The Strange and Unlikely Tale of Montgomery, the Mysterious Bird of Mystery (Antony Elworthy, Walker)

According to his grandson, Gramps has had ‘what they call a Chequered Career’. It has taken him on all sorts of adventures, though by far the most exciting was his stint as a magician called The Astounding Alfredo. Gramps was famous the world over, particularly for the disappearing trick he performed with his dove Montgomery. Unsatisfied with a life lived mainly in the shadows, Montgomery becomes jealous and steals Gramps’s wand to perform a dastardly trick—swapping bodies with The Astounding Alfredo! It’s an unlikely tale, but could it possibly be true? Antony Elworthy’s The Strange and Unlikely Tale of Montgomery, the Mysterious Bird of Mystery is a delightfully funny story that highlights the close relationship between grandfather and grandson. In the (at times sceptical) eyes of his grandson, Gramps is wild, adventurous and a source of endless entertainment as the two spend their Wednesday afternoons together. Children will laugh out loud at Montgomery’s antics and be hooked by the tension as The Astounding Alfredo tries to find his way back to being human. Elworthy, an animator who has worked on Corpse Bride and Coraline, uses black-and-white illustrations throughout the book to help transport the reader to the magician’s stage, setting the scene and introducing the characters. A great read-aloud for children aged 5+, the book is also accessible for confident younger readers aged 8+ who have moved on to chapter books.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Erin Wamala is a teacher librarian and owner of The Kids’ Bookshop. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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