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Little Archie and the Tongue-tingling Super-shrinking Powder
It's Little Archie's birthday and orderly Mum and Dad give him orderly presents, which he must open in an orderly fashion - no paper ripping! But barmy Uncle Bernie gives him something altogether different - a bottle of Magic Shrinking Powder! Unable to resist, Little Archie swallows some - fizz and all. Suddenly, Archie finds himself only three inches tall and tiny enough to be popped in the post...soon he is off around the world. The question is, how will Archie get back before his parents notice? The perfect book for readers big and small! 'Small but perfectly formed, the "Little Archie" books are a delight' - Chris Riddell, award-winning author and illustrator. 'Fast-paced, warm-hearted, boisterous and fun. Kids will love it!' - Giles Andreae (aka Purple Ronnie), award-winning author.
96 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2007
About the author
Miles Gibson
22 books8 followersMiles Gibson (born 1947) is a reclusive English novelist, poet and artist.
Gibson was born in a squatters camp at an abandoned World War II airbase, RAF Holmsley South in the New Forest, and raised in Mudeford, Dorset. The camp was dubbed Tintown and had been sanctioned by Christchurch Town Council as a way to ease postwar housing shortages. He was educated at Sandhills Infant School, Somerford Junior School and Somerford Secondary Modern - now The Grange School.
Gibson’s darkly satirical writing has been described as both “magic realism” and “absurdist fiction”. Although his narratives remain linear in construction his employment of black humour, pastiche, and untrustworthy narrators places him firmly among the postmodernists.
Gibson was born in a squatters camp at an abandoned World War II airbase, RAF Holmsley South in the New Forest, and raised in Mudeford, Dorset. The camp was dubbed Tintown and had been sanctioned by Christchurch Town Council as a way to ease postwar housing shortages. He was educated at Sandhills Infant School, Somerford Junior School and Somerford Secondary Modern - now The Grange School.
Gibson’s darkly satirical writing has been described as both “magic realism” and “absurdist fiction”. Although his narratives remain linear in construction his employment of black humour, pastiche, and untrustworthy narrators places him firmly among the postmodernists.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 9, 2022
I loved this book because it was very interesting.
When I read this book, it made me love to read chapter books.
I read the whole book in one day because I loved it very much and from now on I will read a lot of chapter books.
When I read this book, it made me love to read chapter books.
I read the whole book in one day because I loved it very much and from now on I will read a lot of chapter books.
August 24, 2011
Archie is a child who lives with his mum and dad. They are keen to stress the importance of regularity in his life and frown upon Archie spending too much time with his Uncle Bernie who they believe is a bad influence on him. Archie mum’s and dad believe Uncle Bernie doesn’t keep “regular hours” and doesn’t keep his house, known as the Jackdaw’s Nest, clean. Uncle Bernie spends most of his time analysing the moon and the stars.
Early in the book, Archie celebrates his birthday. His mum buys him a fountain pen and his dad buys him a racing car without the batteries. Archie’s parents were keen to buy sensible gifts for Archie. Uncle Bernie, however, bought Archie some Magic Shrinking Powder which he discovered during his travels in China. Naturally, Archie’s mum and dad disapproved. Later that evening, Archie smelt the powder and decided to taste a small amount before falling asleep.
The powder made Archie shrink to just three inches tall. Uncle Bernie was charged with the task of making Archie big again. Archie encountered further troubles when he was blown out of an open window. He landed in a large lady’s hat and she mistook him for a baby bird. She decided to take Archie to a pet shop. The pet shop owner studied Archie and moved him on to the zoo where the zoo keeper incorrectly believed Archie was a rare pink frog. As a result, the zoo keeper sent Archie to New York to be studied at the National History Museum.
Archie was soon to be moved on again, this time to Japan’s Grand Academy. They assessed him and declared he was a visitor from outer space. Archie was moved on one final time to somebody who studies the ‘moon and stars.’ This somebody turned out to be Uncle Bernie and Archie had found his way home. Uncle Bernie found a potion which made Archie big again and everything was regular once more.
Overall, this is a light-hearted, entertaining book filled with humorous moments that children will love. It’s a character-driven book which makes it easy to relate to and invest in. Children from the age of five upwards should really enjoy this short story.
Early in the book, Archie celebrates his birthday. His mum buys him a fountain pen and his dad buys him a racing car without the batteries. Archie’s parents were keen to buy sensible gifts for Archie. Uncle Bernie, however, bought Archie some Magic Shrinking Powder which he discovered during his travels in China. Naturally, Archie’s mum and dad disapproved. Later that evening, Archie smelt the powder and decided to taste a small amount before falling asleep.
The powder made Archie shrink to just three inches tall. Uncle Bernie was charged with the task of making Archie big again. Archie encountered further troubles when he was blown out of an open window. He landed in a large lady’s hat and she mistook him for a baby bird. She decided to take Archie to a pet shop. The pet shop owner studied Archie and moved him on to the zoo where the zoo keeper incorrectly believed Archie was a rare pink frog. As a result, the zoo keeper sent Archie to New York to be studied at the National History Museum.
Archie was soon to be moved on again, this time to Japan’s Grand Academy. They assessed him and declared he was a visitor from outer space. Archie was moved on one final time to somebody who studies the ‘moon and stars.’ This somebody turned out to be Uncle Bernie and Archie had found his way home. Uncle Bernie found a potion which made Archie big again and everything was regular once more.
Overall, this is a light-hearted, entertaining book filled with humorous moments that children will love. It’s a character-driven book which makes it easy to relate to and invest in. Children from the age of five upwards should really enjoy this short story.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews