In Hugh Bonneville's debut children's book, Rory Sparkes and the elephant in the room, readers are invited on a whirlwind adventure full of humor and heart. The story introduces us to Rory, a boy with a mind brimming with grand ambitions, from becoming a circus strongman to a globe-trotting cowboy. His current, more immediate goals, however, are a bit more grounded: avoiding a maths lesson and fixing his broken torch.

The story gets into high gear when Rory and his friend Guy concoct a scheme to raise money for a new model boat. Their plan soon backfires upon the arrival of a circus and the real possibility of a prank by Rory's pesky older sister, Clare. The author creates an incredibly humorous and absorbing story, skillfully matched with Lorretta Schauer's energetic illustrations. It's a heartwarming story of friendship, grand ambitions, and sidesplitting mayhem of plans foiled, and it's an amazing read for young explorers.

Rory Sparkes is a young boy with big dreams, and an even bigger imagination. He also has an annoying older sister, Clare, and is cursed with having red hair which is the bane of his life. 🐘
Together with his friends, Gary and Adrian Thingy, he acts out adventures, and tris to avoid the school bully. 🐘
When the circus comes to town, and some of the circus children attend Rory's school, his life suddenly becomes much more interesting, not to mention chaotic, especially when he meets Donna, the elephant of the title. 🐘
I loved this book, which was reminiscent of books I read as a child. It made me feel a tad nostalgic for my childhood. A wonderful story, with some laugh-out-loud moments. 🐘
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

A fantastic first book, full of warmth, humour, and adventure! Rory Sparkes is a boy with big dreams and even bigger plans, and his misadventures will have readers laughing out loud. With lively illustrations by Lorretta Schauer, this is a brilliantly funny debut that’s perfect for young readers who love imaginative stories packed with heart.

I was asked by NetGalley to review this lovely book

Rory is a boy with dreams and a great immagination he and his friends at out adventures whilst avioding the school bully.As with all families he has an annoying older sister Clare.

The circus comes to town and Rory becomes interested in this and Donna the elephant in the title.

A really lovely story and will be an ideal Christmas stocking filler

Thank you for letting me review this book.

This story is a delightful book particularly suited for children in lower key stage two. The vocabulary was suitable with some challenging words appropriate for language development. Themes that children enjoy were present in the story. Children love reading books with the inclusion of an annoying sibling, the frustration of a bully and the joy of making new friends; these are issues which are important to them.

This book would be a welcome addition to any classroom, especially since the National Curriculum for England requires children to use persuasion in their writing. The topic of animals kept in zoos/circuses is an issue that children debate in schools. The use of brackets in the text, which often includes humorous extra information, will appeal to boys and girls. Year 5 children learn how to use brackets effectively in their writing so this will be a helpful resource for educational purposes as well.

This book was well-written, and the illustrations were entertaining. I believe colour illustrations are always better for engaging children, but the detailed drawings were interesting. Overall, children will enjoy reading this book. The tone is old-fashioned, but many parents and teachers will enjoy the nostalgic aspect of the story.

A good read, throughly enjoyed! Very good debut book! Would definitely read more of his books if he brings out anymore.

This is Hugh Bonneville’s first children’s book. In a publishing world filled with celebrities turning their hand to storytelling, it can sometimes be a bit hit and miss finding the good stories out there. I’m pleased to say, therefore, that Bonneville hits on a winning formula with this tale.

Rory Sparkes, our eponymous hero, takes us on a heartwarming adventure filled with humour. Rory is full of imagination, ideas and ambition. He has to deal with the mundane issues most children have to face - school life, bullies and sibling trouble! However, when the circus comes to town, he finds his life is soon to get more interesting - especially when he meets Donna - the literal elephant in the room!

A story full of humour, with some real laugh out loud moments, this is a story that will surely be a hit in homes and classrooms. With lively illustrations that help bring the story to life, this is a fun debut from Hugh Bonneville. I’ll certainly be interested in reading any further stories should he decide to write more.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story via digital ARC.

Personally, I struggled to get into this book. But when I did I was rewarded a wealth of humour. It is a story of friendship and family life. Rory, irritated by life squabbles with his sister and takes refuge within his imagination. He dreams big - how he might run away to the circus or sail away with his best friend to South America. Above all this is a story of friendship.
Thank you Hugh for writing it, to NetGalley for the advance copy and Bloomsbury Publishing UK. The views given are entirely my own, freely given.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Hugh Bonneville and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy.

A charming and witty debut from Hugh Bonneville, this story is full of personality and playful chaos. Rory is a spirited main character with a vivid imagination, and his run-ins with school life, troublesome siblings, and an unexpected elephant make for a highly entertaining read. The circus twist adds a splash of magic without drifting too far from reality, making it both funny and relatable. The illustrations complement the story well, adding an extra layer of fun. A great pick for readers aged 7–9, and all those who enjoy a bit of mischief and heart in their books.

A fantastic, fun book for readers! Full of humour and a great story.

Highly reccomended and recently brought for my class which has been shown to be very popular

This is a humorous but very sensitive story that will do well in a classroom situation which will encourage children to talk about the issues at the same time as appreciating the humour. It is a lovely read full of wonderful illustrations that will be so appealing to school children. The book is full of ischief and how Rory, who has a tremendous imagination, faces up to the issues that face him and his friends. The book covers bullying issues, rascism against the circus children, issues about animals in captivity and how Rory manages to handle issues with his sister Clare. All of these will create good talking points in the classroom.
I loved the escapades of Donna and children will also like seeing the things that Donna does.

A fun, lighthearted adventure read. Rory goes on a adventure to South America. I think that people who want books similar to those of the past will really like this one. It can be quite silly and funny. It is also a good read-out-loud book for school children.