What’s the book about?
Buckle up for the adventure of a lifetime in the hilarious first children’s book from Paddington star, Hugh Bonneville
Rory Sparkes is a boy with a head full of dreams. He might become a strongman and travel the world with the circus. Or he might try to make it as a cowboy – that would be a fan-tas-tic second best. Although at the moment he’d settle for missing his maths lesson and making his torch work properly.
As he plots to help his best friend, Guy, earn enough money to buy the latest top-of-the-line model boat (so they can set sail for South America), the circus rolls into town and everything spirals out of control. With Guy needing help doing odd jobs for the terrifying Madame Lowe, and with Clare, Rory’s annoying older sister, planning a dastardly prank, will Rory’s plans ever work out? Let’s see …
Filled with brilliantly funny illustrations from Lorretta Schauer.
Recommended for:
Ages 8+
Three reasons to read it:
- This is Bonneville’s first children’s book, and his knack for warm, clever storytelling shines through on every page. He brings the same charm, chaos and humour you’d expect from his performance in Paddington, but with a fresh new voice in Rory Sparkes. It’s got laugh-out-loud moments with a heart, perfect for fans of classic British mischief and madcap adventure.
- Schauer’s artwork doesn’t just decorate the story; it amplifies it. The facial expressions, the timing, the little details in the background, they all crank up the laughs and make even the wildest scenes feel perfectly grounded in Rory’s chaotic world. It’s the kind of book where you pause on every page just to enjoy the pictures.
- Not just a quirky title: an elephant literally walks into Rory’s school. That moment, which was inspired by a true story from Bonneville’s own childhood, sends the whole town into a tailspin. From the circus tent to the school playground, everything gets a little more unpredictable (and a lot more entertaining) once the big top arrives.
Buy a copy of Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room here.
About the author:
Just like Rory Sparkes, Hugh Bonneville grew up and went to primary school in South East London. Later on, he studied Theology at the University of Cambridge and became a professional actor in 1985. His career has spanned radio, television, film and stage, including highly acclaimed appearances in David Walliams’s Mr Stink and the voice of Santa in Stick Man, as well as Downton Abbey and the Paddington films. Now grown up and verging on ancient, Hugh would like to make it clear that he loves his sister very much. Even when she sings.
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