The Bolds

by Julian Clary, David Roberts

Overview

The Bold family seems fairly normal: they live in a nice house, the parents have good jobs, and they all love to have fun. One slight difference: they're hyenas. That's right—they're covered in fur, have tails tucked into their clothes, and really, really like to laugh.

For years, the Bolds have kept their true identities under wraps. But now the neighbors are getting suspicious, and the Bolds are getting homesick. During a trip to the local wildlife park, they meet an old hyena who is going to be put down, and the Bolds have to act fast to save him—without revealing their secret!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512407594
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	12/28/2022
Series:	Bolds Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Julian Clary is a comedian, entertainer, and novelist who has toured across the world with his one-man shows. He lives in Kent, England, with his partner, dogs, and several chickens.

David Roberts has illustrated many books for young readers. He lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

12/21/2015
In this humorously off-kilter tall tale, British comic Clary’s first book for children, a pair of hyenas take on the identity of two British honeymooners eaten by crocodiles while on safari. The hyenas hide their tails in human clothes and their ears under hats, adapting so well to their new lives that they raise their cubs to fit in as humans, too. “It is true to say that people in Teddington considered them to be an unusual couple,” notes the chatty narrator. “But no one jumped to the conclusion that they were a pair of hyenas.” Because the family laughs and kids around so much, they make friends easily and even share their secret with one trusted human. Their grumpy, spying neighbor is trouble, however, and when a hyena at a nearby safari park needs rescuing, the Bolds’ plan to free him could mean blowing their cover. Roberts’s manically expressive b&w illustrations capitalize on the unapologetically silly premise (Mrs. Bold is a real style icon in oversize glasses, a turban, and a dress with the silhouette of a lampshade) as Clary mixes animal fact with imaginative, entertaining fiction. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"Middle-graders will revel in the low-brow silliness, with delightful illustrations of the joyful, sharp-toothed hyena family by British artist David Roberts. The Bolds is not pure frivolity, it's also a celebration of ingenuity, tolerance, untiring good humor and big hyena hearts."—starred, Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

02/01/2016
Gr 2–4—After a crocodile in Africa eats two English tourists, a pair of hyenas (Mr. and Mrs. Bold) travel back to Teddington, England, disguised as the tourists. The book follows the Bolds' adventures as they try to resist their animal nature so that they can blend into their new suburban neighborhood and live as humans. This fast-paced read follows the family, including their new twin baby hyenas, as they break a fellow hyena out of captivity in a safari park. The twist at the end may surprise readers, though there are clues hidden in the illustrations throughout the book. There are enough wacky situations and outright jokes (Mr. Bold finds a job writing jokes because hyenas are always laughing) to engage reluctant readers. There is some potty humor, but this is sure to add to the book's appeal. Roberts's illustrations support the off-kilter, humorous mood of the book and are integrated into the text in inventive ways. For example, the page where the crocodile eats the English tourists features an illustration of a wide-open crocodile mouth; the number of words on each line lessens as the text goes further into the crocodile's mouth. Underscoring the slapstick appeal is a message about understanding others' differences. VERDICT Fans of Roald Dahl will find much to appreciate here.—Celia Dillon, The Brearley School, New York

School Library Journal

★ 2015-11-25
Meet the Bolds: Fred, Amelia, and their children, Bobby and Betty; as nice a suburban family of hyenas posing as humans as one could ask for, they should rehabilitate the scavenger's tattered, post-Lion King reputation among the younger set. They move to an English suburb, Teddington, which has a comfortable climate; moreover, here, instead of engaging in the hyena dinnertime free-for-all on the savannah, humans line up politely. These pluses aside, the long learning curve tests Fred and Amelia, requiring the utmost ingenuity and adaptability, especially after the pups are born. They're up to the challenge. Shocked to discover water and food aren't free, Fred lands a job writing the silly jokes inserted in Christmas crackers. Hats make good disguises, but how are the pups to hide their tails at school? Certain cherished hyena habits are hard to break (laughing raucously in class, rummaging through garbage, gnawing on chairs). Misanthropic Mr. McNumpty next door becomes suspicious, especially after the family starts visiting the safari park and learns an elderly hyena's in mortal danger. Published first in the U.K., the book's hilarious plot and abundant illustrations make it a top choice for reluctant readers. The art brilliantly reflects the many twists and turns of plot and emotion, among them the Bolds' (mostly) staid suburban home life, their sinister neighbor, and other wild animals—fox, hippo, gazelle—possibly living the human life incognito. Wildly original and very funny. (Animal fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews