Description

The Astounding Broccoli Boy is the hilarious tale of an unlikely (and very green) hero believing in himself and finding adventure. Written by the award-winning UK Children’s Laureate 2024-2026, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and illustrated throughout by Steven Lenton. Perfect for children aged 8+.

Green by day, hero by night!

Rory Rooney likes to be prepared for all eventualities. His favourite book is Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared, and he has memorized every page of it. He could even survive a hippo attack. He knows that just because something is unlikely doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen . . .

But Rory isn’t prepared when he suddenly and inexplicably turns green. Stuck in an isolation ward in a hospital far from home with two other remarkably green children, Rory’s as confused by his new condition as the medics seem to be.

What if turning green actually means you’ve turned into a superhero? Rory can’t wait to make it past hospital security and discover exactly what his superpower might be . . .

‘Brilliantly funny, believable and very human’ – The Bookseller

‘A funny, silly and underlyingly serious story about self-belief . . . and the value of being nice to people’ – The Sunday Times

Publisher Review

This is classic Cottrell Boyce: brilliantly funny, believable and very human. * The Bookseller * Frank Cottrell Boyce has cracked it again with a fast-paced adventure about a boy who turns green . . . a rallying cry for the power of difference. — Lorna Bradbury * Telegraph.co.uk * An action-filled romp from an all-star author. * Metro * A funny, silly and underlyingly serious story about self-belief, slapstick adventures, a very endearing penguin, the miraculousness of London and the value of being nice to people. It also carries the message that even if your are small (or any other size) and green (or any other colour), you should never be pushed around. — Nicolette Jones * Sunday Times * Family and friends, the power of the imagination, tackling bullies and learning that real heroes come in every shape and size are just some of the themes covered in this delightful, laugh-out-loud reading odyssey which has been brought to glorious life by Steven Lenton’s quirky illustrations and is guaranteed to enchant both children and parents. * Lancashire Evening Post *