The Ice Monster - by David Walliams (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Hailed as "the heir to Roald Dahl" by The Spectator, the UK's #1 bestselling children's author, David Walliams, will have fans of Stuart Gibbs and Gordan Korman in stitches!

David Walliams burst on to the American scene with his New York Times bestseller Demon Dentist, and now he's bringing his signature humor to this story of a ten-year-old orphan and a 10,000-year-old mammoth.

When Elsie, an orphan on the streets of Victorian London, hears about the mysterious Ice Monster--a woolly mammoth found at the North Pole--she's determined to discover more....

Luckily, a chance encounter brings Elsie face to face with the creature, sparking the adventure of a lifetime--from London to the heart of the Arctic!

But saving a prehistoric creature isn't easy, especially when greedy villains want it for themselves. Can one little girl protect her gigantic new friend?

• An Unlikely Friendship: Between Elsie, a ten-year-old orphan with monkey feet, and a 10,000-year-old woolly mammoth who loves jam.
• A Grand Victorian Adventure: From the grimy backstreets of London to the frozen ice of the North Pole, a journey filled with daring escapes and narrow misses.
• Found Family: Elsie finds more than just a friend; she finds a home with a dotty cleaning lady, a tiny soldier, and a crew of hilarious Chelsea Pensioners.
• Laugh-Out-Loud Humor: Fans of Roald Dahl will love this hilarious story packed with quirky characters, madcap schemes, and one very gassy mammoth.

Review Quotes

PRAISE IN THE USA FOR GRANDPA'S GREAT ESCAPE: "A realistic and touching relationship. Ample illustrations from the always splendid Ross will keep the pages in this plump volume turning. A Dahl-esque tale." - Kirkus Reviews

"While the irreverent wit will keep readers engaged, the surprising tenderness in the relationship between Jack and his ailing grandfather is what makes this book truly shine. A darkly humorous tale with a surprising amount of heart." - School Library Journal

"Walliams gives Grandpa--and [his] Spitfire--a grand send-off. A pleaser for fans of similar escapades engineered by the likes of Roald Dahl or Frank Cotrell-Boyce. Walliams, already popular in the UK, is a best-seller this side of the pond as well, and this caper promises to be no different." - ALA Booklist

PRAISE IN THE USA FOR DEMON DENTIST: "A Brit-flavored romp that combines moments of intense terror and bracing courage with biting satire." - Kirkus Reviews

"A Dahl-esque mix of humor and horror that will appeal to fans of both." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A goofy, gory, outlandish tale of deep evil and terrible tooth-rot--and sweetness of heart. Kids who enjoy humorous gross-out horror will definitely want to book an appointment of their own with the Demon Dentist." - Wall Street Journal

"Comedian David Walliams has taken the publishing world by storm." - The Metro

"A triumphant mix of wit and warmth." - Telegraph

"A great comic tale--Walliams is a natural wit." - Evening Standard (London)

"Walliams's books will become classics." - The Guardian

"A chaotic slapstick comedy." - Publishers Weekly

"Dahl-esque in the extreme...Frenetic humor for middle grade fans of the funny and fearsome." - School Library Journal

"Ross's energetic drawings and some playful use of typography bring additional drama and humor to the story. The story's comedy is nicely counterbalanced by the poignant bond between Jack and Grandpa." - Publishers Weekly

UK PRAISE FOR DAVID WALLIAMS: "No one has any business being as talented as David Walliams. He is the heir to Roald Dahl--and that's saying a lot." - The Spectator

"Unlike other celebrity authors, Walliams can write; his energetic fairytale will be relished." - The Times (London)

"The joy of David's books are that he completely understands how children think and feel and is never ever patronising." - The Sun (UK)

"Further proof that Walliams has become a master storyteller. Walliams manages to infuse his novels with genuine wit and sly commentary." - Heat Magazine