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The Gaskitts
The Children Who Smelled A Rat
Early chapter book readers will chuckle their way through Allan Ahlberg's latest madcap tale about the resilient Gaskitts, in which Gus and Gloria take center stage.
In this thrilling and amusing Gaskitts story, Mrs. Gaskitt finds a very peculiar package, Mr. Gaskitt loses a baby in a shopping cart, Horace the cat has mixed feelings about a bird, and the twins' beloved teacher, Mrs. Fritter — ooer! — is not herself. Why? How? When? And why does everyone keep looking the other way? Tune in for the astonishing answers in this silly story of the ever-surprising Gaskitt family, illustrated with comic finesse by Katharine McEwen.
In this thrilling and amusing Gaskitts story, Mrs. Gaskitt finds a very peculiar package, Mr. Gaskitt loses a baby in a shopping cart, Horace the cat has mixed feelings about a bird, and the twins' beloved teacher, Mrs. Fritter — ooer! — is not herself. Why? How? When? And why does everyone keep looking the other way? Tune in for the astonishing answers in this silly story of the ever-surprising Gaskitt family, illustrated with comic finesse by Katharine McEwen.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published July 12, 2005
About the author
Allan Ahlberg
348books155followersAllan Ahlberg is one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-sellingJolly Postmanseries. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's authorJanet Ahlberg,with whom he often worked. Their daughter,Jessica Ahlberg,is also a children's author.
For more information, please seehttp://www.answers.com/topic/allan-ah...
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's authorJanet Ahlberg,with whom he often worked. Their daughter,Jessica Ahlberg,is also a children's author.
For more information, please seehttp://www.answers.com/topic/allan-ah...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 21, 2008
Several stories occur in this non linear book about multiple characters having a bad day. A father chases his runaway baby, student tries to figure out why their teacher’s personality has changed and a mom returns strange packages left in her taxi over the course of the tale.
I found the actual stories in the book to be rather silly and rambling; however the book is very amusing to read. The footnotes and captions require paying close attention to the words of the page. Therefore, I believe children just beginning to read chapter books would find this a fun read.
Sophisticated language indicates the higher intended grade level; “enigma” “affronted.” Although the book contains chapters, the pictures are filled with illustrations that occur around, in between and sometimes on top of the text. Drawings are done in a cartoon style. Also text is very quirky; changing size font, italics, excessive footnotes, dialogue is handwritten. Book has a high level of self awareness, directly addresses the students- has a very interactive feel. Extensive usage of cliques: “they smelled a rat” “enough room to swing a cat” Onomatopoeia- Teachers names indicate their personalities: “Mrs. Doom”
I found the actual stories in the book to be rather silly and rambling; however the book is very amusing to read. The footnotes and captions require paying close attention to the words of the page. Therefore, I believe children just beginning to read chapter books would find this a fun read.
Sophisticated language indicates the higher intended grade level; “enigma” “affronted.” Although the book contains chapters, the pictures are filled with illustrations that occur around, in between and sometimes on top of the text. Drawings are done in a cartoon style. Also text is very quirky; changing size font, italics, excessive footnotes, dialogue is handwritten. Book has a high level of self awareness, directly addresses the students- has a very interactive feel. Extensive usage of cliques: “they smelled a rat” “enough room to swing a cat” Onomatopoeia- Teachers names indicate their personalities: “Mrs. Doom”
June 6, 2019
A very humorous series at the early reader end of the chapter book range. The entire Gaskitts family (father, mother, a set of nine-year-old boy/girl twins, and the cat) appears in all four books within this series, but each book features a different character as the main focus. This story highlights the twins. As a children's writer, I know how difficult is it to tell a fully fleshed-out and entertaining story suitable for emerging readers; Allan Ahlberg does a commendable job.
September 3, 2015
It probably took 15 minutes to read this children's fiction book, it was full of pictures, and it was definitely my kind of quirky humor! I hope my fellow goodreaders will pick this up, read it, and give it to their kids to read. My question is: will kids appreciate this book and its humor?
