Tom Gates – Best Book Day Ever! (so far)

Liz Pichon's Tom Gates Best Book Day Ever (so far) is a funny school story for 9 year olds about Tom's BIG plans for a homemade costume.

What happens

Tom is so excited about the school's book week that Mum checks whether he's ill. There are costumes to make and a prize he would very much like to win. This time he's going as an Alien Scale Monster.

Last year's attempt ended up covered in Christmas wrapping paper when Mum ran out of foil. Who doesn't love to look like a giant present? Tom certainly wasn't keen (and his sister Delia wasn't much help).

So he's getting started early this year. His best mate Derek needs costume ideas too. Between them there's plenty of enthusiasm, although having a snack comes before any serious thinking.

Anyone who reads these books will know that it's literally like being inside Tom's head. You hear his cheekiness and his versions of events will have readers laughing out loud for sure.

He's very happy to tell you how annoying everyone else is. Then he'll wind up Marcus by pretending to misunderstand his superhero costume idea. You get all the little thoughts he keeps to himself as well as the things he says out loud (he knew what Marcus meant all along).

If you've got a child who comes home with a LOT to say about their day, you'll probably recognise some of this. A classmate getting on your nerves can feel like a very big deal. So can your sister laughing at something you were quite pleased with five minutes ago.

There's also a book Tom's been trying to find for ages. Even his grandparents have been looking for it. If your reader has ever hunted for the one missing book in a favourite collection, they'll know why spotting someone else with a copy is so exciting!

If you've got a reader that enjoys getting stuck into the ups and downs and jokes of school life without a world to save or villain to conquer, this is perfect.

What to read next

For another child who has plenty to say about her family, try The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks. It's in the library too. Lottie's diary brings worries about starting secondary school and making friends alongside her thoughts about her very annoying family.