The Worst Class in the World

The Worst Class in the World

By Author / Illustrator

Joanna Nadin, Rikin Parekh

Genre

Funny Stories

Age range(s)

7+

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

ISBN

9781526611833

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

14-05-2020

Synopsis

A brand new, laugh-out-loud young fiction series from bestselling author Joanna Nadin. Perfect for fans of Horrid Henry and the Trouble with Daisy series.


According to head teacher Mrs Bottomley-Blunt, 4B is the WORST CLASS IN THE WORLD. She says school is not about footling or fiddle-faddling or FUN. It is about LEARNING and it is high time 4B tried harder to EXCEL at it. But Stanley and Manjit didn't LITERALLY mean to make their whole class sick with homemade biscuits. And they definitely didn't LITERALLY mean for Manjit's dog Killer to eat their teacher's shoes or for Bruce Bingley's rat to escape. These things just happened even though they had a FOOLPROOF plan.


You see, 4B may be the WORST CLASS IN THE WORLD. But you wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Highly illustrated and featuring two hilarious madcap adventures in one book, these books are just right for children ready for their first chapter books.


See also: The Worst Class in the World: Animal Uproar

Reviews

Jenny

LITERALLY, one of the most hilarious books I have read in a long time. Fast, funny and full of 'fiddle faddling'. There are delightful, charismatic kids, an endearing (totally harassed)class teacher and an always looming, bad tempered, horse-braying Headteacher.

The Worst Class In The World by Joanna Nadin is an absolutely gleeful celebration of all sorts of school mischief and chaos that can be had with the infamous class 4B. The class biscuit battle is deliciously gross (and extremely creative in ingredients)- a bake off of truly inedible portions! Stanley and Manjit are determined to be the ultimate Biscuit Kings, however, with their cough syrup-based 'Manley' biscuit recipe.

For me , the show-and-tell scenes steal the show - so recognisable an event to any teachers and pupils reading this book. We join 4B in a riotous, random revealing of various items and talents to showcase the class; undeniable uniqueness (including Manjit's attempt to be the first Human Boy to Drink a Cup of Milk While Spinning), all in the pursuit of the Joy of Winning (obviously Headteacher, Mrs Bottomley Blunt, NEVER gives actual prizes).

This engaging, laugh-out-loud story is all wonderfully enhanced, from start to finish, by fabulous illustrations by Rikin Parekh, that bring the characters personalities' completely to life. Joyous and silly, this is perfect for those looking for a chapter book to read as a newly independent reader and would be utterly charming as a book to read with a whole class to bring laughter to storytime.

160 pages / Ages 6+ / Reviewed by Jenny Caddick, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Samantha

I am currently a Year 4 Form teacher in a small Prep school and by coincidence my form, 4P, has only 9 pupils; so right from the start, The Worst Class in the World resonated with me. However, fortunately the similarities stopped there! Joanne Nadin has managed, without a doubt, to replicate the bickering that happens to varying degrees in all primary classrooms. The kind of 'he said, she said,' tales familiar to every teacher and parent of young children.

The Worst Class in the World is written as two short chapters: The Biscuit King and Show and Tell, using language that will easily be recognised by most newly independent readers. The 'Could you be in the Worst Class in the World?' and the' Which member of the WCitW would be your best friend?' quizzes that follow are a great way to leave the reader chuckling right up to the end.

Nadin's ability to describe the children, the school setting and the children's antics will not fail to amuse most children, while still be easily identifiable with individuals and schools every reader will know personally. From the larger than average Harvey Barlow, who is often mistaken for a member of Year 6, to Mr Nidgett, the unfortunate class teacher who firmly believes that everything can be mended with kindness. Even the school playground has those aptly described 'less popular' hangout areas, such as the Smelly Death Log, i.e. the hollow log with the bird poo on it, which no one even goes near unless they are up to no good.

This book would be great for those newly independent readers who have yet to find their 'hook book', those young children who still find reading a little bit of a chore. Written in a way that keeps its reader at the centre of the action, you can almost hear the playground banter around you. As for the Headteacher, Mrs Bottomley-Blunt with her horse-like noises, the less said about her the better, particularly as she is certain that 4B are the worst!

The Worst Class in the World is brilliantly illustrated by Rikin Parekh, whose clever black and white drawings throughout the book bring to life every awful aspect of the Worst Class in the World, literally! From Burping Bruce Bingley to the rather less than appetising cooking escapades of Stanley and Manjit.

A great book for any reluctant lower KS2 reader.

160 pages / Reviewed by Samantha Phillips, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

 

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