David Baddiel Collection 3 Books Set (The Parent Agency, The Person Controller, Animalcolm)

This three-book collection brings together David Baddiel’s stories The Parent Agency, The Person Controller and Animalcolm. Each title follows a different set of children as they face unexpected situations that challenge how they see themselves, their families and the world around them.

From a world where children can choose their parents, to a mysterious controller with unusual powers, and a boy whose life is surrounded by pets he cannot stand, the set presents three distinct premises with humour and change at their centre. Across the collection, everyday frustrations quickly become something far stranger, and the characters discover that what seems simple at first rarely stays that way.

Included titles

• The Parent Agency
• The Person Controller
• Animalcolm

Key details

• Three-book set
• By David Baddiel
• Includes The Parent Agency, The Person Controller and Animalcolm

Synopses

The Parent Agency

Barry Bennett is unhappy with his parents and keeps wishing for better ones. He discovers a world not far from his own where children are allowed to choose their parents, rather than parents having children by chance. What first feels like a dream come true proves to be more complicated than he expects.

The Person Controller

Twins Fred and Ellie share the same interests, especially video games, which they are very good at. They struggle with other parts of life, including football and dealing with school bullies. After meeting the Mystery Man, they receive a controller unlike any they have seen before, and it does not work with their usual games; when they learn what it can control, it seems to offer an answer to everything.

Animalcolm

Malcolm does not like animals, even though his family love them and their home is full of pets. He is disappointed that his birthday does not bring the laptop he wanted, and he looks forward to the Year 6 school trip until he realises it is going to a farm. Over the following days, he changes as he learns what it is really like to be an animal, affecting how he thinks, speaks and eats, and raising the question of whether he will end up the same as before.