Oli's brother, on pain of a fate worse than death, before it's to late!
The third outing for Oli and Skipjack, this is definitely the best one yet! The story is never falters and is tremendously entertaining as the plot falls cleverly into place. Ceci Jenkinson also has a real talent for making her readers laugh, the book is riddled with jokes for both children and adults but she also writes in such a way that her amusing scenes spring to life before the reader. The characters are great, especially the quirky Lord and Lady Spiffing with Lord S having a strange penchant for sharp axes and a love of all things cow related. The ghosts are by not at all frightening, with fantastically funny and slightly ridiculous behaviour. It's difficult to be afraid of a ghost when it's being sucked up someone's nose!
Ceci Jenkinson really knows how to write for children and has created a fun and entertaining book for kids that is also quite educational with no fear of using big difficult words. It's perfect for adults to read to their child or can also be easily enjoyed alone.
Our thanks to Faber for sending us a copy.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass.
