Game Over

Benjamin Bird's Game Over is a spooky little early reader for 6 year olds about a boy who gets pulled right inside his own video game.

What happens

Arthur has been stuck on the last level for ages. Every time, the Maze Monster beats him. When he tries to switch the game off, it won't go. Instead a message pops up on the screen. YOU HAVE ONE LIFE REMAINING.

Who could resist a bonus life? Arthur presses start, the lights go out and the basement floor turns to brick. He's inside the maze. And somewhere close by, the monster is coming. THOMP! THOMP! THOMP!

It's a very short book, just three chapters, and it's full of big sound effects that are brilliant fun to read aloud. HUFF! CRACK! FWOOSH! Your reader will probably be doing the voices before you are.

Arthur's no pushover either. He's played this level before, so he tries to remember the right path (after one very close call with a pit full of snapping skeletons). Then a loose brick in the wall hides something useful. A flaming sword!

A heads-up on the ending. It doesn't tie everything up neatly. It's left open and a little bit creepy, which is really the point of the thing. A child who likes to know everyone's safe at bedtime might be happier reading it in the daytime. A child who loves a shiver will enjoy arguing about what really happened.

There's a helping hand at the back too. A short glossary explains words like "final boss", and there are questions to talk it through (plus some groan-worthy monster jokes).

For a gamer at home who's just finding their feet with reading, it's a clever way in. Everything they already know about levels and extra lives helps them follow the story.

What to read next

If they're after another quick scare, Scare Ball starts with a boy who wakes up with a small bite on his arm and hears something strange out on the basketball court.