Mr Stink

Reach for this book if your child feels like they do not quite fit in or if they are struggling with the pressure to be perfect. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels overlooked at school or at home, providing a safe space to explore complex feelings through a lens of absurd humor. The story follows Chloe, a lonely 12-year-old who finds an unlikely friend in a smelly homeless man named Mr Stink, hiding him in her garden shed to protect him from a world that treats him like an eyesore. While the book is packed with David Walliams' signature silliness and Quentin Blake's whimsical illustrations, it carries a deep emotional resonance. It addresses sensitive topics like homelessness, bullying, and the sting of parental favoritism with surprising honesty. Parents will appreciate how it humanizes the unhoused and encourages children to look past first impressions. It is a heartwarming, funny, and slightly rebellious tale that celebrates the beauty of being true to oneself and the quiet power of kindness.