Disgusting Dave and the Farting Dog by Jim Eldridge
| Disgusting Dave and the Farting Dog by Jim Eldridge | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Keith Dudhnath
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| Summary: Who can resist a title like that? There's a great mix of enjoyable story and fascinating fact which every young boy will love. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 208 | Date: June 2009 |
| Publisher: Hodder Children's Books | |
| ISBN: 978-0340981573 | |
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Dave is really disgusting. He has a collection of dandruff, ear wax, vomit, fleas, lice and bogies, that he loves to look at under the microscope. He's obsessed with everything to do with the human body. Everyone is repulsed by his actions, but Dave insists it's scientific. Things are about to get a lot more disgusting when Dave has to look after a farting dog for a week.
With a title like that, you know it's going to be a good book - or at least a funny book - and Disgusting Dave lived up to all expectations. It's a great read, perfect for romping through. It's a fun story too, and isn't just relying on the gross-out factor. Much like The Day My Bum Went Psycho by Andy Griffiths, the premise may hook in less confident readers, but they'll be richly rewarded when they stick with it. More confident readers will find it an engrossing and enjoyable read.
There are plenty of facts woven into the story too, which parents will have recited to them endlessly. The blend of fact and fiction is perfect. However, there is one error: the smell in farts doesn't come from the methane-producing bacteria. Methane is odourless. The smell comes from hydrogen sulphide amongst other things. It doesn't affect the enjoyment of the book though, even for fart pedants like me. All in all, readers will have a greater enjoyment and understanding of science as a result of reading Disgusting Dave.
Although you need to be of a disgusting enough mindset not to be entirely repulsed by the premise, there isn't anything unsuitable or excessively unpleasant. Any child (in particular grubby boys) will love reading it, love telling their mates about it, and love reciting all the facts that they've learnt from it. Recommended.
My thanks to the publisher for sending it to Bookbag.
There's plenty of further reading to pick from Bookbag's Top Ten Books For Children Who Think That Farts Are Funny, with the aforementioned The Day My Bum Went Psycho by Andy Griffiths a particular favourite. What's Eating You? by Nicola Davies and Neal Layton is a fascinating look at parasites, which children will love.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Disgusting Dave and the Farting Dog by Jim Eldridge at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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