The Bad Book

Author: Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Price: $14.95

Bad to the bone

The Bad Book is, as its title suggests, about “bad” things. Bad children, bad parents, bad pirates, even bad trees – all get a run in this silly but fun collection of stories, riddles and poems for kids.

When The Bad Book lobbed on my doorstep, I decided to conduct a little experiment. Instead of reading it myself, I just left it around for others to pick up. With a nine-year-old Andy Griffiths fan in the house, it wasn’t long before the book was picked up and was being devoured.

"random fights were breaking out... over who would have access to the book"

Our seven-year-old (not such an Andy Griffiths fan) was more reluctant; but when he saw how much fun his sister was having, he demanded to share. Within a few days, random fights were breaking out across the house over who would have access to the book when.

Then various adults who happened into the house decided to pick up the book – or sometimes had it thrust in their hands by enthusiastic youngsters. The reaction was decidedly different. Most laughed, but several added a nervous “That’s sick” to their chuckles. After all, jokes about monkey vomit don’t usually sit well with the responsibility thrust on an adult.

The Bad Book experiment confirmed two things – this book is almost certain to be a hit with kids, but that adults will be a little disconcerted by its contents. In a way, I see that as a good sign. The fact that adults found a lot of it to be “sick” confirmed that the ugliness of the world is certainly pervasive. But the innocent acceptance by children of the funny side of Griffiths and Denton’s compilation actually gave me a sense of hope.

Belinda Yench

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