Read

Mr and Mrs Bold are just like you and me: they live in a nice house (in Teddington), they have jobs (like writing Christmas cracker jokes) and they love to have a bit of a giggle. One slight difference: they're hyenas. Yes, that's right - they're covered in fur, have tails tucked into their trousers, and they really, really like to laugh.

So far, the Bolds have managed to keep things under wraps, even when their children Bobby and Betty were born. But the nosy man next door smells a rat (or a hyena), and a trip to the local wildlife park, and the brilliantly wacky heist that results, could be the end of Teddington's best-kept secret. Whatever will the neighbours think?

NB This site shows the book cover and blurb for the next book in the series, but it isn't! You will hear the author reading the first book.

Play

Have a go at drawing the Bolds. You can find out how in this video:

The Bolds’ best way of fitting in to life in Teddington is to adopt disguises. They mask their hyena behaviours, their tails, and their hyena cackles. Why not try making your own mask out of cardboard or a paper plate use coloured paper or felt tips to embellish it. Send a photo of yourself wearing your mask to your book club friends. If you are video calling them, we dare you to wear it for the whole book club!

Chat

Choose some of these questions to talk about with your book club friends:

• Who were the real Bolds and what happened to them?
• Who finds the real Bolds’ clothes and decides to become them? What about their new last name is fitting?
• What do the hyenas have to learn in order to live as convincing humans? Discuss the differences between animals and humans.
• At the beginning of the story the narrator tells us that animals are ‘just as clever as people, but clever in different ways.’ Can you think of some clever things that only animals can do?
• The Bold family move to Teddington because they can enjoy a better life there. What do you think they miss about Africa? Why can’t they go back?
• Minnie suggests that the Bolds visit a safari park. Why does she suggest this?
• What jobs do Mr and Mrs Bold do for work? Do you think their jobs suit them?
• The Bolds love to laugh at silly jokes. What are your favourite jokes?
• Which character from the book would you most like to meet and why? What questions would you ask them?
• Can you describe the book in just three words?

Your Reading Challenge

The Bolds fits into the following categories:

• A book with animals
• A book that's part of a series
• A book recommended by a teacher (Ruth and Lisa count and we love it!)