Captain Awesome vs. the Evil Babysitter

Stan Kirby's eleventh Captain Awesome book is a funny, slightly chaotic story for 5 year olds about a boy whose perfect weekend is ruined by a babysitter.

What happens

Eugene has BIG weekend plans. He's even written down the three best things about weekends (no homework, no homework and no homework).

Then on Saturday morning there are two suitcases by the front door. His parents are off to a work conference. Aunt Beatrice, who was meant to look after him, has hurt herself opening a tin of Spam. And the replacement is a teenager called Melissa.

Melissa has only one rule. Stay in the house or the garden, and no going to anyone else's. Somehow that one rule also comes with carrots and celery at lunch and a bedroom to tidy.

Do you remember being convinced a babysitter was the worst person alive? Eugene goes a step further. In Captain Awesome vs. the Evil Babysitter, she's a full supervillain with Babysitter Radar.

His attempts to get a message to Charlie and Sally are the best part. He tries telepathy (he's sure he felt a tingle). He tries his cape's powers of invisibility. He tries a secret sock-puppet code using a week-old sock, which Charlie, as usual, never properly learnt.

There's also a surprise at lunch about who Melissa is related to, which Eugene takes about as well as you'd expect.

It all builds to a battle with popcorn, spaghetti and a bowl of salad in the living room. You'll have to read it to find out who wins.

It's worth knowing that Eugene does break Melissa's rule and leave the garden, and his friends squirt her with canned cheese at the front door. It's all played for laughs. If you've got a child who'd happily copy a food fight, though, maybe read this one together first (and hide the spaghetti).

You'll meet Mom and the yard, as it's an American book. Underneath the mess there's a nice little point about not judging someone before you know them.

What to read next

If they like a grown-up who might secretly be a baddie, try Captain Awesome vs the Sinister Substitute Teacher. A booming stranger turns up in Ms Beasley's place on a Monday morning, and the Squad are sure something is very wrong.