The Brilliant World of Tom Gates

Product Information

Mega Robot Bros is a long-running comic strip in The Phoenix, written and illustrated by Neill Cameron. There are three spin-off graphic novels, which are wildly popular in the school library, so we were delighted to see mega-powerful Freddy appear in a more traditional novel form too! The format is similar in style to Wimpy Kid and Tom Gates, but I would say there is a touch more text, so it’s a nice step forward for children who love the illustrated format and are ready for a slightly more complex story. This is a delightful story that any middle schooler will love. The story comes complete with hilarious artwork and a main character that many can identify with. Tom’s relationship with his sister is enjoyable even though they do not agree on many things. Anyone with a sibling knows why Tom finds his sister so annoying. He blames her for his lateness to school and everything else that goes wrong in his life. Amazingly, the writing is easy, and most middle graders will understand the content without needing any help. Towards the end is a glossary that explains the English terms used in the story. This quirky, funny, highly-illustrated, fiction series follows life’s ups and downs of chaotic but loveable Tom, Delia, his old sister, his parents and of course his best friend Derek and his arch enemy, Marcus. Written by award-winning author and illustrator Liz Pichon, Tom is a master of excuses (especially when it comes to homework), creative storyteller and doodler and middle-school comedian extraordinaire. Annoy Delia. (Nothing to do with the band, but always FUN) Tom Gates Book 12: Family, Friends and Furry Creatures

Tom Gates by Liz Pichon: Books 1-15 Collection Set for children aged 7 and up is a comprehensive collection set of the first 15 Tony Gates titles that your child is going to love and learn from. Tom’s everyday trials and tribulations at home and school will keep your child engaged and immerse your young reader in a relatable world, irrespective of where they live. There has also been a stage production, Tom Gates Live, which has travelled throughout the UK. There are currently no new dates planned. Tom's family is a key element of his story, whether it's his Gran with her unusual cookery, his best friend next door or his annoying sister. Kids looking for a book they can relate to in terms of families could try Good Dog McTavishby Meg Rosoff, in which McTavish the dog takes a disorganised family in hand.It was only when she and her husband were investigating issues for their son as a child – he’s now 30 – that she realised about her own dyslexia. “We discovered that he had various different things like hearing problems, speech problems, and as we were going through the process with him, they always talked to the parents, and everything they were saying was like, well, you’re probably dyslexic. So I’ve never officially been diagnosed, but my family have always thought it.” Doodling on his plaster cast helps to pass the time, along with visits from family (with treats), friends and even Rooster managing to sneak in.

Wiegand, Chris (2019-05-13). "Tom Gates Live on Stage! review – songs and sketches from the schoolboy doodler". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28 . Retrieved 2023-06-28. Scotland, Screen (2021-05-10). "Catherine Tate and Mark Bonnar head voice cast for The Brilliant World of Tom Gates". Screen Scotland. Archived from the original on 2023-04-16 . Retrieved 2023-06-28.

In this series

In terms of an age recommendation, I think these are great books for ages 8+ and if you want to start at the beginning, the first Tom Gates book is The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, which was first published in 2011. A laugh-out-loud, fully illustrated collection of stories starring Tom Gates and his friends, family and foes!