This is a very approachable read about the route to and the reality of teaching in a primary school. This is probably best appreciated by those in the profession as I thing it does lose some of its relatability if you’re not in the sector. I was hoping that this would be a bit more anecdotal in terms of the things children say and do but there’s a lot more background to it than that which made it less fun than anticipated. Nevertheless this is a lighthearted read with some moments that couldn’t help but remind me of my children’s time in primary, 7/10

As a primary teacher this book was right up my street. On a par with “This is Going to Hurt” for those in the medical profession.
This book is funny, well written and contains many anecdotes us teachers talk about in the staffroom. We often talk about writing a book about the going’s on in a primary school and now the two Mr P’s have.
Thank you for my ARC and to Mr P for allowing me to nab some teaching activities from your social media over the years.

This was such an entertaining little gem of a book. Just the words ‘Put a Wet Paper Towel on it’ are nostalgic for me and brought a rush of memories back from my old primary school days.

Getting a glimpse behind the glittery, slightly sticky curtain of what it’s like to work in a primary school was great. I’m not a teacher or a parent, so my interest in this book was purely from an intrigued standpoint of what it’s like working in this demanding but rewarding profession. I have nothing but respect for those who teach! They have a lot to put up with.

The book starts with each of the authors ventures into teaching, with some fabulous chapters on the types of teachers you tend to encounter in every school (so funny yet true), to classroom displays, typical school days, classroom crazes, parent teacher meetings and the most beloved and dreaded - school trips!

The entertaining and easy going writing style made for great read and I tore through the pages in no time. I loved how it was written and it was laugh out loud funny in many instances. I really enjoyed reading about their experiences within the schools and their lives throughout teaching.

Would thoroughly recommend it to any teacher, parent or lay reader (like me) who was curious about what it was like to work in a primary school, along with some great anecdotes and funny stories that will really make you smile.

I have followed Mr p on Facebook and tiktok. I really wanted to like this book however I couldn't get into it.

I was bored and had to put it down. It wasn't as witty as I expected. It was very flat.

Need to try harder.

This book should be a mandatory handbook for all new teachers. Often funny, with stories from both of the Mr Ps’ school days and their workplaces, but also with good advice and opinions on where so many leadership teams, or rather bosses, have gone wrong. I enjoyed the mixture between the humorous tales and what really goes on in schools and, as a teacher of 30 years, including many as senior management before returning to full time teaching, I could relate to everything (and everyone) in the book. I vote Mr Ps for Secretary of State for Education!

As a primary teacher myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Thank you for early reading. I read through this book quickly as I felt like I was following my own situation, at some points I laughed and others I could feel the stress from the situations they discussed. I follow @ICT_MrP on twitter and listen to the podcast on Spotify frequently which really helped add to the reading of this book.
This book was a delightful read and I am excited to share this with my teaching colleagues when I can. Highly recommend to anyone who is in education or heading into education, parents and carers who would love to reminisce about the primary school days.

Having volunteered for many years in a primary school, and followed Mr P’s on social media, I was thrilled to be given an advanced copy by the publisher and net galley, a big thank you…and I wasn’t disappointed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. My son is training to be a primary school teacher, and I’ve already purchased an advanced copy for him to read before he returns to uni.

The antidotes are typical of a school and had me laughing out loud. Definitely a five star book for everyone.

The 2 Mr Ps host a highly successful podcast about life in a primary school. This book is an entertaining romp through life in a primary school and all the characters you will find within. It also takes the time to stand up to the poor funding and mismanagement of education by the current government. At times it felt a bit disjointed and I think definitely more appreciated by those in the profession or with kids in the primary system at the moment.

A child between the age of five to eleven according to any primary school teacher teaching assistant or parents are the weirdest, funniest, disgusting at times little people in the world. I totally agree and a job to learn life lessons. So when I saw this book I was curious to read what it entails. The story from the Mr P's is told from the classroom no two days are ever the same. A magical wet paper towel cures headaches, sore eyes, grazes and missing limbs. We also read about the two Mr P's time in their school days. Big changes happened when covid 19 struck us with homeschooling would parents ever take up teaching?
What a witty sharp funny book this is to be enjoyed by all. If your dreams are ever to become a teacher then please think about it properly. It can be fun but also hard to make you all reach for the wine bottle.
I giggled my way through most of this book. And its will definitely cheer up your day.

The Parkinson brothers are known for their podcast “Two Mr Ps in a Podcast” which comically highlights the trials and tribulations of life in primary schools. This book is in many ways an anthology of their musings highlighting the highs and lows and ultimately the eccentricities and challenges of being a primary teacher. It is divided into sections looking at the school day, the different types of staff and of course life in the class with the children. It is highly comical but also shines a light on a profession that is often taken for granted ( the pandemic shone a light on how tough it is when parents home-schooled but sadly will soon be forgotten ) and is battered about through politics and private enterprises. Who will read this? Fans of the podcast? Some teachers ? A book to dip into … ? Ultimately, this is a fun book but dig deeper and it might just persuade or deter budding teachers of the future …Don’t lose sight of the classroom chaps…. Get back in there and avoid moving up the ladder…so you can inspire the young people of tomorrow with your passion.

Brothers Lee & Adam Parkinson lift the lid and spill the beans on what it’s like to be a primary school teacher in a delightful book which celebrates the age-old remedy for life’s ills - put a wet paper towel on it. It is written in the easy and relaxed conversational style of their podcast and is a joy to read.
I’ve listened to their podcast a few times even though I’m not a teacher, but I’ve been a primary school pupil and I found myself relating to many of the crazy situations described in each chapter, in which the remedy usually involved a wet paper towel, standard issue in schools, the texture and smell of which I can still recall many years later. The writing is engaging and funny in themed chapters on subjects such as PE, school trips and the dreaded school dinners.
This book has given me a true appreciation for the great things that teachers do but don’t always get the necessary credit for. The Parkinson brothers’ love for their profession, which they undertake with good humour and honesty, shines through in their excellent book.

I've been avidly following Mr. P on social media for a while and was really looking forward to this book and it did not dissapoint.
The tales he tells are bellyaching, laugh-out-loud stories - the jellyfish story will stay with me for a very long time as will the tale of Mary - the TA and the cow.
His on-point observations of the staff members you will find in a school are all true, the mood hoovers - The NQT and the one teacher that has been there forever.
Mr. P writes with his younger brother who is a TA and although the book is dominated by the elder Mr. P, the stories the younger Mr. P regales you with are just as funny.
However, this isn't just a light-hearted retelling of incidents that have happened in the classroom - there is a chapter dedicated to current education plans, the amount of work that teachers have to do to 'satisfy Ofsted.' Most importantly, there are takeaways from the book that can be implemented into a teacher's practice.

Really enjoyable and recommendable for all teachers.