The Bodigulpa

by Jenny Nimmo

Spooky or funny, surprising or frightening, SHOCK SHOP is a collection of eight brand new novels by some of the greatest names in children`s writing. THE BODIGULPA Daniel`s not happy when Grandpa Green moves in with them after the mysterious death of Granny Green. He`s smelly, has dirty fingernails, long, lank hair and he`s mean to everyone. The only things he seems to like are his strange, menacing plants. When lovely Auntie Lorna comes to babysit one day, things take a turn for the worse. She brings her dog Stanley and Grandpa HATES dogs. After Stanley makes the mistake of peeing against the greenhouse door - the very greenhouse in which he keeps his horrible plants - Stanley disappears. All that remains is his broken, slime-covered leather collar and Daniel finds it behind Grandpa most precious the Bodigulpa. When Auntie Lorna disappears as well leaving behind only her high-heeled shoes (discovered beside the Bodigulpa) , Daniel begins to suspect that there`s more to his grandfather and his fast-growing plant than meets the eye...A great story, brilliantly told and bursting with horror, laughter and black, black humour!

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Jenny Nimmo was born in Windsor, Berkshire, England and educated at boarding schools in Kent and Surrey from the age of six until the age of sixteen, when she ran away from school to become a drama student/assistant stage manager with Theater South East. She graduated and acted in repertory theater in various towns and cities: Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Brighton, Hastings, and Bexhill.

She left Britain to teach English to three Italian boys in Almafi, Italy. On her return, she joined the BBC, first as a picture researcher, then as an assistant floor manager, studio manager (news) then finally a director/adaptor with Jackanory (a BBC storytelling program for children). She left BBC to marry a Welsh artist David Wynn Millward and went to live in Wales in her husband's family home. They live in a very old converted watermill, and the river is constantly threatening to break in, as it has done several times in the past, most dramatically on her youngest child's first birthday. During the summer they run a residential school of art, and she has to move her office, put down tools (type-writer and pencil, and don an apron and cook! They have three grown-up children, Myfawny, Ianto, and Gwenwyfar.

Reviews

[Hannah McElroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book I will be reading to my year 4 class in September. The story is quite bizarre but really funny and sweet at times. Themes of creativity, friendship and family also playing on children's curiosity of older relatives. It's also not too wordy so great to read aloud! I'm looking forward to see what they think of it!

[Ivo Maskunyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ 3 / 5

Me lo leí con 12 años y me apetecía recordarlo. Está bien para pasar un buen rato. Me encantaría que hicieran una película de terror utilizando la idea del libro 😂