Dog Zombies rule for now by Liz Pichon

Tom Gates series bk. 11. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781743812563
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Liz Pichon's Tom Gates series is extremely popular; the diary style format includes the creative doodles, small cartoons, thought bubbles her fans love. The easy-to-read text includes an array of appealing fonts and styles, handwriting, bubble writing, emphasized words, block writing and words made out of patterns. The placement of text and illustrations along with the large line spacing is great for high interest-lower reading age students.
Tom has agreed to help his best friend Mark who is moving house and needs to find a pet-sitter for a few days. Of course, at school Marcus Meldrew finds out and begins to tease Tom, will it be Mark's pet snake? Tom begins to worry and doodle, his sister Delilah has allergies and his parents do not actually know about the promise. This is just another day in the life of Tom Gates. Marble the hamster arrives with a long list of instructions and takes up residence in Tom's room. Yes, he loves to run all night on his hamster wheel!
Tom has big plans for his band Dog Zombies, to write more songs and to make spectacular music. Unfortunately getting more sleep proves difficult with Marble the hamster active all night and the constant chiming of the cuckoo clock. Annoying Delilah proves to be an easy task for Tom.
Nothing in Tom's life is dull or boring and he finds trouble wherever he goes. Filled with family dramas, band rehearsals, pet-sitting problems and the ups and downs of Tom's school life, Dog Zombies Rule For Now is another amusing and entertaining addition to the series. Liz Pichon also includes opportunities for craft activities and suggestions for story writing.
Rhyllis Bignell