George Brown, Class Clown 2 – Trouble Magnet

Nancy Krulik's Trouble Magnet is a laugh-out-loud school story for 6 year olds about a class clown who's given up clowning, apart from the bits his burps make him do.

What happens

This is the second George Brown, Class Clown book. George has moved schools again because his dad's in the army, and he's promised himself a fresh start. No pranks. No funny faces behind the teacher's back. Hand up before he speaks.

It would all be going very nicely if it weren't for the super burp. He once wished on a shooting star and only got half of what he asked for. Now a magic burp can pop up at any moment and take charge of his arms and legs. George never knows when it'll strike or what it'll make him do.

In this one it has a lot to work with. There's a hula lesson in the gym (George turns it into a snake swallowing a rat). There's a recess where he climbs a tree and chatters at a squirrel, Tarzan-style, while the head teacher shouts up at him. And there's a Hawaii project with Alex, a clay volcano that's supposed to erupt at exactly the right moment.

You can guess how that goes. Red jelly lava EVERYWHERE, and a best friend who's properly cross with him.

Meanwhile George has talked his way into a band with show-off Louie, just in time for the school talent show. He even comes up with the band's name, the Runny Noses (after watching Max wipe his nose and make the sandwiches). Yuck! The band practices are some of the funniest scenes, with Louie insisting on being leader, lead singer and chief counter-in.

What makes George so likeable is that he really does try. He wants to be helpful and he keeps saying sorry for things that aren't his fault. The falling out with Alex is sorted out kindly too, which is a nice little lesson in friendship without any preaching.

The language is very playful. Bubbles "bing-bonged" and "ping-ponged" around his belly, and the gags are the kind that get repeated at teatime (how DO you catch a squirrel?). The setting is very American, with recess and fourth grade, but nothing a young reader will trip over.

What to read next

If this has them giggling at burps and snotty sandwiches, there's plenty more of that with Dirty Bertie, whose school dinners get so healthy that he calls a strike.