It’s always a source of enormous pleasure to me to discover a new series of books that I love and when there is more than one title on the shelf for me to enjoy, so much the better. Having only read Book 1 in this hilarious series last week, I made myself take a wee break before I allowed myself to pick up this sequel, knowing that a little bit of a wait would make me appreciate it all the more once I got stuck in. As I knew it would be, this is another enormously funny, beautifully illustrated and action-packed read with a whole host of monsters, none of which is likely to upset or scare younger or more sensitive readers, as we find ourselves immersed in another wonderful outing for trainee monster hunter Jack, mentor Scoop and bestie Nancy after their first adventure. Holding on to his precious copy of Monster Hunting for Beginners, Jack reflects on how he would rather face monsters than meet lots of terrifying new children his own age as he joins Nancy at her school. Luckily for him, she is on hand to soothe his nerves and at the end of a quiet first morning, she tells him that nothing out of the ordinary ever happens in school. Unfortunately for Jack, he soon discovers that Nancy is wrong when he receives a letter from the International League of Monster Hunters. Tearing open the envelope, Jack discovers a plea for help from The Perpetual Sisters of Misery who tell him that they are overrun with Lubbers. Racing home to inform Scoop of their new mission, Jack is surprised when Scoop tells him that Lubbers are not dangerous and that he doubts The Perpetual Sisters are even real, advising his charge to ignore them. An unimpressed Nancy tells Jack that it is his duty to respond, especially when a previously hidden message appears at the end of the missive stating that if the Sisters are forced to leave their home it will bring about THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT! After a brief argument, Scoop eventually gives in and the three companions head north of the border on their way to Muckle Abbey. Following a lively encounter with Fog Goblins, Jack, Scoop and Nancy arrive at the abbey and soon make the acquaintance of the nuns who live there. When the head of the order reveals a prophecy telling of terrible monsters leaving the underworld through an entrance hidden beneath the abbey if the nuns ever leave, Jack and the others are forced to take the threat of the Lubbers seriously. But it soon becomes clear that an infestation of Lubbers is not the only problem in need of attention and Jack and the others will need to use all of their courage and ingenuity if they are to prevent a calamity of monstrous proportions… Jack and Nancy now feel like old friends to me and I delighted in sharing this adventure with them. While it is only Jack that is really apprenticed to Stoop, both of the youngsters take their monster hunting responsibilities very seriously – Jack makes sure to include Nancy in his work and she is determined not to miss out on any of the action, meaning that they work together wonderfully well. As they face various threats throughout the story, their different approaches to not only problem solving but to the creatures they meet too, ensures that there is never a dull moment and the reader is held captivated waiting to see just what happens next. The absolute beauty of this series is the books’ universal appeal to readers both young and old. Not only will children revel in the hugely funny storyline but so will any adults lucky enough to be sharing the stories with them – the many footnotes and the names of the nuns in particular had me chuckling at various points. Perfect for lower KS2, this is another title which is highly illustrated and comprises short chapters making it guaranteed not only to hold the attention of everyone who picks it up but also to prompt that just one more chapter feeling that is so often responsible for converting less confident readers into story addicts when shared as a read-aloud. I enjoyed this hugely and am really looking forward to taking in my copies of this and Book 1 to school to share.

Monster Hunting: Monsters Bite Back is the second scerrifyingly hilarious adventure for apprentice monster hunter Jack, his friend Nancy and 200-year-old monster hunter Stoop. This can be read as a standalone, but I have no doubt that young readers who haven’t already devoured - and belched a little – at Monster Hunting for Beginners will be eagerly hunting it down after reading this. When Jack gets a letter from the Sisters of Perpetual Misery asking for his help to rid them of some monsters who are making their lives in Muckle Abbey a misery, he cannot turn them down. Especially as an ancient curse prophesying THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT may be enacted if they are forced to leave the abbey … And so begins a ferociously funny, action-packed and exciting adventure brimming with razor-sharp humour, a splatter (or maybe a platter) of rudeness and oodles of unforgettable, not-at-all-as-expected monsters as Jack, Nancy and Stoop travel by seven-league boots to Scotland via a quick game of Hoo Shank with some Fog Goblins … Can Jack help the nones nuns (their names are genius!) stay in their abbey? Could there be something more sinister behind the infestation of mayhem-loving monsters in the abbey? Will Jack’s monster-hunting skills keep him safe from harm? And can the THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT be prevented? This is written in the first person from Jack’s viewpoint, and I really loved the chatty, funny, warm style with the scintillating witty commentary in the footnotes. I thought the plot was very clever with some unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the pages after I’d stopped giggling at some of the most ridiculously funny encounters and characters. The monsters which Jack, Nancy and Stoop encounter are just brilliant and I loved reading the entries about them in Jack’s magical book, Monster Hunters for Beginners. I definitely don’t think I’d want to meet any of them … especially the loud, unpredictable and very dangerous ones! Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong profession! Although, on second thoughts, a mischievous Lubber or ten might be fun on the playground – definitely not in class! The hardback edition is just gorgeous with the cover under the dust jacket full of monsters who could definitely bite back! The full-and-partial-page internal illustrations are stunning and complement the story’s monstrously good humour perfectly. This is a rollicking, ridiculously fun adventure that is guaranteed to bring giggles and groans of delight in equal measure: perfect for young adventurers of 7+ who I have no doubt will adore monster hunting with Jack, Nancy and Stoop just as much as I did.