Reviews

The 39-Story Treehouse: Mean Machines & Mad Professors! by Andy Griffiths

thomasawriter's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Perfect amount of whimsy and imaginative craziness to please any child or adult. These books will most definitely turn children to reading which can only be a good thing. I will most definitely recommend this, and if I had to criticise anything it would be that at times the repetition and large pictures spanning many pages seem to be a device to fill more. That being said, it’s a children's book, it’s kind of what children's books need to be. I purchased this from a charity shop. It was 20p, and honestly, it’s one of the best 20p’s I’ve spent.

atjelea's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A fun "before bed" read with my two kids. They sometimes would moan and groan when it was time to read, but as I turned the pages and began to read aloud, they snuggled in closer and begged for "just one more chapter" at every reading session. We would start and stop, and sometimes life would get in the way, but we always made our way back to our reading time together. There is nothing more satisfying than sharing a love for the written word...and a few giggles too! On to the next book in the series! Thank you Andy and Terry for creating a fantastical world that amuses and bonds us as we read together!

readingwithpapillons's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This book would be fantastic for young children

lindaheesakkers's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

3,5 ⭐

henryjojobean's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

squiggleb's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

My 6 year old son is absolutely loving this series and has already asked if I can buy him the rest of them. We’ve been reading them at bedtime and it’s been so lovely to see him engage with them.

sarah_k's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

s_hay's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This is the 3rd Treehouse book by Andy Griffiths, but if you have not read the previous two you will not be lost.
Andy and Terry have been asked to write a book, but they have taken too long and are only a day away from their dead-line. To save time they invent a machine to write the book for them. However, when they decide they want to write some of the book themselves the machine locks them out of their treehouse and takes over. Andy and Terry embark on a crazy adventure as they try to regain control of their treehouse.
Good for ages 8 and up. Will appeal to fans of Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

babyleo's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

One thing that can be said about the audiobook experience of the Treehouse series is that Stig Wemyss really enjoys his role as narrator, and with the freedom and challenge of engaging children in an audio book his enthusiasm is a great draw.

Despite this, I do think this would have been a good one to read rather than listen to, there sounds like there would be a great assortment of pictures based on what happens. That is to say it wasn't still enjoyable. As before, audio prompts, music, and sound effects make this just as enjoyable, maybe even more so; though I do feel like Terry's drawings are being neglected, considering how much he talks about drawing in the books.

With another 13 storeys added to the treehouse another adventure awaits. Andy tells us what new things they have added to the treehouse, each as exciting and improbably and delightful as the previous things. Andy and Terry once again have a book due but Terry has a solution he's been working on which naturally causes mayhem.

Terry also got a spotlight moment and a reprieve from being the daft friend, his drawing skills become essential and his illustration skills are commended. There're also songs in this story, some more poems than songs, but one definite song, which Wemyss has to sing which was...an experience. I'm also learning that there will always be a recap of the book within the book, but thankfully it's a fast recap.

Griffiths certainly had worked out a rhythm with this series. It's repetitive, cheeky, silly, and all the fun and gross (but not too gross) things that make kids laugh. Once you get used to the structure of these books they become quite enjoyable, no matter your age.

This review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book

ricksilva's review

Go to review page

4.0

This starts out similarly to the first book in the series, with a tour of all the latest additions to the Treehouse (World's Scariest Roller Coaster! Baby Dinosaur Petting Zoo!), followed by Andy and Terry facing another deadline for their next book from their publisher Mr. Big Nose, and the inevitable attempt to get our of actually putting in the work needed to finish the book.

In this case the scheme involves building a machine called the Once-Upon-A-Time-Machine to write the story for them. But when the machine develops a mind of its own, Andy and Terry travel to the Dark Side of the Moon, where the world's most infamous un-inventor had been banished.

Turns out, there was a reason he was sent there.

This book was a huge improvement over the first one for two reasons. First of all, the character of Jill is featured a lot more in this story, and she manages to be something of a rational voice in a few places while still keeping all her fun, quirky qualities. The chapter that takes place at her house is awesome.

And second, once Professor Stupido, the un-inventor is introduced, the book rapidly takes a turn into completely surreal territory on a cosmic scale.

The off-the-charts craziness level of the second half of the book totally brings this series to a new level (new story?).

I also appreciated the ability of the creative team to make even small details from early in the story relevant to the end. I did find that the story dragged a bit in places, but there were also plenty of good slapstick jokes to keep the mood light.