Mr Stink by David Walliams

This is the second book by David Walliams and another good one for children. Set in the same town as The Boy in the Dress, this time the story is about a tramp and a little girl. The tramp is Mr Stink named by the local people, as he stank something awful. His dog Duchess was equally smelly. It appears they lived on the bench by the shops and did not get to even have a wash. People ignored them and even crossed the road to avoid them. 

Then one day, a little girl called Chloe stops and says hello. She is curious about Mr Stink – where did he come from? Why was he living on the bench? Did he ever have a home? And so on….. Chloe was interested in stories and thought Mr Stink would have an interesting tale. Chloe lived with her younger sister and parents. Her sister, Annabelle, was her mother’s favourite and so got most of her attention. Her mother was status conscious and constantly trying to ensure that she, her family and her home did not come across as anything but classy. Her father is her friend but he also keeps on the right side of his wife. She has no real friends at school either.

That one little hello leads to a timid conversation and start of a friendship between Mr Stink and Chloe. The story is full of lessons about being human, tolerant, non-judgemental, thoughtful, and courageous so that you can follow your dreams. The tramp finds a kind friend and a shelter. Cloe finds someone who she can talk to and who understands her, encourages her and advices her. 

The review of this story is hard to write as everything I want to praise or point out will give away the story. I was fascinated by the way it unfolded and where it led. It gives a view of lives and perspectives of ordinary people. When you read of the different characters they seem familiar as I am sure we have met each one sometime in our lives. What will be the impact of this friendship between Mr Stink and Chloe not only on Chloe but also her family, the local community and the wider society? Will they learn to be tolerant and not judge a book by its cover? 

This is a story that everyone should read for it hold lessons for the adults too. Reading the story to your kids will help open up conversations about human values and all the things you wish to teach them about.

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

For those of you who do not know David Walliams, I first came across him in comedy skits with Matt Lucas. There are some real gems in their series Little Britain. So when I heard about the books David began writing I thought I must read them as I am sure they would be fun. However it has been a long time since the first book that I got around to read it. Life just happened to interfere with my plans.

This is a book written for young people but can also be enjoyed by adults for it shows us life from the child’s perceptive, something that we forget once we grow up. This story is about Dennis, a 12 year old boy, who lives with his older brother John and his lorry driver dad. His mother had left them. Dennis remembers his parents fighting but also the love and care his mother had given him. There is only one slightly burnt at the edges photo he has of his mother with John and himself that was saved from the bonfire by a gust of wind.

Life was ordinary and so boring. He has a good friend, loves to play footie, watch daytime chat shows, and look at fashion magazines. He feels sad that his mum was not around and when he cries he gets told not to be a girl! His father catches him leafing through a Vogue magazine and throws it into the bin telling him boys should not be reading this girlie stuff. Of course he is teased about it by his brother. The book is telling us how we perpetuate the gender stereotypes.

At 12 he is just beginning to notice girls like Lisa who is in John’s year. He has the good fortune to spend some detention time with her. Seeing her doodling and sketching dresses like those in fashion magazines he gets talking to her. They find mutual interest in all kinds of fashion and its accessories. Dennis gets invited to spend a Saturday with Lisa and check out her stash of Vogue as well as he own design sketches. But there was more than just sketches as Lisa was good with her sewing and had turned some of her designs into dresses. Dennis’s eyes light up at all these beautiful clothes and as you can guess he gets persuaded to wear one of them. Lisa does a complete makeover on him and presents him in the mirror as Denise.

Will he be persuaded to wear the dress outside the house? Who all will think he is a beautiful girl? What will his father, brother, best friend, school mates, teachers and the head master think of him? It is a good tale about individuality, growing up, being non-judgemental and supportive as we are not defined by one single thing, least of all our fashion sense.

I could not put the book down as I wanted to know if there was a happy ending. You feel the emotions along with Dennis and want to jump in and tell the stuffy adults off. I would say it is a book to be read by all.