Interest Age 5-8 | Norman the Norman from Normandy is rapidly becoming my favourite Philip Ardagh character (and there’s a great line up to choose from). Small and accident prone but with a remarkable knack for being in the right place at exactly the right time, Norman is always at the centre of the action and his adventures are very funny indeed. In this story he’s invited to accompany William of Normandy on his ‘conquest thingy’, as the Duke’s wife calls it. Tempted to the Duke’s castle by the thought of its tea-room, Norman’s not actually that keen on the invasion idea and ends up going home to his mum instead. The words and the full-colour pictures will both have readers laughing, and there are some great long-running jokes about the Bayeux Tapestry. Perfect reading for anyone who appreciates the silliness of existence.
Norman the Norman and the Very Small Duchess Synopsis
Norman the Norman is at it again! And this time the Duchess of Normandy is determined that her William should have little Norman helping with this Conquest thingy. After all he is Normandy's bravest broadsword swinging hero! But can Norman even make it to the boat on time? Or are there other adventures to be had with robbers, giants, a messenger called Barry, and Matilda the very small Duchess...
An enticing combination of historical facts, supposition, slapstick humour and authorial asides. Comic genius.
Roald Dahl Funny Prize winning author Philip Ardagh is the author of The Grunts. He is probably best known for his Grubtown Tales, but he is author of over 100 books. He is a ‘regular irregular’ reviewer of children’s books for The Guardian, and is currently developing a series for television. Philip Ardagh is two metres tall with a ridiculously big, bushy beard and size sixteen feet, making him an instantly recognisable figure at literary festivals around the world. He lives in a seaside town in Kent with his wife and two cats.
