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Fortunately, The Milk...
by
You know what it’s like when your mum goes away on a business trip and Dad’s in charge. She leaves a really, really long list of what he’s got to do. And the most important thing is DON’T FORGET TO GET THE MILK. Unfortunately, Dad forgets. So the next morning, before breakfast, he has to go to the corner shop, and this is the story of why it takes him a very, very long tim
...more
Paperback, 141 pages
Published
June 5th 2014
by Bloomsbury Childrens Books
(first published September 17th 2013)
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Stephan
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Carolyn
very much so! It is fun and imaginative
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Fortunately, The Milk...

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: Gaiman, like a chef savant boldly tossing supposedly dissonant ingredients into a pot, makes a heck of a tasty stew.
Notes: Gaiman, like a chef savant boldly tossing supposedly dissonant ingredients into a pot, makes a heck of a tasty stew.

A review by my 9 y-o son, described by the utterly lovely Neil Gaiman as the 'best review ever':
Today I was sick. My mum doesn’t always believe me when I say I’m sick, but my sister was sick yesterday so Mum said I could stay off school. ‘BUT,’ she said, ‘Don’t think you’re going to be lazing around watching TV and playing on the computer all day.’
That was bad news. That is, indeed, what I was planning on doing. :(
I was bored, so Mum let me borrow her Kindle to read a book that was making her l ...more
Today I was sick. My mum doesn’t always believe me when I say I’m sick, but my sister was sick yesterday so Mum said I could stay off school. ‘BUT,’ she said, ‘Don’t think you’re going to be lazing around watching TV and playing on the computer all day.’
That was bad news. That is, indeed, what I was planning on doing. :(
I was bored, so Mum let me borrow her Kindle to read a book that was making her l ...more

It was a rainy morning and I felt like reading Neil's new book 'Fortunately, the Milk'. So I popped on my favourite astronaut t-shirt and caught the bus to my local bookstore, Snuffin and Kooks. I looked high and low for Neil's book, but all that was there were stacks of Paranormal Romance as far as I could see.
"Excuse me," I said to the nearest droopy-eyed sales attendant. "Do you have Neil Gaiman's new book, 'Fortunately, the Milk'?"
She rolled her eyes so far back that I thought for a moment ...more
"Excuse me," I said to the nearest droopy-eyed sales attendant. "Do you have Neil Gaiman's new book, 'Fortunately, the Milk'?"
She rolled her eyes so far back that I thought for a moment ...more

A quirky, weird, and fun book! I wouldn't expect anything less from Neil Gaiman. :P
...more

Fortunately, I read this book!
HOW MUCH FUN AN HOUR CAN BE
Quite funny, entertaining and it's a really quick read.
What else can you ask?
I did it on an hour...
...And for that hour I had such wonderful time.
In an hour I was lost in time, meeting fantastic characters and laughing.
PERFECT COLLABORATIVE TEAM
If you decide to read it, keep in mind that it's a short story oriented for children, so please, don't harm the rating of this sweet book just because you were expecting "Neil Gaiman, t ...more
HOW MUCH FUN AN HOUR CAN BE
Quite funny, entertaining and it's a really quick read.
What else can you ask?
I did it on an hour...
...And for that hour I had such wonderful time.
In an hour I was lost in time, meeting fantastic characters and laughing.
PERFECT COLLABORATIVE TEAM
If you decide to read it, keep in mind that it's a short story oriented for children, so please, don't harm the rating of this sweet book just because you were expecting "Neil Gaiman, t ...more

I listened to this on audiobook during a car trip with my oldest boy, (Oot, Age 4.5).
We both really enjoyed it. Though didn't get to see the illustrations, we got to hear Neil himself reading it, and he's a very, very good narrator. If you've never heard him reading his own stuff, you're really missing out. ...more
We both really enjoyed it. Though didn't get to see the illustrations, we got to hear Neil himself reading it, and he's a very, very good narrator. If you've never heard him reading his own stuff, you're really missing out. ...more


Neil Gaiman’s latest book, “Fortunately The Milk” is a boisterous tale of an extraordinary adventure, time travel and milk. Gaiman’s is full of surprises, jokes and an awful lot of just being plain silly. If you can’t tell already, I loved this book.
Gaiman’s tale narrated by a boy whose mother is away on a business trip, and whose father had to go out to the corner store for a pint of milk for the cereal and his tea. Dad takes an unconscionably long time getting the milk, and when he returns, ...more

