Measle and the Wrathmonk

Normally when presented with a celebrity’s children’s book the heart sinks – but Ian ‘The Saint’ Ogilvy’s first novel for children is a triumph, a hugely inventive Dahl-esque adventure in which the pace never flags and the reader’s attention never allowed to waver.

Measle is a miserable, mistreated orphan living with his thoroughly unpleasant, decidedly strange guardian Basil Tramplebone.  When Measle dares to play with his uncle’s fabulous model railway his life becomes even worse: Basil shrinks him to the size of one of the tiny figures on the model – and leaves him as a treat for his pet bat.  But Measle finds other miniaturised human victims of Tramplebone’s anger on the model and, with a resourcefulness and courage he never knew he had,  leads them in a desperate battle against bat, Basil – and finally Basil in the form of a giant cockroach.

Mould’s illustrations and even the glorious day-glo plastic cover add to the book’s irresistible appeal.