Tom's stories are short, funny and often gross. They are bound to appeal to boys of Tom's age, and possibly some girls too. The stories start off plausible but by the end have stretched into (very funny) tall tales. The illustrations are cartoonish and enhance the text. It's easy to believe that they are the work of a middle school boy. Recommended for upper primary/lower secondary students, public libraries and reluctant readers everywhere., Bancks knows what will make young readers laugh, and want more. Gus Gordon's cartoon-like sketches, lists, random jottings, text boxes, and other interjections add to the humour. I recommend these chapter books particularly for boys who are not yet sure they love to read. But I bet any youngster will relate to Tom's misadventures., Like Dahl, Bancks is passionate about inspiring a love of reading in the young by placing fun at the centre of his storytelling.