Just Macbeth by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

New to the classroom bookshelves is Andy Griffith's Just Macbeth. It is a must-read for all diehard Griffiths fans. This is the seventh book in the Just series. It is written as a play and blends the characters from the Just series with the story and characters from Macbeth. Andy, Lisa and Danny are rehearsing the famous witches' scene from the play in preparation for a performance they are doing for their English class. They concoct a disgusting potion and then dare each other to try it. Suddenly, they are transported back in time into the battle scene of Act 1. Andy is mistaken by the three hags as Macbeth and told his future, that he should become a king. The book then pretty much follows the plot line of the original play with Andy, Lisa and Danny taking on the roles of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo. The language is a mix of colloquial kids' language with sprinklings of Shakespeare's famous lines. The illustrations and quips of Terry Denton, as always, do justice to the book giving humorous advice and suggestions to the reader as well as deviating from the plot with other ridiculous but very funny reinterpretations of historical events.

The stage show was a hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eUpkFVE95Y

Dead Men Don't Walk by Max Dann

Dusting is on the hunt for buried treasure, and true to his passive aggressive nature, he has coerced his best friend Roger Thesaurus into helping him acquire it. And, now Millicent has found out about the whole venture, she wants her 30%. As it turns out there is none to be found at the Bailey's house and so Dusting believes they will find gold whilst on their school excursion, considering that he is psychic and all. Psychotic is probably a more apt description. They find a bag of money and then things take a turn for the worst. As always with Dusting and his friends, they make for an enjoyable and humorous read. I read anything by Dann that I can get my hands on.

Night Noises by Mem Fox

Whenever I read a picture book about old people now I really appreciate the sentiment especially since my 83 father is now nearing the end of his grand adventure and Mum is hand in hand with Alzheimer's. This is truly a beautiful and dignified story about an old lady called Lily, nearly ninety, who is dreaming about her life and how it has slowly transformed. Yet as things change, some core values and those important things in life remain the same. Seemingly a simple story on the surface, as always with Mem Fox, there is a deeper message about the power of family and loyalty.

It is also a fabulous book for teaching onomatopoeia to students in an interesting way.

Just Tricking by Andy Griffiths

It's 8.15 a.m. and I'm still in bed. I should have got up an hour ago.

But I didn't. You wanna know why?

Because I'm dead.

Well, not not really dead. I'm just pretending I'm dead so I don't have to go to school.

If I convince Mum and Dad that I'm dead, not only will I have pulled off one of the greatest practical jokes of the century, but I'll get off going to school for the rest of the year. Maybe even the rest of my life.

Thus begins the first story in this book, typical Griffith's style. Andy Griffith's books greatly appeal to upper primary boys. Just Tricking is the first book in the Just Series and it contains ten short stories on the theme of tricks and practical jokes narrated by the main character, Andy. Now Andy believes he is the world's greatest practical joker, however, most of his jokes backfire on him making this a pretty funny read. Just Stupid and Just Disgusting are also available for borrowing from the Little Library of Rescued Books.

Check out the author talking about this series of books and his book called Just Macbeth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6UNvg7xbYs

The Bad Book by Andy Griffith & Terry Denton

Just ask James in my class if this book is worth reading and he will give you a resounding YES. I must agree they are pretty funny and definitely a little off beat, and sometimes, somewhat foul. Take this little one about grannies; totally politically correct, of course...NOT:

The Bad Granny

Once upon a time there was a bad granny.

She was bad

and evil

and mean

In fact she was so bad and evil and mean that they put her in a truck with all the other bad grannies and took her to the Granny Smith Apple Factory.

The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Poo is quite a take on the traditional old lady who simply swallowed a spider!

Terry Denton's ink drawings add greatly to the humour of the poems and riddles. So if you are feeling a bit sad or slightly depressed this book will bring you some cheer.

Sucked in: the Story of an Appendix on the Loose by Paul Jennings

If you enjoy really silly stories, or stories by Andy Giffith, you’ll love this one. It is all about a removed appendix who loves the boy he came from, and cannot bear to live without him. The boy loves his appendix too. They are separated and the appendix goes berserk and escapes his medical jar, wriggling around the town eating animals. It becomes more and more absurd and the ending is pretty nonsensical but it is good fun. The coloured illustrations by Terry Denton really complement the text. There is an appendix at the back of the book which fits nicely with the theme of the book wherein the author and illustrator exchange insults. It’s a very funny read for all ages and adults. Visit Paul's website by clicking on the link below the picture. Little Squirt, taken from his book Unmentionable, is worth a listen.

http://www.pauljennings.com.au/audio.asp