Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
British comedy writer Pritchett makes her children's book debut with the story of a fearful boy named Wilf, whose life is upended when the "biddly boddly baddest man in the whole wide worlderoony" moves in next door. Full of invented words and tangential asides, Pritchett's over-the-top narration pulls readers to and fro as Wilf tries to put aside his many (many) fears to stop Alan and his Big Gun Thingy from destroying the planet. Pritchett plays Alan's villainy for laughs (early on he tells Wilf he's going to pave over his yard to make room for a hover-tank "powered by the sighs of orphans"), and while a familiarity with some British turns of phrase will be helpful, fans of cracked adventures from the likes of Andy Griffiths and Dav Pilkey will be right at home. Ages 6-9. © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-This British import will engage reluctant and avid readers alike with its wit and humor, despite the Briticisms. Wilf is an amusing and relatable character whose anxiety, or great "Big Old Worries," often leaves him questioning himself. When a strange man named Alan moves in next door, Wilf's mother sends him over to welcome the new neighbor-with his "How to Stop Worrying" leaflet in hand and his sticky sister, Dot, tagging along. It turns out that Alan's set on destroying the world with his "great big gun thingy," and though Wilf would rather hide under his blanket, it's up to him to save the day The lack of overly technical or scientific terminology, coupled with the illustrations, will engross readers further into the story as they laugh at Alan's ineptitude. Each bumbling mistake makes Wilf just a little bit braver, which makes this a wonderful choice for young readers prone to their own great big old worries. Wilf's story ends neatly but with a promise of a new and unique excursion in a second installment. VERDICT An enjoyable, laughable, and highly recommended title for any readers ready for a ragtag-style adventure-or anyone who has ducks wielding peanut butter sandwiches on their list of worries.-Ashley Prior, Lincoln Public Library, RI © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The arrival next door of a villain bent on destroying the world adds further worries to a neurotic lad's already long list. Wilf is initially inclined to discount new neighbor Alan's self-identification as "an evil lunatic." He is forced to change his mind after rescuing little sister Dot from being loaded into a bazooka, getting a gander at Alan's high-tech underground lair, and hearing him trumpet a scheme to blast the world with a Powerful All-Nuclear Terror System ("Just wait till I unleash the true horror of my PANTS!"). Thumb firmly on the laffs button, Pritchett, a TV comedy writer, pitches her "staggerblasted" young worrier into one "kerfuffle" after another. The feckless but monomaniacal malefactor repeatedly tries to unleash widespread destructiononly to be foiled by either a slacker minion or, twice, something sticky shoved down the barrel of his Big Gun Thingy. Along with typographical high jinks, the tale features both plenty of comically melodramatic cartoon illustrations and silly drawings that Wilf makes to defuse his many anxieties. By the end, said hang-ups have lost much of their old force. Alan may be fitted with a wife and other appurtenances of adulthood, but he's really a tantrum-prone 2-year-old, and readers will easily see through the disguise. A breezy mixture of low humor and high (if brief) suspense. (Farce. 9-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