Five bucks on Gaiman throwing darts at an idea-board.
Why? Maybe cause of the time traveling dinosaurs, unicorns, wumpires and aliens.
For such a decidedly whimsical book, it was unexpectedly fabulous. Two kids are left home alone with dad for a weekend while scientist-mom is at a conference (unexpectedly great reason for mom to be gone for the week!). Only, when it comes time for breakfast...the kids discover that there's no milk for their cereal.
Their dad bravely ventures forth to pick up some ...more
Why? Maybe cause of the time traveling dinosaurs, unicorns, wumpires and aliens.
For such a decidedly whimsical book, it was unexpectedly fabulous. Two kids are left home alone with dad for a weekend while scientist-mom is at a conference (unexpectedly great reason for mom to be gone for the week!). Only, when it comes time for breakfast...the kids discover that there's no milk for their cereal.
Their dad bravely ventures forth to pick up some ...more

Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
A quirky tale of time travelling dinosaurs, blood sucking wumpires (yes, wumpires) and enthusiastic pirates, made even more amusing by an abundance of winsome illustrations.
...more

A quirky tale of time travelling dinosaurs, blood sucking wumpires (yes, wumpires) and enthusiastic pirates, made even more amusing by an abundance of winsome illustrations.
...more

Cute.

Incredible!
Mermaid with legs
Queen of the pirates
This one's a wonderfully fun and enjoyable read!
Timeless tale of time!!
Neil Gaiman never disappoints.
***
"It's important for people to tell you what side they are on and why, and whether they might be biased. A declaration of members' interests, of a sort. So, I am going to be talking to you about reading. I'm going to tell you that libraries are important. I'm going to suggest that reading fiction, that reading for pleasure, is one of the most ...more
Mermaid with legs
Queen of the pirates
This one's a wonderfully fun and enjoyable read!
Timeless tale of time!!
Neil Gaiman never disappoints.
***
"It's important for people to tell you what side they are on and why, and whether they might be biased. A declaration of members' interests, of a sort. So, I am going to be talking to you about reading. I'm going to tell you that libraries are important. I'm going to suggest that reading fiction, that reading for pleasure, is one of the most ...more

Jul 31, 2014
Lisa
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children,
neil-gaiman
Funny! Silly! Crazy but sweet!
This is an excellent book to read aloud to 4th grade kids who are in the process of developing a sense for the absurdities of life. It is mainly about telling stories and that you can make up a great plot about anything, no matter how boring the so-called truth of every-day life is. Small things give you big ideas - and they don't have to make sense.
Fortunately, the milk was out - otherwise a couple of children would have missed out on aliens, pirates, Splod and va ...more
This is an excellent book to read aloud to 4th grade kids who are in the process of developing a sense for the absurdities of life. It is mainly about telling stories and that you can make up a great plot about anything, no matter how boring the so-called truth of every-day life is. Small things give you big ideas - and they don't have to make sense.
Fortunately, the milk was out - otherwise a couple of children would have missed out on aliens, pirates, Splod and va ...more

Feb 04, 2017
Ahmed Ejaz
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
short-stories,
2017
Milk!! I think author has a great love for milk. :)
This book is about a father who buys milk for his children. And after that, he gets trapped in a space-time continuum by aliens who wants to re-model the planet Earth and wants permission from him to do so as he is a representative of planet Earth. Lol! Father is telling his children the story of how he gets back to present-time in the whole book.
FEELINGS WHILE READING
It's a very delightful read. I enjoyed it. Really liked the adventures.
Th ...more
This book is about a father who buys milk for his children. And after that, he gets trapped in a space-time continuum by aliens who wants to re-model the planet Earth and wants permission from him to do so as he is a representative of planet Earth. Lol! Father is telling his children the story of how he gets back to present-time in the whole book.
FEELINGS WHILE READING
It's a very delightful read. I enjoyed it. Really liked the adventures.
Th ...more

Why did Dad take so long on his errand to go grab a bottle of milk for the breakfast cereal?

Well, he'll tell you.
The answer is convoluted and hilarious, involving a stegosaurus professor in a hot air balloon with a time machine, aliens, pirates, volcanos, ocean piranhas,vampires wumpires, and much, much more.

