As with the second book in this series, I got more enjoyment from the author's asides and running jokes than from the story itself. The story is almost secondary to the charming characters and the very funny extras (although the story itself is enjoyably silly too). I read these books aloud with my 11 year old son, and we both enjoy them very much. This is one of the only times he has eagerly asked me to continue reading each day, so I count these books as a solid success
