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Baby Aliens #7
Phantom Lollipop Man
Related activity sheets available on the Nosy Crow website.Izzy and her friends are shocked when they find their lollipop man has disappeared! Maisie thinks he's gone to Rome but if that's true, why do they keep seeing a weird white wispy cloud around the school And why do Izzy's legs feel cold even though she's got tights on Could it be that the lollipop man is a phantom and he's come to spook them all! Laugh-out-loud fun from Blue Peter Award winners Pamela Butchart and Thomas Flintham.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2018
24 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Butchart
83 books115 followersAs a child, Pamela was lucky enough to grow up in a house full of pets and go to a primary school where lots of spooky and weird things happened (well, in her imagination at least). As a student, Pamela’s student jobs included: fishwife, teaching basketball in America, phlebotomist and Artist Liaison for a (really bad) Abba tribute band. Now, when she’s not writing or going out and about meeting readers, Pamela teaches philosophy to teenagers.
Her top selling stories include The Spy Who Loved School Dinners which won the Blue Peter Best Story Award and My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat which won The Children’s Book Award. Two of her books, Petunia Peri and There’s a Werewolf in My Tent, were shortlisted for the Lollies – the Laugh Out Loud Awards.
Pamela lives in Dundee with her baby boy and their two awesome cats, Bear & Carlos. If she wasn’t working as a writer and a teacher she’d like to open a luxury hotel for stray cats.
Her top selling stories include The Spy Who Loved School Dinners which won the Blue Peter Best Story Award and My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat which won The Children’s Book Award. Two of her books, Petunia Peri and There’s a Werewolf in My Tent, were shortlisted for the Lollies – the Laugh Out Loud Awards.
Pamela lives in Dundee with her baby boy and their two awesome cats, Bear & Carlos. If she wasn’t working as a writer and a teacher she’d like to open a luxury hotel for stray cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 27, 2021
Funny phantoms are perfect for kids and this book is so awesome!
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March 25, 2018
The Phantom Lollipop Man is laugh out loud funny! Pamela Butchart's story, Thomas Flintham's illustrations, and Nosy Crow's he production of the book are all fantastic, crazy and wonderfully absorbing. The characters are knock out brilliant and I adore the busy-ness of the entire reading experience with this novel, it's a real assault to the senses with a pacey plot, a lively layout and exciting urgent illustrations propelling you through at such a speed that when I got to the end I just had to go back to the beginning and read the entire thing again!
October 27, 2018
Another fantastic "Izzy book" as my daughter calls them.
The lollypop man has gone and no-one knows where. Izzy and her friends are convinced he's dead and go about organising a wake. After all why else would the lollypop stick go floating down the corridor???
The lollypop man has gone and no-one knows where. Izzy and her friends are convinced he's dead and go about organising a wake. After all why else would the lollypop stick go floating down the corridor???
June 1, 2020
This books was good fun, a nice one to share with the kids. I don't think there's anything outstanding here but I'm glad I read it.
August 24, 2018
I’m always dubious of the quality of books aimed at the 7 – 9 age bracket, especially ones which feature lurid cartoonish illustrations and crazy typesetting. It can sometimes seem like funny books are the only thing available to children who are just getting into reading longer books, especially when it comes to newly-published material.
And so it was with a degree of forced open-mindedness and some trepidation that I embarked on my reading of ‘The Phantom Lollipop Man’ by Pamela Butchart, illustrated throughout by Thomas Flintham. But, spoiler alert, I loved it and you will too.
I immediately devoured half the book, even laughing out loud in places where Butchart has clearly written with adults in mind. The fact that the author is a teacher and the book is set in a school (as are the other books in the series) makes for some hilariously insightful gags, all delivered with a touch of real affection – everyone who knows schools will identify with the deputy head who thinks they’re the head teacher, the office ladies who know everything and the teacher who spends lunchtime secretly eating sweets in their classroom.
As is usual with children’s books school life is a touch exaggerated – the children have a den under the stairs in school which they seem to find plenty of time to visit during school hours, Zach carries a smartphone at all times and the group of friends seem to spend a lot of time haring around the corridors. But it is exactly this that children will love; it’s what makes the story more exciting. And after all, Izzy and her friends are getting up to nothing like the Famous 5 and Secret 7 used to – they’re just having adventures that children can relate to more as the setting is so familiar. I quickly introduced it to my children – taking a book to read to them on a train journey was a stroke of genius, I must say – they told me they imagined the whole thing taking place in their own school.
Reading the book aloud was a little bit of a challenge: Izzy’s breathless and tangential narration means assuming the character of an excited year 4 child is a must. But it is this writing style which makes ‘The Phantom Lollipop Man’ an endearing read, particularly as a parent of three girls and the teacher of many more primary-aged children.
Despite this looking like a funny book, it actually tackles quite a serious subject matter – so much so that I actually almost had a little cry at the end. The story involves a group of children trying to solve the mystery of where their normal lollipop man has got to. They misinterpret information from the office ladies and believe him to be dead; sightings of him lead to their conclusion that he is dead, has come back as a ghost and has unfinished business that they must help him with. Adults reading the book will understand their blunder, but children might not. It ends up as an exploration of loneliness and old age and is a gentle reminder to any reader to value all members of society, especially those at risk of becoming marginalised. This aspect of the book makes it fully rounded and a perfect read for anyone in lower key stage two – vocabulary-wise it is perfectly pitched for this age group too with enough new words to explore without it becoming too much.
As a family we’ve already begun reading the only other Pamela Butchart book in the house – her World Book Day offering ‘The Baby Brother From Outer Space!’ – such was our collective love for ‘The Phantom Lollipop Man’. I suspect that next time we visit a bookshop/library we shall be purchasing/borrowing a few more! I will also be less suspicious about brightly-coloured books with words written in bold surrounded by clouds and flashes – lesson learnt.
And so it was with a degree of forced open-mindedness and some trepidation that I embarked on my reading of ‘The Phantom Lollipop Man’ by Pamela Butchart, illustrated throughout by Thomas Flintham. But, spoiler alert, I loved it and you will too.
I immediately devoured half the book, even laughing out loud in places where Butchart has clearly written with adults in mind. The fact that the author is a teacher and the book is set in a school (as are the other books in the series) makes for some hilariously insightful gags, all delivered with a touch of real affection – everyone who knows schools will identify with the deputy head who thinks they’re the head teacher, the office ladies who know everything and the teacher who spends lunchtime secretly eating sweets in their classroom.
As is usual with children’s books school life is a touch exaggerated – the children have a den under the stairs in school which they seem to find plenty of time to visit during school hours, Zach carries a smartphone at all times and the group of friends seem to spend a lot of time haring around the corridors. But it is exactly this that children will love; it’s what makes the story more exciting. And after all, Izzy and her friends are getting up to nothing like the Famous 5 and Secret 7 used to – they’re just having adventures that children can relate to more as the setting is so familiar. I quickly introduced it to my children – taking a book to read to them on a train journey was a stroke of genius, I must say – they told me they imagined the whole thing taking place in their own school.
Reading the book aloud was a little bit of a challenge: Izzy’s breathless and tangential narration means assuming the character of an excited year 4 child is a must. But it is this writing style which makes ‘The Phantom Lollipop Man’ an endearing read, particularly as a parent of three girls and the teacher of many more primary-aged children.
Despite this looking like a funny book, it actually tackles quite a serious subject matter – so much so that I actually almost had a little cry at the end. The story involves a group of children trying to solve the mystery of where their normal lollipop man has got to. They misinterpret information from the office ladies and believe him to be dead; sightings of him lead to their conclusion that he is dead, has come back as a ghost and has unfinished business that they must help him with. Adults reading the book will understand their blunder, but children might not. It ends up as an exploration of loneliness and old age and is a gentle reminder to any reader to value all members of society, especially those at risk of becoming marginalised. This aspect of the book makes it fully rounded and a perfect read for anyone in lower key stage two – vocabulary-wise it is perfectly pitched for this age group too with enough new words to explore without it becoming too much.
As a family we’ve already begun reading the only other Pamela Butchart book in the house – her World Book Day offering ‘The Baby Brother From Outer Space!’ – such was our collective love for ‘The Phantom Lollipop Man’. I suspect that next time we visit a bookshop/library we shall be purchasing/borrowing a few more! I will also be less suspicious about brightly-coloured books with words written in bold surrounded by clouds and flashes – lesson learnt.
July 9, 2023
It's very sweet and there are some new ideas (like Izzy fainting instead of Maisie), but I think the basic theme has run its course. [Wrong! But this is perhaps the least funny of the series.]
These stories are set in Scotland, but there is nothing in the culture or vocabulary that reflects that. They could just as well be in Kent.
These stories are set in Scotland, but there is nothing in the culture or vocabulary that reflects that. They could just as well be in Kent.
September 3, 2023
Four friends, Josie, Zach, Maisie and Mabel, realise the lollipop man has vanished when a new one helps them cross the road. Everyone, teachers and students, seems mystified about him and tells the four friends that he has moved on.
Believing he has been kidnapped or died, the friends set out to investigate his disappearance and the weird things they find around the school. Ghosts, phantoms, a nebulous cloud, an orange smell and no one being able to explain the lollipop man’s disappearance lead the foursome on a quest to find the answer. The friends hold secret meetings, planning, looking for people who can talk to ghosts and trying to photograph evidence of the phantom, which results in more confusion.
Do the four friends discover what happened to the lollipop man who seems to have vanished?
Recommended for readers aged ten years and older.
Believing he has been kidnapped or died, the friends set out to investigate his disappearance and the weird things they find around the school. Ghosts, phantoms, a nebulous cloud, an orange smell and no one being able to explain the lollipop man’s disappearance lead the foursome on a quest to find the answer. The friends hold secret meetings, planning, looking for people who can talk to ghosts and trying to photograph evidence of the phantom, which results in more confusion.
Do the four friends discover what happened to the lollipop man who seems to have vanished?
Recommended for readers aged ten years and older.
September 9, 2019
In this book Izzy, Zach, Jodi and Maisie investigate the the new lollipop lady replacing their old lollipop man after no-one knows or says where he is...
After being presumed dead strange ghostly phantom happenings start around the school and the gang decide it must be Jack the lollipop man trying to settle his unfinished business!
As they fundraise and try to settle Jacks score, they get a huge surprise, but how will the school staff take it?
A really funny and wild idea that kept me on my toes guessing what was to come next for Izzy and the gang!
After being presumed dead strange ghostly phantom happenings start around the school and the gang decide it must be Jack the lollipop man trying to settle his unfinished business!
As they fundraise and try to settle Jacks score, they get a huge surprise, but how will the school staff take it?
A really funny and wild idea that kept me on my toes guessing what was to come next for Izzy and the gang!
October 11, 2022
Although this book was a bit childish for my age (like pretty much every book I read) I still really enjoyed it. I read it about 7 months agooo? So I obviously can't remember much but I remember loving every page. In fact, I grabbed this from my school library from the vampire section? I'm sorry but why was this next to twilight? Anyway, the characters in the book I found hilarious. Pretty decent read considering its a children's book.
February 21, 2018
My favourite entry in this series. My children love these books, and laugh themselves silly over Izzy and her friends working themselves up into hysterics on the flimsiest of evidence. This book delivers all that, but is also a really heartfelt reminder not to let any member of the school community feel invisible.
August 27, 2018
Amayzing , funny , exciting- the list goes on !! But what else do we expect from the brilliant Pamela Butchart? I definitely recommend this book for a family reading time or a reader looking to move on or try something new or just anyone really . However it is always best to read the many short , hilarious prequels first to understand Izzy’s gang and their adventures.
July 21, 2023
Another enjoyable addition to the Baby Aliens series of books. I'm reading these with my 8 year old daughter and she's really loving them.
I love the way that Pamela Butchart manages to write a story that appeals to children, but also has greater depth and appeal to adults. This one deals with the feelings of being lonely and unappreciated as an adult in a really clever way.
I love the way that Pamela Butchart manages to write a story that appeals to children, but also has greater depth and appeal to adults. This one deals with the feelings of being lonely and unappreciated as an adult in a really clever way.
May 21, 2021
Another good fun frolic through the school and this time with a demon lollipop man.
Lovely book to read if you have young kids.
Enough illustrations to keep them entertained and a funny story to follow along the way!
Lovely book to read if you have young kids.
Enough illustrations to keep them entertained and a funny story to follow along the way!
December 16, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book because it’s so interesting and so engaging. It was SO good and exiting! Every single time I went to my bedside table it was there and i so had the urge to read it. So its a 5 star! : )
Written by an 8 year old herself
Written by an 8 year old herself
July 19, 2018
Sam: 5 stars
November 27, 2018
I thought it was good but I prefer demon dinner lady’s
October 23, 2019
I love all her wonderful intertaning books
July 18, 2020
This was very funny. I’m definitely not the intended audience though😂 I can see this being a good read for children particularly Y4s.
August 25, 2020
Such a funny and endearing read. I love these books by Pamela Butchart; the stories are so entertaining and full of fun. I hope this series with Izzy and her friends continues to grow. Such a treat!
February 21, 2021
I loved it especially when they popped to the lollipop man's face😂
September 14, 2021
I like the creativity of the book and I like the part when they found out it was his pipe creating the smoke
November 22, 2021
not the best but ok
February 20, 2023
Dar viena nuostabi Pamelos Butchart knyga! Rekomenduoju visą seriją :-)
June 23, 2023
Absolutely amazing! So funny
March 23, 2024
3.75
this one was really good I recommend as the first one u read in the series 👍
this one was really good I recommend as the first one u read in the series 👍
September 1, 2024
Great!!!! I LOVE these books.
January 24, 2025
I liked it because the main person was a girl.
March 29, 2025
I thought this book was funny but scary at the same time
July 5, 2025
Not a great story at alll
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews