The Bolds

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The Bolds

Title:

The Bolds

Author:

Clary, Julian, author.

Roberts, David, 1970- illustrator.

Series:

Bolds ;

Series Number:

Summary:

Two hyenas from Africa find a pair of passports (memo: do not go swimming in a crocodile pool), and move to Teddington, England, where they live suburban lives, hold jobs, and raise their children to hide their tails and act human--the only trouble is old Mr. McNumpty, their nosy neighbor, who is hiding a secret of his own.

Physical Description:

266 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm

Genre:

Humorous fiction.

Subject Term:

Hyenas -- Juvenile fiction.

Neighbors -- Juvenile fiction.

Impersonation -- Juvenile fiction.

Secrecy -- Juvenile fiction.

Geographic Term:

Teddington (London, England) -- Juvenile fiction.

England -- Juvenile fiction.

Author(s):

Roberts, David, 1970-

Publisher:

Carolrhoda Books,

Publication Date:

2015

2016

ISBN:

9781512404401

9781512404432

Publication Information:

Minneapolis : Carolrhoda Books, [2015]

Call Number:

J CLARY

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003178459	Juvenile Fiction	CLARY	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

The Bold family seems fairly normal: they live in a nice house, the parents have good jobs, and they all love to have fun. One slight difference: they're hyenas. That's rightthey're covered in fur, have tails tucked into their clothes, and really, really like to laugh.

For years, the Bolds have kept their true identities under wraps. But now the neighbors are getting suspicious, and the Bolds are getting homesick. During a trip to the local wildlife park, they meet an old hyena who is going to be put down, and the Bolds have to act fast to save himwithout revealing their secret!

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-4-After a crocodile in Africa eats two English tourists, a pair of hyenas (Mr. and Mrs. Bold) travel back to Teddington, England, disguised as the tourists. The book follows the Bolds' adventures as they try to resist their animal nature so that they can blend into their new suburban neighborhood and live as humans. This fast-paced read follows the family, including their new twin baby hyenas, as they break a fellow hyena out of captivity in a safari park. The twist at the end may surprise readers, though there are clues hidden in the illustrations throughout the book. There are enough wacky situations and outright jokes (Mr. Bold finds a job writing jokes because hyenas are always laughing) to engage reluctant readers. There is some potty humor, but this is sure to add to the book's appeal. Roberts's illustrations support the off-kilter, humorous mood of the book and are integrated into the text in inventive ways. For example, the page where the crocodile eats the English tourists features an illustration of a wide-open crocodile mouth; the number of words on each line lessens as the text goes further into the crocodile's mouth. Underscoring the slapstick appeal is a message about understanding others' differences. VERDICT Fans of Roald Dahl will find much to appreciate here.-Celia Dillon, The Brearley School, New York © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

In this humorously off-kilter tall tale, British comic Clary's first book for children, a pair of hyenas take on the identity of two British honeymooners eaten by crocodiles while on safari. The hyenas hide their tails in human clothes and their ears under hats, adapting so well to their new lives that they raise their cubs to fit in as humans, too. "It is true to say that people in Teddington considered them to be an unusual couple," notes the chatty narrator. "But no one jumped to the conclusion that they were a pair of hyenas." Because the family laughs and kids around so much, they make friends easily and even share their secret with one trusted human. Their grumpy, spying neighbor is trouble, however, and when a hyena at a nearby safari park needs rescuing, the Bolds' plan to free him could mean blowing their cover. Roberts's manically expressive b&w illustrations capitalize on the unapologetically silly premise (Mrs. Bold is a real style icon in oversize glasses, a turban, and a dress with the silhouette of a lampshade) as Clary mixes animal fact with imaginative, entertaining fiction. Ages 8-12. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.