The future book by Mac Barnett. Illus. by Shawn Harris

In the future the sun is called moon, the moon is called sun. It is a place where bananas are called apples and apples … well, apples no longer exist. Readers will dive head long into this book of topsy turvy, of things being differently named in the future. And stretch their imaginations.

If you sneeze, you say, ‘Forgive me, Susan’, while to say thank you means a fish is placed on one’s head. All deliciously silly and nonsensical, ensuring kids will be rolling around helplessly laughing as the book is read aloud. And spare a thought for the person reading, tears rolling down their faces as they turn the page to see an array of people all called by the same name, Charlie Cheese Face, or stumble over the cat being called a Meowing life form, and the dog, well, he is called dog.

I love the way the text has the reader thinking ahead, but then something quite different from what is envisaged, occurs. It keeps the readers on their toes. 

Noses are not called noses in the future, but mushrooms, so a plate of mushrooms for breakfast in the future, could look less inviting than expected. 

Each page offers a different meaning for words well known, and offers a different slant on the use of that word. Kids will be enraptured thinking of wider implications, or sharing sentences with the new words replacing the old. 

Bolly Molly hoo hoo is the name of a supermarket in the future, and a short story uses all the words from the book, about a trip to the bolly bolly hoo hoo to buy some fruit.

Lots of sentences will be constructed using the new words, and suggestions for other words, while kids get their tongues around the ones offered. 

The illustrations reflect the fun of the text, making sure readers understand the text in all of its silliness.  Ink and gouache illustrations fill each page, offering an image of the word under discussion. On the cover a man with incredible futuristic sunglasses sits quietly with a fish on his head. Questions will immediately spring to readers’minds as they open the book, anticipating … well, just anticipating.

This wonderfully involving nonsensical story will captivate kids with its delicious humour and equally enthralling illustrations. The idea of looking back from the future will provoke kids into thinking about the changes that will occur, and what it will mean for them. And will entertain, provoke and cause lots of laughter. And the Simon and Schuster website tells us that two more books in the series will be published. What larks.

Themes: Humour, Future, Word games.

Fran Knight