Jams Cogan’s life changes when his next door neighbours arrive at his family bungalow – or Castle as his dad, a not-terribly successful children’s author calls it – with a hamster for them to look after. At least, the neighbours say it’s a hamster, it’s clear to Jams and his mum and dad that it’s really a monkey. But by then the neighbours have gone and Thimble is happily settled in dad’s armchair. All sorts of adventures follow. It’s very funny and the text positively bristles with jokes and snappy one-liners, the butt of most of them being Jams’ hapless dad. Nicely divided into satisfying chapters and full of Martin Chatterton’s wonderful bug-eyed illustrations, this is easy and addictive reading. ~ Andrea Reece
A Piece of Passion from editor Janet Thomas Thimble Monkey Superstar captured me immediately because it made me laugh out loud straight away. I love the idea that the neighbours turn up at the door with their monkey and say ‘Would you look after our hamster?’ Jams is a great character, brave and endearing. Thimble at first seems slightly ambivilant because he’s so anarchic - is he trouble or is he a friend? By the end he’s a real Monkey Superstar. Jon’s book is funny, first and foremost, and it’s also packed full of wild adventure and warm, believable family relationships. Jon suggested Martin as the illustrator as they’d worked together before, we were thrilled he agreed, and when we saw the text and pictures together there was a real sense of something very special being created. It’s just a great story: who doesn’t want a monkey for a best friend?
Jams is homeschooled by his eccentric father while his mother works. He has no friends. One day their neighbours arrive with a monkey and ask, 'Will you look after our hamster?' They run away, abandoning Thimble. Jams and his Mum love Thimble instantly, but Jams' father doesn't like someone upsetting his routine. A series of wild comic adventures, at hospital, at school, at the zoo and camping, where Jams's father takes on Thimble and comes off the worse. Thimble is very clever and very naughty - and just the best friend Jams has been waiting for.
Jon Blake's writing career began at the tender age of nine with his modestly titled newspaper, 'World Times'. His first book was published several years later, after a short career "being trodden into the ground by the Youth" as a teacher. He has since written many books for children including You're a Hero, Daley B!, and a trilogy of early readers about Little Stupendo, a stunt-girl extraordinaire!