His two kids are pretty dubious but willing to go along with it for the most part ("Hang on. Piranhas are a freshwater fish. What are they doing in the sea?"). And occasionally they have re ...more

Well, he'll tell you.
The answer is convoluted and hilarious, involving a stegosaurus professor in a hot air balloon with a time machine, aliens, pirates, volcanos, ocean piranhas,

His two kids are pretty dubious but willing to go along with it for the most part ("Hang on. Piranhas are a freshwater fish. What are they doing in the sea?"). And occasionally they have re ...more

I found the plot very creative, although it's not so awesome. But it has very funny parts. Scribd's text and audiobook. The audiobook's narration was made by Neil Gaiman and I thought that this was extremely well done and amused.
...more

Sep 26, 2013
Kelly (and the Book Boar)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2013
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
What happens when Mom is away at a conference and Dad is left in charge? Well, of course they run out of milk. Follow along on Dad’s remarkable expedition to retrieve more milk. His adventure is filled with hot air balloons, dinosaurs, aliens, ponies, vampires and a talking volcano???
Gaiman could write anything – I mean absolutely ANYTHING and I would read it, so when this definitely-written-for-kids children’s novel popped up on a Ga ...more
What happens when Mom is away at a conference and Dad is left in charge? Well, of course they run out of milk. Follow along on Dad’s remarkable expedition to retrieve more milk. His adventure is filled with hot air balloons, dinosaurs, aliens, ponies, vampires and a talking volcano???
Gaiman could write anything – I mean absolutely ANYTHING and I would read it, so when this definitely-written-for-kids children’s novel popped up on a Ga ...more

Oct 29, 2013
Lesley
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
chapter-books-for-children
Thank god for Skottie Young, his expressive and original style was the thing that kept me turning the pages. It's hard for me to say that because I want to like Neil Gaiman. And I am OBSESSED with The Graveyard Book, and I've been trying to find some other work of his to praise, but unfortunately this isn't it.
It's an okay book. The story is kinda cute, in a cutesy rambling sarcastic way. It seems forced and quickly told, like Neil was at a party telling this story and someone wrote it down and ...more
It's an okay book. The story is kinda cute, in a cutesy rambling sarcastic way. It seems forced and quickly told, like Neil was at a party telling this story and someone wrote it down and ...more

Cooperation between Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell always results in something special. This is children's book but it's one that brings back child in me (which to be honest isn't that deeply buried). I had wide grin through out whole reading.
...more

A story can be found in every moment, step, and nook & cranny in life. Even a quick trip out for milk can turn into an adventure. Especially with Neil Gaiman around! The man has once again stolen my heart, giggles, and smile with a nonstop, swashbuckling spin through time and space with pirates, aliens, and wumpires. Come on, let go, and allow your imagination to wander around in Neil Gaiman’s head for a bit.
Our story begins in the kitchen. Two kids, with dashed hopes and dry cereal, stare int ...more

Right, well here I am cheating a bit - as I did not physically read this book. Neil Gaiman read it to me, in person! Chris Riddell drew pictures to help illustrate the story in the background on a screen and Lenny Henry even helped out with some of the voices. Other musicians and actresses were involved, quite a big event. (His wife, Amanda Palmer, even turned up to play her ukulele unexpectedly, with a customised version of a song tailored to sell the book. ;-)
What a magnificent evening.
The sto ...more
What a magnificent evening.
The sto ...more

If Bruce Springsteen had written this book, it would have gone something like this:
Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack.
I went out fora ride some milk,
and I never went back.
Fortunately, he didn't write it.
Neil Gaiman did.
And so, we're treated to a magical little tale of professorial dinosaurs, pirates, piranhas, and ponies. It's a merry old time, greatly enhanced by Skottie Young's illustrations.

My favorite part was when it is revealed that Dad, (view spoiler) ...more
Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack.
I went out for
and I never went back.
Fortunately, he didn't write it.
Neil Gaiman did.
And so, we're treated to a magical little tale of professorial dinosaurs, pirates, piranhas, and ponies. It's a merry old time, greatly enhanced by Skottie Young's illustrations.

