The Parent Agency

Barry Bennett is convinced he was issued the wrong parents, and one night he gets the chance to shop for replacements. David Baddiel turns a familiar childhood complaint into a comic adventure through a world where families can be chosen, and every new household Barry samples brings drawbacks of its own. The jokes arrive quickly, the chapters stay short, and the ending reaches a point about gratitude without preaching. Jim Field's illustrations run alongside the text. Good to know: • Middle-grade comic novel illustrated by Jim Field • Brief chapters suited to newly independent readers • Humour built on a premise children recognise at once • Works for classroom reading and family sessions A strong choice for readers aged roughly eight to twelve, for school libraries, and for parents after a funny book that lands somewhere thoughtful, available from Boipoka.