Description

Charlie McGuffin has an incredible secret . . .

He can change into animals. All sorts of animals: a flea, a pigeon, even a rhino.

Trouble is, he can’t decide when – it only happens when he gets worried. And right now, Charlie has quite a lot to worry about:

* His brother (who is in hospital)

* His parents (who are panicking about it)

* And the school bully (who has Charlie in his sights)

And even though every kid wants a superhero power, Charlie isn’t keen on changing into a chicken in the middle of the school play.

So with the help of his three best friends, Charlie needs to find a way of dealing with his crazy new power – and fast!

The first book in a hilarious new series for fans of Roald Dahl and David Walliams!

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize!
Longlisted for the Brandford Boase Award!
Longlisted for the Blue Peter Award!
The Guardian and The Telegraph’s Children’s Book of the Year!
_______

Praise for Charlie Changes into a Chicken:

‘Belly-busting hilarity’ The Guardian

‘The modern masterpiece . . . this savvy, comic tale ticks every box’ The Daily Telegraph

‘The best kind of silly’ The Observer

‘Full of heart and humour, wit and wisdom, and rivers of rhino poo’ Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs

‘Wonderfully heart-warming and absolutely hilarious’ Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island

Publisher Review

"A side-splitting debut... fantastically ridiculous... will have readers snorting with giggles." * Press Association * "Laugh-out-loud funny, with an important underlying message on how to cope with anxiety." * Abie Longstaff * "A clever and hilarious story with a hero you'll love... I'm already looking forward to the next one" * Parents In Touch * "In the words of Jean-Claude the pigeon... I am in love with this most delicious, beautiful and delectable book and I wish to fly away with it!" * Laura Ellen Anderson, author of the Amelia Fang series * "A heart-warming story that has led to comparisons with such celebrated authors as David Walliams and David Solomons. But this is no ordinary children's story. ... (it) doesn't just entertain his readers but can actually help them to deal with their anxieties." * The Irish Examiner * Full of heart and humour, wit and wisdom, and rivers of rhino poo * Sophie Anderson, author of The House With Chicken Legs * "Hysterically funny!" * Jeremy Strong * "Charlie Changes Into a Chicken is a gloriously fun, madcap adventure with a celebration of friendship at its heart." * Anna James, author of Pages & Co: Tilly and the Book Wanderers * "Gloriously silly, gleefully naughty, totally entertaining. So good, in fact, that I HAD to finish it once my son was asleep!" * Michelle Harrison, author of A Pinch of Magic * So good you'll CLUCK with laughter * Pamela Butchart * "Wonderfully heart-warming and absolutely hilarious." * Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island * 'Very funny indeed.' * Robin Stevens, author of A Murder Most Unladylike series * "This is a glorious debut from an exciting new voice in children's comedy fiction. Sam Copeland WILL turn into a megastar on the strength of this first outing. Cleverly daft storytelling at its very, very best." * Maz Evans, author of Who Let The Gods Out * "This is a book that isn't what you expect, cleverly portraying ways of dealing with stress and anxiety..This is a brilliant and positive debut from Sam Copeland" * Booktrust * "Fresh and funny - this reads like a modern-day Dahl." * Christopher Edge, author of The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day * "Sam Copeland's debut is brilliant, laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely moving. However, Charlie Changes into a Chicken is not just a joyous read, through its relentlessly hilarious narrative it ingeniously communicates an important message for children who struggle with anxiety or are confronted by difficulties in their life. A great debut is one that you feel must have always existed, and this is one of those books. Every school library needs to have multiple copies and may I recommend it to every single parent out there." * MG Leonard, author of Beetle Boy * "A great example of a kids' book with lots of humour." * The Sun * "An adventure of fantastical proportions.. a comic novel which fans of Kid Normal will flock to" * The Irish Times * "This really is one of the funniest, freshest debuts I've read in a long time. Delightfully silly and utterly heartfelt.. Comedy is hard to do right, but Copeland's enviable timing and knack for properly laugh-out-loud jokes set this apart. Charlie's experiences in animal form are comedy gold... it is just