Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth (Hardback)

The Blythes are a big, warm, rambunctious family who live on a small farm and sometimes foster children. Now Prez has come to live with them. But, though he seems cheerful and helpful, he never says a word.

Then one day Prez answers the door to someone claiming to be his relative. This small, loud stranger carries a backpack, walks with a swagger and goes by the name of Sputnik.

As Prez dithers on the doorstep, Sputnik strolls right past him and introduces himself to everyone in the household. Prez is amazed at the response. The family pat Sputnik on the head, call him a good boy and drop food into his mouth. It seems they all think Sputnik is a dog. It’s only Prez who thinks otherwise.

But Prez soon finds himself having to defend the family from the chaos and danger unleashed by Sputnik, as household items come to life – like a TV remote that fast-forwards people: ‘Anyone can do it, it’s just that people don’t read the instructions properly’; and a toy lightsaber that entertains guests at a children’s party, until one of them is nearly decapitated by it – and Prez is going to have to use his voice to explain himself.

It turns out that Sputnik is writing a guidebook to Earth called Ten Things Worth Doing on Earth, and he takes Prez on a journey to discover just those ten things. Each adventure seems to take Prez nearer to the heart of the family he is being fostered by. But they also take him closer to the day that he is due to leave them forever . . .

Review

Light-hearted and profound (Sunday Times Book of the Week)

Full of heart and emotion that might just bring a tear to your eye. If it doesn’t though it’s still got lightsabers and alien space dogs. (Tom Fletcher, Tom Fletcher Book Club)

Wholly original and exceptionally funny (The Bookseller Book of the Month)

a spiky, effervescent treat, like Spielberg’s ET put in a blender with a bottle of Irn-Bru. (The Financial Times)

A touching tale . . . told with wild humour and panache (Telegraph)

A wonderful and exciting story about friendship and appreciating what you have. (Independent)

whimsical, heart-wrenching and hilarious. (Scotsman)

…classic Cottrell Boyce: zany, lay-out-loud funny and with a very strong emotional heart. (INIS reading guide)

This is an out-of-this world adventure that is also a heartening story about the importance of friendship and family. (The Week Junior)

Sure to be a hit with young enquiring minds, this is a tale which is heart-breaking and hilarious in equal measure. (The School Librarian)

Book Description

An out-of-this-world funny book from master storyteller Frank Cottrell Boyce, with illustrations throughout by Steven Lenton, shortlisted for the 2017 Carnegie Medal and selected for the Tom Fletcher Book Club.