February 24, 2017
I like this book and it is a funny book
January 11, 2011
This is a funny, but scattered story that is the fourth in a series of books about the Gaskitt Family. We jumped into the middle of the series withThe Cat Who Got Carried Away.We read that one a long time ago (okay, well it was just over a year and a half ago, but that is an eon to our girls) so our girls didn't remember it, but I did. I remember liking the story then and I was excited to read this one. I didn't think of the previous story as particularly British, but this one just begs to be read with an English accent. We enjoyed the story; the silly bits are strange, but rife with British humor and the diverse but parallel plots sort of come together in the end. I think the last book was a bit more coherent and this one left us with a lot of unanswered questions (just what was that big hole in the garden for?!?) But overall, we enjoyed the story. It's a fast read.
Read
July 16, 2011This fun, exciting book is a story of the Gaskitt family who experiences quite an eventful week. The whole family goes through many exciting things during this one particular day. I read this book to my eight year old and we laughed most of the way through it! I thought the pictures were a great accent to book and the story was very entertaining. It had short chapters, and some pages had a lot of words, but the writing style was very captivating to young readers.
July 3, 2018
Amusing story for younger readers is another well crafted tale from Ahlberg who I have found rather impressive in my limited exposure. It is not one of these marketed towards a specific gender which is great and has humour which child and adult reader will both enjoy, if parents are reading with to too their children. Good fun here.
Want to read
July 21, 2011Allyson Holt had this book listed on her goodreads. This sounds like a very fun book for students to read. While children need to learn, it is important that sometimes they read for fun. I look forward to reading this book.
July 4, 2014
More than a little disjointed with so much going on that it's hard to follow the story (stories), but still silly enough to be fun. I'm not sure that anything is actually ever resolved in the book but it was a fun way to pass the time and is something that beginning readers will love.
November 30, 2017
This book made me giggle. A cheeky bird, a dominated cat, a baby on the loose. And what has happened to Mrs Fritter??
Little touches like Ahlberg bigging himself up at the bottom of the pages -brilliant.
Little touches like Ahlberg bigging himself up at the bottom of the pages -brilliant.
July 16, 2014
These are great fun with the maps, the adventures, the crazy plots.
Want to read
July 19, 2011Allyson Holt commented that this book made her and her kids laugh the whole way through. I am interested to see what kind of funny adventures the Gaskitt family encountered over a week's time.
Want to read
July 21, 2011Allyson Holt recommended this book. She mentioned how the children have lots of antics, and it sounds a lot like what my life is with children. I am sure we will all enjoy it!
Read
May 2, 2013I WANT HORACE THE HERO!
April 25, 2014
Humorous and enjoyable for kids.
January 8, 2020
The Gaskitts books are a good next step for early readers who are ready for a slightly longer book.
August 19, 2015
A strange book with several interwoven stories about the Gaskitt Family, evil twins, a runaway baby, and a hypnotic bird.
June 22, 2018
Well written, at least in individual sentences. It tried to do something different in the storybook world and almost succeeded, but there just was too much build up to nothing, all of this suspense leading up to a very unsatisfying end.
April 14, 2023
Super cute, funny, easy to read. Love the illustrations and layout, loved the story. Would love to read more of the Gaskitt stories.
August 28, 2023
Grandchildren were so excited to listen to this before bed. Grandson told everyone all about it. Now we need the next two in series.
January 23, 2011
This is a sequel to "The Man Who Wore All His Clothes". Since my entire family liked that book, we had high hopes for this one and purchased it sight unseen. Yes there are some mildly funny parts, like a bird who orders a cat about, but the main plot thread is about an elementary school teacher who is imprisoned in the basement of her own house by her own sister. How creepy is that?
June 16, 2012
Odd little children's story. But fun to read anyway.
October 31, 2013
Good vocabulary. Great for beginner chapter book readers.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews