Grandpa’s Great Escape

Name: Grandpa’s Great Escape
Price: 3.99 GBP
Rating: 4.3 (141 reviews)
ISBN: 9780008140359

David Walliams

- 4.3 • 141 Ratings

- £3.99

- £3.99

The hotly-anticipated next novel from NUMBER ONE bestselling author, David Walliams

Jack’s Grandpa…

*wears his slippers to the supermarket

*serves up Spam à la Custard for dinner

*and often doesn’t remember Jack’s name

But he can still take to the skies in a speeding Spitfire and save the day…

An exquisite portrait of the bond between a small boy and his beloved Grandpa – this book takes readers on an incredible journey with Spitfires over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy and heart.

Illustrated by the award-winning Tony Ross.

Reviews

PRAISE FOR DAVID WALLIAMS:
“A pleasure to read. A beguilingly funny, original and thought-provoking tale… hilarious” – Amanda Craig, The Times

“I absolutely love David Walliams's books. In a few more years they will become classics” – Sue Townsend, author of Adrian Mole, Guardian

“The new Roald Dahl” – Evening Standard

"A triumphant mix of wit and warmth" – Telegraph Books of the Year

“Ridiculously over-the-top and utterly delightful “ – Spectator

"Another triumph for David Walliams. His books are a breath of wonderful fresh air" – Sun

“David Walliams’ children’s books are now guaranteed bestsellers… watch this fly off the shelves” – Daily Mail

“Delightfully funny” – Metro

About the author

David Walliams has revolutionised reading for children and has become one of the most influential children’s writers today. Since the publication of his ground-breaking first novel, The Boy in the Dress (2008), Walliams has seen unprecedented growth with global sales exceeding 45 million copies, and his books translated into 55 languages. Collectively across his titles, David has celebrated 70 weeks (non-consecutive) at number one in the overall book charts and more than 200 weeks (non-consecutive) at number one in the Children’s charts – an achievement no other children’s writer has reached.

Born in London, Tony Ross went to art school in Liverpool. His cartoons have appeared in famous publications the world over. His first book, Hugo and the Wicked Winter, was published in 1972. Tony has since written over 100 books and illustrated over 2000!

APPLE BOOKS REVIEW

One glimpse at David Walliams’ comedy CV suggests a man with a vivid imagination—and his incredibly successful children’s books confirm exactly that. Grandpa’s Great Escape introduces the British author’s most thrillingly anarchic and endearing characters yet. Jack, a friendless 12-year-old, plans to liberate his elderly grandfather—a decorated former spitfire pilot—from a dastardly care home. We adored this warmhearted fantastical tale for its impeccably researched RAF history and very silly jokes. Tony Ross’ gloriously freeform illustrations only enhance the fun.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 28 NOV 2016

It's 1983, but Jack's grandfather, whose memory is failing, believes that the year is 1940, when he was a decorated RAF pilot serving in WWII. Unlike his worried parents, 12-year-old Jack views the workings of Grandpa's mind as "nothing short of magical," is spellbound by the man's wartime tales, and eagerly plays "Squadron Leader" to Grandpa's "Wing Commander" as they outwit enemy aircraft from their armchair cockpits. Knowing that "You had to enter Grandpa's world to get through to him," Jack uses military lingo to talk his grandfather down from a church spire, remove him from a museum's fighter plane, and help him escape the nightmarish Twilight Towers home for the elderly (motto: "Caring for your unwanted old folk"). Ross's energetic drawings and some playful use of typography bring additional drama and humor to the story. As in Walliams's Demon Dentist, the adult characters are of the bumbling sort such as Miss Swine, the diabolical matron of Twilight Towers, and a pair of detectives, Beef and Bone and the story's comedy is nicely counterbalanced by the poignant bond between Jack and Grandpa. Ages 8 12.

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