My favorite part was when it is revealed that Dad, (view spoiler) ...more

Fast 'n' fun!
3.5 stars ...more
3.5 stars ...more

This was such a fun, quick read! Once I started I couldn't put it down, I finished it in less than half an hour. That's how much I enjoyed this story. I love how it revolved around one simple action that turned into a wonderful adventure. And the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous and added so much to the story. I'd recommend this for people of all ages, I feel like it's just as enjoyable for adults as it is for children. I really really loved this story!
...more

Mar 07, 2019
Alice (Married To Books)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobooks,
read-in-2019
I listened to the audiobook via my library's BorrowBox service!
Fortunately, The Milk is a quick middle-grade read about a Dad who goes out to buy some milk one morning and arrives back to his children a little later than they would have liked. To entertain them, he tells them a story of his adventure involving the milk. There are dinosaurs, aliens, pirates... yep, lots more strange characters and events are included. It was a fun listen and narrated well by Neil himself. I did find myself laughi ...more
Fortunately, The Milk is a quick middle-grade read about a Dad who goes out to buy some milk one morning and arrives back to his children a little later than they would have liked. To entertain them, he tells them a story of his adventure involving the milk. There are dinosaurs, aliens, pirates... yep, lots more strange characters and events are included. It was a fun listen and narrated well by Neil himself. I did find myself laughi ...more

Intentionally rambling, with some good humor. Exciting illustrations. My kid wasn't very hooked, but I think we'll try again in a year or two.
...more

This is such a wild, wild little adventure. I though it was middle-grade, but it's more children's-reader-style. There's a LOT of illustrations and the font is large. It has a very British tone, too, which I adore. So it wasn't quite what I thought it'd be...I still liked it. I ate it in like 15mins.
So basically the story is about a dad who goes to get milk for his kids...and goes on a whirlwind adventure in the process. The kids are at home, staring at their dry cereal, while their dad gets kid ...more
So basically the story is about a dad who goes to get milk for his kids...and goes on a whirlwind adventure in the process. The kids are at home, staring at their dry cereal, while their dad gets kid ...more

This is my son's first book. ♡♡♡
He had to read it for school, and I read it with him. It was also my first Neil Gaiman book, and I wasn't very impressed with it. I cannot say it was bad or anything like that. Just not my cup of tea.
All that said, it will always hold a special place in my heart because of my son.
...more
He had to read it for school, and I read it with him. It was also my first Neil Gaiman book, and I wasn't very impressed with it. I cannot say it was bad or anything like that. Just not my cup of tea.
All that said, it will always hold a special place in my heart because of my son.


Jul 24, 2017
Jason
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-to-cass,
read-in-2017
We thoroughly enjoyed this, a time travel book for kids. It feels like Neil Gaiman once got himself in a bit of bother with his kids and needed an excuse to get himself out of trouble. The illustrations were wonderful, something to look at on each page, the main character looking like the author really helps. If you like books with dinosaurs, pirates, aliens, human sacrifices and time travel, then this book is for you.
PS: If you like this and want another time travel book for kids then check out ...more
PS: If you like this and want another time travel book for kids then check out ...more

Always a delight :-)
Also, so me. At 5 I sat my mom down and said we had to talk. I said Santa isn’t real, mom, is he? She goes, clearly a bit panicked, why would you think that honey?! I said well for one, we keep the front door locked at night and have no chimney. Number two, is Santa can’t possibly have the exact same wrapping paper and handwriting as you and dad, mom. ;-). She was holding her breath during my little shpeal and then finally exhaled when I was done. She said, you really are too ...more
Also, so me. At 5 I sat my mom down and said we had to talk. I said Santa isn’t real, mom, is he? She goes, clearly a bit panicked, why would you think that honey?! I said well for one, we keep the front door locked at night and have no chimney. Number two, is Santa can’t possibly have the exact same wrapping paper and handwriting as you and dad, mom. ;-). She was holding her breath during my little shpeal and then finally exhaled when I was done. She said, you really are too ...more
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Play Book Tag: (POLL BALLOT) Fortunately, the Milk... / Neil Gaiman - 4**** | 1 | 6 | Nov 03, 2020 05:21PM | |
Madison County NC...: Fortunately, the Milk | 1 | 3 | Feb 24, 2020 09:25PM | |
Fortunately, the Milk | 1 | 4 | Feb 24, 2020 09:14PM | |
The Bee's Bookshelf: Discussion Thread | 37 | 24 | Oct 01, 2017 12:54PM | |
ACPL Online Book ...: Neil Gaiman! Yay! | 1 | 6 | Sep 25, 2017 08:54AM | |
The Bee's Bookshelf: Favorite Words | 7 | 19 | Sep 08, 2017 06:50AM |
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