genius. A real delight and deserves to be huge." * The Bookseller, Books of the Month * "This is one of the best children's tales we've come across in years... hilariously funny but with proper heart.. providing laughter on every page, it's a sure-fire debut hit." * Waterstones, Book of the Month * "An essential talent, full of the best of Roald Dahl" * Elle * "The best kind of silly." * The Observer, Children's Books of the Month * "A brilliant debut... a book that is not only laugh-out-loud funny but offers important advice about coping with anxiety." * The Mail on Sunday, Children's Books of the Month * "A stand-out star, offering belly-busting hilarity.. Head and shoulders above the competition." * The Guardian, Children's Books of the Month * "One of the most hyped children's debut of the decade.. Here is the modern masterpiece: a book that is full of laughs, while also exploring childhood anxiety.. This is a touching and engaging story. This savvy, comic tale ticks every box." * The Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year * Fantastically ridiculous and silly in equal measures . . . will have readers snorting with giggles * The Northern Echo * An essential talent, full of the best of Roald Dahl and David Walliams * Elle (France) * For readers of about seven-plus, Sam Copeland's debut Charlie Changes Into a Chicken (Puffin) is a stand-out star, offering belly-busting hilarity and a loving, light touch take on childhood anxiety . . . A supportive cast of friends (fiendishly clever Flora in particular), subtly planted strategies for coping with worry, and some joyfully silly metanarrative tricks (including a publisher's letter of apology) place Charlie head and shoulders above the competition; Sarah Horne's wild-haired, twitch-eyed illustrations add another layer to the fun. * The Guardian * Gloriously silly, gleefully naughty and totally entertaining * Michelle Harrison, author of A Pinch of Magic * A brilliant debut . . . laugh-out-loud funny * The Mail on Sunday * A clever and hilarious story with a hero you'll love... I'm already looking forward to the next one * Parents In Touch * Charlie Changes Into a Chicken is a gloriously fun, madcap adventure with a celebration of friendship at its heart. * Anna James, author of Pages & Co: Tilly and the Book Wanderers * Very funny indeed. * Robin Stevens, author of the Murder Most Unladylike Series * This is a book that isn't what you expect, cleverly portraying ways of dealing with stress and anxiety..This is a brilliant and positive debut from Sam Copeland * Booktrust * An adventure of fantastical proportions.. a comic novel which fans of Kid Normal will flock to * The Irish Times * This really is one of the funniest, freshest debuts I've read in a long time. Delightfully silly and utterly heartfelt.. Comedy is hard to do right, but Copeland's enviable timing and knack for properly laugh-out-loud jokes set this apart. Charlie's experiences in animal form are comedy gold... it is just genius. A real delight and deserves to be huge. * The Bookseller * One of the most hyped children's debut of the decade.. Here is the modern masterpiece: a book that is full of laughs, while also exploring childhood anxiety.. This is a touching and engaging story. This savvy, comic tale ticks every box. * The Daily Telegraph * I laughed out loud at the part about yin and yang and win and wang. Oh, and the rhino poo - giant poo will never not be funny. * Lara Williamson, author of A Boy Called Hope and The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean * So good you'll CLUCK with laughter! * Pamela Butchart, author of Baby Aliens Got My Teacher * Brilliant, laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely moving * M.G. Leonard, author of Beetle Boy * In the words of Jean-Claude the pigeon, I am in love with this most delicious, beautiful and delectable book and I wish to fly away with it! * Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Witch Wars * Fresh and funny - this reads like a modern-day Dahl * Christopher Edge, author of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright * Laugh out loud funny, with an important underlying message on how to cope with anxiety * Abie Longstaff, author of How To Catch a Witch * Wonderfully heart-warming and absolutely hilarious * Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island * Full of heart and humour, wit and wisdom, and rivers of rhino poo * Sophie Anderson, author of The House With Chicken Legs * Hysterically funny! * Jeremy Strong, author of My Brother's Famous Bottom * Cleverly daft storytelling at its very, very best * Maz Evans, author of Who Let The Gods Out? * The best kind of silly * Observer *