Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder [Hardcover]

Typically when I see a kids' book with words such as "fart" in the title I don't give them a second glance. However, this book is written by one of my favourite thriller authors and the simple fact that he had written a children's a book was enough to make me *have* to read the book, never mind what it was called or what it was about.

Surprisingly, though the book is about an invention of farting powder, there is not a great deal of "toilet humour" to be found. Perhaps it's cultural, or it gets lost in translation, but the humour comes from different directions. I thought this was a delightful, funny, well-written story.

Nilly is new in the neighbourhood, he is very tiny for his age. He meets neighbours Lisa on one side and Doctor Proctor on the other. Dr. Proctor lets them in on his latest invention which is a Farting Powder. When no real use for the powder can be found they decide to sell it as a novelty item to kids, but twin bullies Truls and Trym want theirs for free so Nilly gives them an extra shot in their powder which sends them flying up into a tree. Dr. Proctor has an industrial strength version of the powder which he thinks belongs safely in the hands of NASA to be used for rocketless space travel. But then someone steals the industrial strength powder for evil purposes.

The story is full of excitement and adventure. Nilly finds himself in extreme situations from being sent to jail to being eaten by a boa constrictor called Anna Conda. The story also has a wonderful cultural appeal to it as well with plenty of inside jokes on Norway's size and not-so-famous status in the world. It's quite amazing that Nesbo, who writes such stunning adult thrillers, has the ability to write such a fun, whimsical children's story as well. He certainly is a talented writer. I highly recommend this. It will appeal to both boys and girls, but I'd certainly add this to any Books for Boys list. A hilarious romp. It would be great to see Nesbo come out with another children's book in the future. (Just as long as it doesn't interfere with his thrillers' schedule :-)

According to Jo Nesbo, the Norwegian crime writer, the only thing missing in our appreciation of history is a place for the imagination to work its magic and offer us possible what-if scenarios that could save us from ourselves. For instance, what would happen if technology in the form of a crazy, wacky invention such as a flying bathtub suddenly became available that allowed us to move back and forth in time to change the less favourable outcomes of history? While the notion of time-travel is not original, how Nesbo uses it is: his cast of participants in this hilarious tale of historical manoeuvring includes an eccentric old inventor who has the knack to create the most unusual devices that only children seem to enjoy and make use of: fart powder, high-octane soap, a bathtub that serves as a time machine, etcetera, etcetera. As Lisa and Nilly, two Norwegian youngsters who are eagerly seeking adventure, team up with the curiously reclusive Dr. Proctor, a whole new world of intrigue and whim opens up for them as they battle the forces of evil for control of history. Their crusade will take them to Paris to fight a crime boss who believes he is answerable to nobody. With the help of this magical contraption, the children will launch out into nine hundred years of history to put a string of injustices right that have never been completely addressed or understood. While they might save a lot of lives by changing the finer detail of events such as the burning of Joan d'Arc, the Battle of Waterloo, and the Reign of Terror before they happen, there are some things that can't be radically changed, only made better. Solutions to big problems start with child-like imaginations seeing all kinds of possibilities, including the far-fetched, and trying to make them work, such as getting Dr. Proctor and his sweetheart to tie the knot. Adults, on the other hand, are trapped in a world that is humourless, deadly serious, and often instinctual. As one of those sober adults who needs to periodically lighten up, I really enjoyed this children's story because it was genuinely funny and absurd. Great for the kid in all of us!

I bought this book for my son and he set aside the book he was reading and dove into this. By his giggles, I can tell he is completely enjoying this book.