Alfie Small: Serpents and Scarecrows

Review also includes:

Alfie Small: Captain Thunderbolt and the Jelloids!, 978-1849921220

There’s exuberance in abundance in these two stories about Alfie Small, who, as a famous explorer, is fast following in the footsteps of renowned older cousin, Charlie Small. In Serpents and Scarecrows, an encounter with a gigantic snake turns nasty for Alfie, and his dog Jed, until he gets his head into gear and remembers his packet of itching powder. From that moment, all sorts of madcap adventures unfold and an assortment of odd-ball characters, not least a terrifying scarecrow, enter the scene. In Captain Thunderbolt and the Jelloids, a rocket propels him and Jed to space, where they clash with evil green creatures, encounter courageous Captain Ace Thunderbolt and go to the rescue of the inhabitants of planet Burble.

Alfie’s fantasy world is set apart from the humdrum of everyday life, and so made credible to the reader. Adventure, in both stories, happens only when he explores the bottom of the garden. There, he stumbles upon a strange contraption among the weeds and long grasses. He jumps into it and is instantly whizzed into an imaginary world, returning to reality when his mum calls him for tea. Endlessly inventive, the stories are boisterous and visual, with imaginative and colourful illustrations mirroring their upbeat tone.