Follow That Bus!
by Pat Hutchins
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Description
Two bank robbers find that a group of second graders visiting a farm are more than they bargained for.Tags
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Member Reviews
Follow That Bus! Is a great adventure story for kids. It has bank robbers, mistaken identity, kidnapping, baddies in (bad) disguise, a car/tractor chase, a hilarious policeman and a pack of dogs. And aniseed balls. The story takes place on a school trip to the farm, when the class unwittingly becomes embroiled in a bank robbery, which of course, they eventually foil to become the heroes of the day.
It's genuinely funny. There are some great characters amongst the children - particularly the determined Avril and the fanciful Jessica, who will make kids chuckle as well as working well to move the story along. The best character by far is the bumbling community policeman - I can vividly remember reading this part to my younger sister when show more she was probably 6 and I was 12, and us both being doubled up with laughter.
And of course, one of the best things about the book are the great illustrations by Laurence Hutchins (Pat's husband). The front cover alone is enough to make you pick up the book, but the black and white pictures are full of humour and energy and have an almost comic book feel to them, matching the story perfectly.
Follow That Bus! remains in print, 41 years after it was first written in 1977. This is probably because (with the exception of aniseed balls - what happened to those?!) there is very little in the story to suggest the era. It reads pretty much like a book that was written recently. Even the drawings hold up. Great stuff all round. show less
It's genuinely funny. There are some great characters amongst the children - particularly the determined Avril and the fanciful Jessica, who will make kids chuckle as well as working well to move the story along. The best character by far is the bumbling community policeman - I can vividly remember reading this part to my younger sister when show more she was probably 6 and I was 12, and us both being doubled up with laughter.
And of course, one of the best things about the book are the great illustrations by Laurence Hutchins (Pat's husband). The front cover alone is enough to make you pick up the book, but the black and white pictures are full of humour and energy and have an almost comic book feel to them, matching the story perfectly.
Follow That Bus! remains in print, 41 years after it was first written in 1977. This is probably because (with the exception of aniseed balls - what happened to those?!) there is very little in the story to suggest the era. It reads pretty much like a book that was written recently. Even the drawings hold up. Great stuff all round. show less
This story that turns an ordinary school outing into a madcap adventure for Class. When forgetful Miss Beaver accidentally switches her hold all with that of some bank robbers, the whole class becomes involved in a cops-and-robbers chase across the countryside. Despite the chaos, they emerge victorious by capturing the baddies! It’s a delightful tale of unexpected excitement and teamwork.
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Author Information
83+ Works 22,195 Members
Pat Hutchins was born Patricia Goundry on June 18, 1942 in Yorkshire, England. In 1958 at the age sixteen, she won a scholarship to attend the Darlington School of Art, where she studied for three years. Then she attended the Leeds College of Art, where studied illustration. After graduating in 1962, she moved to London. She worked as a junior art show more director at the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. She met her husband there and after they were married, her husband was transferred by the advertising company to head up its New York office. While in New York, she met the editor-in-chief of the children's department at Macmillan, who encouraged her to write and illustrate her own story. Her first book, Rosie's Walk, was published in 1968 and was a 1968 ALA Notable Book. She wrote more than 40 books for young readers including Titch, Don't Forget the Bacon!, 1 Hunter, Good-Night, Owl!, and The Doorbell Rang. In 1974, The Wind Blew won the Kate Greenaway Medal. She died on November 7, 2017 at the age of 75. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1979
- First words
- The children of Class 6 peered anxiously out of the windows of the school bus as the church clock struck nine.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)But— er," she paused guiltily, "I seem to have mislaid it!"
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Children's Books
- DDC/MDS
- 823.914 — Literature & rhetoric English & Old English literatures English fiction 1900- 1901-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PZ7 .H96165 .F — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 66
- Popularity
- 472,002
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.33)
- Languages
- English, French
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 1
