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Deep Trouble, Debi Gliori
Doubleday
Reviewed by Lisa Hoult (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

If you have littlies in the family then Debi Gliori should be a well-known name. She has written more than 40 children's picture books including Penguin Post, Always and Forever and our family favourite, No Matter What. She has now branched into writing for older children and Deep Trouble is the fourth in this amazing series.

The Strega-Borgias are a Gothic family living in their centuries-old family mansion StregaSchloss, located near Auchenlochtermuchty in Scotland. There is 13-year-old Titus, 11-year-old Pandora and their baby sister, Damp.

Along with their parents, the nanny, the butler and the cook there is a selection of pets not ordinarily found in most households. We meet a crocodile, a solo-parent-teenaged dragon and her baby, a gryphon, a yeti and the Loch Ness monster. My favourite, though, has to be Tarantella the lipstick-loving tarantula.

In this episode the Strega-Borgias arrive home from holiday to discover that Latch the butler has been attacked and needs urgent hospitalisation. Understandably upset, they must, however, find a temporary replacement and so begins the search for a suitable stand-in.

They finally decide on Alexander Imlach – an eager and seemingly perfect young man whose charms instantly work on Pandora. While she is busy swooning over her new idol, Titus feigns nonchalance and the beasts set about renovating the moat. Only Flora the nanny and Damp seem to be aware that there is danger in their midst. The trouble is, can they do anything to stop it?

This is such a great read – it's like the Addams Family but with such a cute twist I couldn't but love it. The beasts are hilarious – they talk and walk and act like humans, while the humans are totally eccentric and truly entertaining.

There's everything in here from devils and hell to magic and a cryogenically frozen granny awaiting modern-day technology.
Oh, and there's more than a bit of you-know-what. The stuff that kids find just absolutely fascinating. As Debi says, "I think children like my gross and disgusting nature because there is a lot of diarrhoea and vomit flowing through these pages. I can't help it; I've been asked if I could just tone it down, but I can't. It's something to do with having five children and having changed all those nappies."

So, as long as you don't have a weak stomach (or mind your kids broadening their vocabulary) – enjoy!