Fortunately, the Milk . . . by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell

Gaiman claims this might just be the silliest book he's ever written. He's certainly had fun writing it, letting his imagination run loose through children's genres, as a boy recounts his father's story of an unlikely adventure on the way home from the shops. The result is a classic tall tale, full of memorable characters, brought wonderfully to life in Chris Riddell's cartoon illustrations. Kids should find the silliness thoroughly entertaining, while there are plenty of good jokes for Mums and Dads too, all delivered with impeccable timing. While the story has a shaggy dog element, it's perfectly formed, having fun with the twists and turns of time travel and memorably punctuated by the eponymous catchphrase 'fortunately, the milk...'

I can't wait to read it to our kids.

Rating: *****
Read: I had the great pleasure of having it read to me first by Neil himself and a cast of his friends, along with with a few thousand other people in Westminster Central Hall. Then I read it immediately again on the train home, with all the voices still in my head. Then again to my wife as a bedtime story, with a comedy attempt at some of the voices.