Ten Tremendous Tales

Liz Pichon’s collection of 10 short stories is based on the adventures of Tom Gates, a student in Mr. Fullerman’s 5F classroom. Each story focuses on one particular amusing and exciting aspect of Tom’s life in his classroom or at home with his eccentric family. In the very first story, “Tremendous Tank Top”, Tom is dealing with his newest problem of forgetting things. He has forgotten his spelling test and his lunch. However, Tom is not the only student forgetting things. Tom points out that Marcus, his obnoxious classmate, has also forgotten to return Amy’s ruler. When Tom goes for lunch, he is convinced that his forgetfulness will lead to a delicious lunch of chicken pie, but, instead, he must settle for tuna pasta. When Tom forgets a “no uniform” day, the eccentric tank top gift from his grandparents, the Fossils, saves the day!

Tom Gates has a unique style which helps him to face challenges in life. He loves to eat treats but realizes that his “sweet tooth” has consequences. In the story “Tasty Treats”, his filling falls out, and he must visit the dentist. He has to spend time with his obnoxious older sister Delia when his parents go shopping in the story “Very LONG hours (nearly four)”. The siblings are trapped in a book store elevator. Delia is devastated because she can’t get her favourite author to sign her latest book, but, despite their often contentious relationship, Tom surprises her in the end. There are also two very short short stories - “Tremendous Bugs” and “10 Tremendous Minutes” - which highlight Tom’s doodling skills.

Readers will discover that Tom is learning and growing every day. He may make mistakes, such as eating too many sweets, but he realizes that he has to take responsibility for his actions. He also appreciates his family – his parents, the Fossils, and Delia – despite the fact that they may not always behave the way he wants them to act. He realizes that his family cares for him and loves him, and he appreciates their support, and loves them too.

Ten Tremendous Tales is the 18th book in the Tom Gates series which began with The Brilliant World of Tom Gates. Liz Pichon has once again captured the spirit of the irrepressible Tom Gates in this short story collection filled with dynamic word art. The doodles are found on every page. They enhance the storyline and inspire kinesthetic learners who love to doodle while they are learning. At the end of the book, as well as providing the answers to quizzes throughout the book, Pichon has included instructions on how to make a STAND-UP BUG. The short stories in this collection deal with a wide variety of themes: responsibility, family relationships, crisis response, community spirit, class participation, creativity, celebrities, doodling, and homework. Young readers will definitely be able to identify with the challenges facing “tremendous” Tom Gates!