Book Review: Fortunately, The Milk

This book is an excellent choice for introducing children to the amazing author Neil Gaiman — less creepy than his classic Coraline but with all the humor and wit his books are known for. Essentially, it is about a father who goes out for milk and returns with a fantastic time-travel story woven with everything from dinosaurs to pirates.

We listened to the audiobook as a family, and my husband and I found it hilarious. It was quirky enough to be entertaining for adults, and there are some great one-liners. The pace was too quick for my 4-year-old daughter, who comprehends this level of texts well but enjoys slower reads. It’s recommended for 6- to 10-year-olds, but it would be perfect for children on the upper end of that spectrum, especially those who are starting to suspect that maybe the adults in their lives don’t have everything figured out. The content is also completely fine for this age group, as there’s nothing that made us question whether or not it was appropriate for a preschooler.

I wouldn’t suggest this as a class novel, as the pace and fantasy elements mean there is very little depth to the topics of pirates, piranhas, aliens, or wampires. That last one is not a typo; you’ll see if you read it. The very fast pace (think all the Magic Tree House books smashed into 100 pages) also means most emotions are only explored at the surface level. It could be an excellent read for any child who loves adventure and has little patience for world-building.

The audiobook is also a great choice as it is read by Gaiman, who always delights.

Entertainment: ★★★★★

Entertainment: ★★★★★

Class novel: ★☆☆☆☆