Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature, this short novel tells the story of Simon Martin and his class 4C as they prepare for the school science fair. As a class of underachievers, they are given the science project least likely to go wrong: nurturing ‘flour babies’, sacks of flour that they must take everywhere with them as an insight into parenthood.

For Simon, dealing with the absence of his father, this is problematic. What follows is a sweet and funny tale dealing with parenthood, family and even school in a way that is profound enough for an adult reader whilst staying delicate enough for very young readers.

Not many books about teenage boys could be described as sweet, but this is definitely one that fits the bill.

By the same author: ‘Goggle Eyes’, ‘Madame Doubtfire’, ‘Bill’s New Frock’ and more.