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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

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MNHQ

June children's bookclub choice: Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis. Apply for free copy

25 replies

RachelMumsnet · 02/06/2014 14:43

Author and cartoonist Stephan Pastis says 'Timmy is a detective who can take any mystery and make it more mysterious'.

In the first book of this hilarious series, Timmy, the hapless young detective and his polar bear friend, Total are attempting to crack the biggest case of their generation: a school competition to find a stolen globe and win $500.

Timmy's hilarious escapades and Pastis' brilliant cartoons marry to create a great new series for readers aged 8+. Apply for a free copy now - if you know someone who may enjoy this book and would be willing to discuss on this thread or post review.

June children's bookclub choice: Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis. Apply for free copy

OP posts:

FourForksAche · 02/06/2014 14:54

can't see a submit button, am I having a senior moment?

MNHQ

AliceMumsnet · 03/06/2014 10:13

@FourForksAche

can't see a submit button, am I having a senior moment?

We have now edited the message so you can see the link to apply for a free copy

FourForksAche · 03/06/2014 16:06

Thanks Alice, the submit button on the link wasn't appearing when I used chrome on my mobile phone. I've just applied using firefox & all worked.

FourForksAche · 03/06/2014 18:36

just to let you know, the submit button still doesn't appear on the linked page when viewed via chrome on a mobile.

frazzledbutcalm · 03/06/2014 20:23

Have applied, thank you. Submit button was there on chrome on a laptop.

millililli · 03/06/2014 21:26

Sounds fun!

yummum120 · 09/06/2014 20:23

I couldn't remember if I had applied for this one, so just applied now. Sorry if I have done so twice.

MNHQ

NataliaMumsnet · 10/06/2014 12:54

This giveaway is now closed. We will be in touch via email to notify those who have been selected to receive a free copy. Don't forget to come back here and let us know your thoughts on the book.

Leeds2 · 24/06/2014 11:16

I hadn't heard of Timmy Failure before, but have just finished reading my free copy (for which, thank you!)and have to say that I really enjoyed it! I would say that the intended age range is around 8 - 12 year olds but, as an adult, I found it quite an entertaining read!

Timmy is the schoolboy founder, president and CEO of a detective agency which he runs with the help of Total, his polar bear. He lurches from one disaster to another, without solving any of his cases and usually ending up in trouble but in a very humorous way. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud.

It is very much written in the style of Wimpy Kid books, or Barry Loser, and children who liked those books will probably enjoy this one. It comprises 60 short chapters, with big print and lots of line drawings on each page so very easy to get into and not at all intimidating to read. I think it is something a reluctant reader might like to try.

I will make sure that I read the other books in this series, and would thoroughly recommend it.

lolapops1 · 24/06/2014 13:52

A very funny book and very entertaining.
Think it is slightly more suited to boys though.
The drawings make the book very easy to read and really interesting.
Would recommend this book to anyone and will be telling my Nephews to read the whole series as they are great.
Really glad I got the free copy.

GrouchingTiggerHiddenSomething · 26/06/2014 14:21

Thanks for our free copy. DS (aged 8) is a big fan of Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Barry Loser, Big Nate etc so I thought this would be right up his street. He has read the first two chapters but doesn't want to read more as "the pictures are not cartoons" and "it has 60 chapters" and "too many words". I suspect this reaction is because I told him to read it so I could leave a review - he is an able but lazy reader and doesn't want to do anything he has been told he must do. I think in the summer holidays (when the pressure is off and he has more time) he will probably pick it up again and enjoy it. Sorry about that - I suspect I should have just left it lying around for him to find or told him he was not to read it!

dinkystinky · 26/06/2014 14:39

DS1 (aged 8) has read this book himself and is half way through. He said its abit like the Wimpy Kid books in feel (he loves those) but the story is very different. He says it is funny and he thinks its the kind of book some of his friends might like.

