Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth

Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth Synopsis

The Blythes are a big, warm, rambunctious family who live on a small farm and sometimes foster children. Now Prez has come to live with them. But, though he seems cheerful and helpful, he never says a word. Then one day Prez answers the door to someone claiming to be his relative. This small, loud stranger carries a backpack, walks with a swagger and goes by the name of Sputnik. As Prez dithers on the doorstep, Sputnik strolls right past him and introduces himself to everyone in the household. Prez is amazed at the response. The family pat Sputnik on the head, call him a good boy and drop food into his mouth. It seems they all think Sputnik is a dog. It's only Prez who thinks otherwise. But Prez soon finds himself having to defend the family from the chaos and danger unleashed by Sputnik, as household items come to life - like a TV remote that fast-forwards people: 'Anyone can do it, it's just that people don't read the instructions properly'; and a toy lightsaber that entertains guests at a children's party, until one of them is nearly decapitated by it - and Prez is going to have to use his voice to explain himself. It turns out that Sputnik is writing a guidebook to Earth called Ten Things Worth Doing on Earth, and he takes Prez on a journey to discover just those ten things. Each adventure seems to take Prez nearer to the heart of the family he is being fostered by. But they also take him closer to the day that he is due to leave them forever . . .

Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth Press Reviews

Will send your imagination into orbit! * Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Blog * Sure to be a hit with young enquiring minds, this is a tale which is heart-breaking and hilarious in equal measure. * The School Librarian * This is an out-of-this world adventure that is also a heartening story about the importance of friendship and family. * The Week Junior * ...classic Cottrell Boyce: zany, lay-out-loud funny and with a very strong emotional heart. * INIS reading guide * whimsical, heart-wrenching and hilarious. * Scotsman * A wonderful and exciting story about friendship and appreciating what you have. * Independent * A touching tale . . . told with wild humour and panache * Telegraph * a spiky, effervescent treat, like Spielberg's ET put in a blender with a bottle of Irn-Bru. * The Financial Times * Wholly original and exceptionally funny * The Bookseller Book of the Month * Full of heart and emotion that might just bring a tear to your eye. If it doesn't though it's still got lightsabers and alien space dogs. * Tom Fletcher, Tom Fletcher Book Club * Light-hearted and profound * Sunday Times Book of the Week *

Book Information

ISBN:	9780230771376
Publication date:	7th April 2016
Author:	Frank Cottrell Boyce
Illustrator:	Steven Lenton
Publisher:	Macmillan Children's Books an imprint of Pan Macmillan
Format:	Hardback
Pagination:	352 pages

About Frank Cottrell Boyce

Frank Cottrell-Boyce is an award-winning author and screenwriter. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the CILIP Carnegie Medal. He is also the author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, Cosmic, Framed and The Astounding Broccoli Boy. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Fiction Award (now the Costa Book Award) and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth was shortlisted for the 2017 CILIP Carnegie Medal and selected for the inaugural W H Smith Tom Fletcher Book Club. Frank is a judge for the ...

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