What a delightful tale! Set in Victorian London in 1899, The Ice Monster follows the story of orphan Elsie. She escapes from the aptly named Wormly Hall Home for Unwanted Children after terrible mistreatment, and she takes her chances living as an urchin on the streets. But then she hears of the arrival of the Ice Monster – a woolly mammoth discovered at the North Pole – and Elsie is desperate to discover more. Elsie breaks into the Natural History Museum which brings her face to face with the woolly mammoth. When the mammoth is brought to life, after an incredible sequence of events, the action goes from London to the North Pole, as Elise sets out to help her new friend.
This epic adventure is a hilarious read with just the right balance of comedy and scenes that are delightfully bonkers, real-life facts, and touching themes of kindness and friendship. I loved the unlikely friendship between a ten-year-old girl and a 10,000-year-old-mammoth. David Walliams moves the story forward in such an engaging way, and the cast of this book includes Queen Victoria, the Chelsea Pensioners, and the Sticky Fingers Gang. The perfect gift for any child aged 8 to 12, this is sure to delight children around the world, made even more special with the lovely illustrations by Tony Ross. David Walliams is an extremely talented children’s writer, and it’s no surprise his books have sold millions of copies worldwide – this book proves how good he is, beyond any doubt.
Reviewer: Karen McMillan
HarperCollins, RRP $24.99