Russell Brand may not have brought much of literary worth to this story besides a few laughs over his absurd British-isms, but Chris Riddell’s illustrations are absolutely stunning. He’s gross when need be (the rats and their explosions of poo), he’s whimsical when it’s called for (the magical tunes of the piper made manifest), and throughout he’s down to Earth both in regards to the disgustingly “adorable” Hamlenian children and the steadfast though crippled protagonist. Who knows whether Brand will ever write a second book in this series, but I kind of hope that he does, since the hint at the end of this book is for the Emperor’s New Clothes, which is sure to have many hilarious moments! ( )

Everyone has heard about the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin but I believe most people have not read it. Russell Brand's take on the story is funny and I could see boys liking this story because of the bathroom humor. He addresses how people treat women and people with disabilities in a negative way (but don't worry-like all good folk tales, good triumphs over evil. I would recommend this book for above 5th grade to have students discuss the deeper meanings of the story. ( )

Below is my review as it appeared in the February, 2015, edition of School Library Journal. This a review of the audiobook version and is reprinted with permission.

Gr 4–7-- In this retelling of the medieval German folktale, the hubris-filled residents of Hamelin are overrun by a polygamous, narco-egalitarian, rat collective of the worst order. Only "gammy-legged" Sam and his mother possess any measure of humility and kindness (for which they are later rewarded). As in the original, the citizens agree to pay the curious, almost otherworldly piper if he can remove the rats. When they later renege on their promise, the piper removes the children of Hamelin as well. As the musing, interrupting narrator, Brand quietly and thoughtfully delivers asides and astute observations as to the character of Hamelin's citizens, who include Fat Dave and Sexist Bob. As the piper, Brand's voice has an almost mesmerizing quality, like the legendary piper's music, lulling the listener into a contemplative state. Sadly, occasionally brilliant phrasing and subtle commentary are sandwiched between overly exuberant character voices and crass jokes. One can write a children's book with wryly amusing social commentary; one can write a children's book replete with poop and fart jokes. It is nearly impossible to balance the two. VERDICT It will be difficult for this book to find an audience outside Brand's existing fan base. Too bad. It had promise

Copyright © 2015 Library Journals, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. Reprinted with permission. ( )

Russell Brand is known for his offbeat and often hilarious comedy. He's written a few biographies, and now he's spreading his wings into children's tales. You've probably heard the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin sometime in your life. Whether you've watched the cartoon or read the book. Russell Brand takes on this story in his new series Russell Brand's Trickster Tales.

First let me talk about the audio part of the book. Russell Brand is the narrator as well as the author of this new series. He's fantastic. Really. Russell Brand is the only choice for this book. I couldn't imagine anyone doing a better job. His characters are just as vivacious as he is. Brand needs to narrate more books!

Next I want to talk about the art work. I listened to the audio but I went online to preview the book as well as my local bookstore to get a full picture of the book. The book is illustrated by Chris Riddell. He's illustrated many books and also is a cartoonist for The Observer. Riddell has worked on an extensive list of projects too numerous to name here. He does a fantastic job with the art. It's colorful and engaging. And a perfect fit for this book. Also the Pied Piper reminds me of that guy from A Clockwork Orange.

Now onto the story. The story isn't exactly original though Brand does liven it up a bit. It's entertaining with a few moral messages thrown in. I enjoyed listening to it, but I'd want young children to listen. In fact I struggle with for what age this book would be appropriate. It's not overly offensive or degrading, yet it deals with issues like feminism and disability thrown together with gross humor. This might go over the head of some youngsters. In fact, I would suggest kids 10+ for the reading age. I would also suggest the parents reading the book with the children (or perhaps before), as it opens up a door for discussion on certain subjects. ( )