Sir Laughalot

Mitton’s ability to amuse and delight readers and listeners in rhyming verse is well-matched by brilliantly executed, funny illustrations in this picture book full of dragons, witches, giants, an imprisoned damsel in distress… and a knight who doesn’t quite behave as we might expect. Each page-turn becomes an adventure for the eyes as children search the pictures for details which add hugely to the humour of Mitton’s verse. Sir Laughalot and his dog set off to fight the dragon but instead of fighting, the Knight collapses in giggles because from each flaring nostril sprout weird and wiggly hairs. Encounters with the giant, and the scarey sorceress (‘Her brows are knitted in a scowl and on her shoulder squats an OWL’) end with more laughter, and eventually the witch demands the knight removes that giggly girl locked in her tower. How could the couple do anything but fall laughingly in love, marry and produce ‘chuckly twins who fill their lives with giggly grins’. This is a delight from start to finish, a fun-filled text with inspirational, comical pictures making a book sure to become a hot favourite.