NumTumDeDum · 26/06/2014 15:02

We haven't started this yet, as we're just finishing off another book, but I just wanted to say that my DD saw it on the table, swiped it and ran off to a corner to flick through it and was particularly taken with the illustrations and easy to read style. Will report back later when we've read it.

justmuddlingalong · 26/06/2014 15:38

I read part of this book with my nephew (9). It's a fun, funny book which has held his attention. The illustrations were great, very witty. We will be looking out for other Stephan Pastis books as we enjoyed this one so much. It's a great book for kids to read themselves, or for adults and kids to enjoy together. Thank you for the copy.

cavylover · 27/06/2014 15:11

Unusual title which is actually the name of the main character in the book, a boy who lives with his mother and pet polar bear and who runs his own detective agency. There are plenty of illustrations in the book which add to the enjoyment of it which I would say is more particularly aimed at older boys (11 or 12 possibly) although some of the humour might be more suited to adults, particularly the reference to the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" which the librarian was reading. The title character's constant mistakes make you feel sympathy for him with his false perceptions of events taking place around him. Many thanks for the copy.

katb1973 · 29/06/2014 14:57

Thanks for the free book Mumsnet. My 7 year old read this in 3 sittings and found it on the whole entertaining. His comments included that the book was particularly entertaining because Timmy is so utterly hopeless at solving even the most simple or obvious case. He also liked the fact that the illustrations were entertaining, for example that you never know what Timmy's arch rival Corrina actually looks like because she's always blacked out. On the flip side he found some of the references too American and asked for some explanations. All in all very entertaining and we'll see if he asks for the sequel next time we go book shopping.

yummum120 · 30/06/2014 16:52

Thank you for the book mumsnet, and sorry for a late reply. My son really enjoyed this book, and I'm so pleased we got picked as I find it difficult to choose books that my DS will enjoy. He said the picture were fun, and Timmy reminds him of himself that's why he liked it. He felt he could relate to the book well.

yummum120 · 30/06/2014 16:52

woodchuck · 30/06/2014 18:22

I haven't read it (yet!) myself, but DS (11) and DD(8) fought over it when our free copy arrived. After the bloodshed was over, DS limped off to his room with the book. I was really surprised that he fought so hard, as he is not the biggest reader in the family, and is extremely loyal to the types of books/authors that he knows and loves (Wimpy Kid, harry Potter, Beast Quest) whereas DD is much more experimental and will often read a whole book in one sitting. However, as the first reader, I am going to give DS' review. He really liked it, thought the format was very similar to the wimpy kid series (appealed to his single-mindedness) and said he would definitely read more Timmy Failure books. He also told me to mention he especially loved Senor Burrito!

clemetteattlee · 01/07/2014 11:54

Many thanks for the book mumsnet. My DD (9) loved it. I will post her review on the review thread.

millililli · 02/07/2014 13:17

Thank you very much for the book, which is fun and entertaining with great illustrations. Some of the Americanisms might need explanation for younger readers, but I don't think that this affects the story adversely. I would think that it could be enjoyed both as a bedtime story for younger children and by more confident readers on their own.

honeyandbutter · 04/07/2014 14:42

My DS (11) is also quite selective with his reading, but was very keen on reading this book when it arrived in the post. He's a big fan of the Wimpy Kid books and also loves Harry Potter. He took this book on his school trip and was raving about it when he returned. He loved the illustrations and the story was 'really really funny'. In fact he finished in in two days, when it usually takes him a lot longer to finish a book. He's also asked for more books by the same author - so a big hit here!

bogglebonce · 07/07/2014 19:44

A great book, with lovely pictures which made the story and it's characters very easy to imagine. If you are a fan of the Wimpy kids books you should enjoy Timmy and Total his polar bear. Ideal to read at bedtime as you can read a chapter a night. DD loved it and we are now on the look out for more in the series

amapola · 14/07/2014 12:24

Thank you for the copy. My DS (7) found some bits quite amusing but it didnt hold his interest to finish the book. I think it is more appropriate for age 9+ I'll keep it to read it again. I found it very funny and the simple and witty illustrations go well with the book

StantonLacy · 06/08/2014 21:02

Thank you so much for our copy of this great book (and huge apologies for my late review!)
DS (6) has been reading this intermittently since we had it - he really, really likes it. And how do I know this? Because, at various points throughout the day/week/month he has been following me around the house and quoting various bits at me!
Suffice to say, he thinks it is hilarious - the illustrations and overall layout of the text were imaginative and kept his interest beautifully.
Thanks so much

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