Thai-no-mite! (Oliver Phommavanh, Puffin)

Thai-riffic! introduced readers to Albert ‘Lengy’ Lengviriyakul, a Thai-Australian boy whose parents run a Thai restaurant. Unfortunately, Lengy doesn’t particularly like Thai food and would much rather scoff down a meat pie or five. Thai-No-Mite! sees Lengy’s family prepare to travel back to Thailand, a country Lengy can’t remember and his little brother Kitchai has never known. Another author might use this storyline to encourage readers to reflect on the differences between Australian and Thai culture, or the joys and challenges of being ‘new Australians’, but ex-stand-up comedian Oliver Phommavahn goes straight for the laughs. This book is pitched at readers of the ‘Wimpy Kid’ series and Andy Griffiths’ books. I was a bit disappointed that we don’t actually get to Thailand, but instead watch Lengy and his best friend Rajiv match-make their teachers for a community service project, join local shopkeepers in a karaoke competition and take a family trip to Queensland (Lengy’s mother haggled it into their Flight Centre deal). This is a fun read, but be warned if you are squeamish about needles—the kids are travelling to a malaria and typhoid prone country. Phommavahn makes this an amusing experience—but I felt every jab!

Evie Marshall is a librarian and children’s literature specialist for Megalong Books

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews