BOOK REVIEW

JOHN FARDELL

The Seven Professors of the Far North (Faber) 0000

Fans of John Fardell, creator of The Bureau of Oddities in The List, will be familiar with the Edinburgh-based cartoonist’s Heath Robinson tendencies. When he’s not satirising the pretensions of the middle classes (witness the Modern Parents and the Critics in Viz comic), Fardell is most likely to be dreaming up impossible gadgets and fanciful inventions, just like Robinson before him.

So we’re in familiar territory when his debut novel (published Thu 7 Oct) kicks off with the arrival of Professor Ampersand on a customised motorbike with a home-made sidecar built for

three. Every child loves a mad inventor and when 11-year-old Sam Carnabie is invited to stay in Ampersand’s Edinburgh house, he isn’t disappointed. The milk bottle chandelier, potato-peeling machine and table-setting trolley are almost as much fun as his new friends Zara and Ben, Ampersand’s great niece and nephew.

In this respect, Fardell’s worldview is quaintly old-fashioned. There’s a Boy’s Own spirit about Sam with his Swiss army knife and Ben with his map reading skills, while the intrepid Zara would be a welcome addition to any Famous Five. The only time they watch TV it’s for a

documentary on wolves.

But there’s nothing old-fashioned about where Fardell takes these children in an action-packed adventure told with a heart-in-your-mouth sense of excitement. After an evil megalomaniac kidnaps Ampersand and his professorial colleagues, the children must get to the Arctic circle, release the captives and save the world. Secret tunnels, feats of bravery and lucky escapes follow until a conclusion of James Bond-

style extravagance.

lt’s gloriously preposterous stuff, driven by its own off-kilter imaginative logic and grounded by a topical debate about the moral perils of genetic engineering. With the children so firmly at the heart of the action, my seven-year—old was gripped by it and, having listened in, my ten-year-old is in the queue to read it herself. I recommend you do

too. (Mark Fisher)

Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to kidsGlist.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Morag Bruce.

Glasgow

Activities and Fun

People Puppets with Poppy’s Puppets Sat 9 ()ct. 10ani——-ntxin. £7. Scottish Mask & Puppet Theatre (‘entre. 8- 10 Balcarres Ayenue. Kely'indalc. 339 6185. Learn how to make a felted glove puppet iii this fun workshop. suitable for ages liVC Plus. Please book in adyance. CCA Kids’ Club: Body Language Sun 10 ()ct. noon—2pm. £3. (‘(‘:\. 3.50 Sauchiehall Street. 3.52 4900. l'siitg the Icelandic exltibition as inspiration. explore the body as a communication tool. Experiment with body casting. shadow art arid acrylic and ittk mark-making techniques.

The Story of a Leaf Sat to Oct. noon-4pm. Free. The Hidden Gardens. Tramway. 2.5 Albert Driy'e. 084.5 3303501. ('elebrate the coming of autumn by choosing the most beautiful leaf iii the gardens and drawing its portrait. Suitable for the whole family. Part of the Big I )I'tlll‘.

70 THE LIST 7—21 Oct 2004

CCA Kids’ Club: Monsters and Moon Pals Stiii 17 ()ct. noon 2pm. £3. ('(‘:\. 3.50 Sauchichall Street. 352 4000. [Sing the Noonday Demons exhibition as inspiration. create a series of sculptural works focusing oil the body. iiiytlt and folklore. creating monsters and moon pals to scare your friends at Halloween?

Up on the Roof Sat It» ()ct. noon 4pm. Free. The Lighthouse. l I Mitchell Lane. 221 (i362. Drop by and draw on the windows as part of the Big Draw. Suitable for all ages.

The Paper House Sat It» Sun 24 ()ct. 5pm. £4 t£3i. 'l‘cnemcnt House. 145 Bticcleuch Street. (iarnethill. 333 0183. Help to create a model of a tenement house by drawing objects from the llat. be it the kitchen range or eyen tltc house's inhabitants. All ages welcome. Part of the Big Draw:

The Big Drawing Holiday Week Sat lb—Sun 24 ()ct. times Vary. l’ree. Gallery of Modern Art. Queen Street. 22‘) 19%. A week chock-a-block w itlt drawing aitd an. Leant to sketch. draw stories to create book- an and eyen draw with air and w ire. See wwwglasgowiiiuseumscom for a full list of workshops.

Feis Glaschu Mon its—Sat 23 ()ct. 10.30am— 12.30pm. £30 (£20 per child froin the same family). (ilasgow (iaelic School. 44 Ashley Street. 0141 3.57 5000. lixplore

(iaelic culture with creatiye l’lay sessions lot pie-schoolcis and IlltlSlc sessions to: oldci kids Stntabie tot ages 1 11

Up Oor Street ltlc‘ tw t kt.

noon 2 illt‘lli lice l’eoples l’aiacc t\ \\intei (iatdens. ( ilasgow (iiecn. 221 2051 Help create a (ilasgow stiect scene backdiop ilten tom a pciloiinance ot old sticet games and songs l’lease book in adyancc. suitable tot ages 5 i2 yeais l’azt til the lilL' l)’tt-'.

Made in Scotland w ed :o ( kt.

iiooit ‘pni lice l’eoples l’alace .\ \\inict (iaidens. ( ilasgow (iiecn. 2'1 2‘151 |)iaw a huge industrial scene. and then biing it to hle with sounds and song Please book in adyancc. suitable toi ages 10 lb yeais l’att ol the lite [Mitt

Theatre & Dance

Mucklemouth Meg Sat *i t kt. 3pm £4.50 i£i 50i Scottish \lask t\ l’tippei 'llieali‘c (‘entie S 10 llalcaiies \yentie. Kcly indalc. 33‘) tt1.S5 l’oppy 's l’tippcts tell iltc story ol how the ugliest lassie in the llordeis got to many the best looking laddie liom Sclknk

Three Little Pigs Sat It» ( k-t. 2pm £4.50 t £ l.5tli Scottish \lask tk I’tippet 'l'lteatrc (‘entie. .S 10 Ilalcaiies \yentie. Kelytndale. 330015, .\ges 3 S lliiee little pigs \ tsit a bigreaied. shaip toothed estate agent 111 this modein take on a laittily classic. perlortned by lack (l'l antetn puppets.

Books

Jacqueline Wilson \loit I I ()ct. (tpni £7.50 £22 loi' a lainily ol lotii i£5 50i. Royal (’oncctt Hall. 2 Satichiehall Stieet. 3.53 St 100. Popular attthor .lactitieline \\ ilson introduces her new book. l/It' liitmioitt/ (iir/s, It’s a chance to tllll/ ltei about yotii layotiritc chaiactcis and Iiaye a copy signed

Edinburgh

Activities and Fun

Medieval Machines l'ntil ll tie 1‘) ()ct. 10am 5pm; Sttii noon 5pm; ’l'tic |0ain Spin. l‘ree. Royal .\ltiscttin. 2 ('hainbci‘s Street. 247 4210/4422. liayel back lll time at this drop—iii eyent to find tilll tilititll lt‘cltlltilttg} ill lltt‘ \lltltllt‘ .-\j_‘t'S llayc a go at knocking down a castle and practice being it knight on horseback. Stiitablc for all ages.

Cuban Papier Maché Sat 9 .\ Sun 10 ()ct. llaiit 1pm. £4 t£3t Roxy .\rt House. 2 Roxbtii‘gh Place. .550 0222. Decorate papier niaclie in a \ ibrant style. with artists li‘oni ('reatiye *\l'lS \Vork. Part of the His/mun l't'yli‘i'til.

Feasting on Pictures and Words Sat ‘) ()ct. 2 4pm. £1.50. National Gallery of Scotland. the Mound. 024 0200. lantin workshop exploring the tltente of food to celebrate National Poetry Day. Write a poeiit and illustrate it Using drawing and collage techniques.

The Big Draw at the Museum Sat lo ()ct. 10.30am 4.30pm. l'i'ce. Royal Museum. 2 ('hainbcrs Street. 242 4219/4422. .4\dd your artwork to a huge jigsaw ol the museum which will be posted oil to ( )rkney .\lttseum and t‘ctissetitbletl til its lite [hint on ()ct 5t). ('omc next month to see what they send back. Suitable for all ages.

Decorate a Mirror Frame! Sat in ()ct. 11am 12.30pm. £(t t£4i. \ot'lh l;dinburgh .-\i'ts ('entre. 1.5a l’cnnywcll (‘otiit 31.5 21.51. (‘rcate your own decorated mirror frame to take home in this artist led workshop.

Become a City Farmer! Mon Is in 22 ()ct. 10am noon. £4 per day. (ioi'gic (‘ity Farm. .51 (ioi'glc Road. 337 4202. Try otit the yariotis tasks needing done on a busy working farm: grooming the pony. planting crops. building a scarecrow. feeding the hens or cyen walking the goat. Booking essential. suitable for ages S 12. Baaal

Suits You! Tue 1‘) ()ct. 10.30am ck 2pm.

£2. Royal .\ltiseutn. 2 (’hambcrs Street. 247 4219/4422. Dress up as Japanese Samurai soldiers in suits created from waste paper. with help from aitist Karen

tiltilow as part of the \\aste \\\ate scitcs ol cyents \tntablc loi ages 0' Autumn Antics! Itte W t kt.

2‘ ll'pni :2 child. .tccotitpaiiyin; adult is ltcc “am (it leith t‘onseiyazzon lztzst. 2~1laiiatk Road, 155 '2 302 l \plotc tiow

natttie picpaics to ci‘lllsc‘l on. it" \\1111c‘t

Mosuc

Children‘s Classic Concerts - Movie Magic Son 10 t kt. ‘piii 1"“! t£5u laintly ticket 1.20 l shci llall. lothtaii Road. 228 ll“ ( liiistophci llcll conducts and presents this popttlai .tlllltl.tl conceit ot seasonal inn with e\ttacts lioiit Ion." or li'it It’s/sex. \un Han and s

lheattt} 8. Dance

Huff Puff and Away lttti " t kt. toattt t\ l itipiii L5 it ‘tb \oith l dinbtiiglt \its ( 'ciitie. 15a l’enttywcll ('otnt. il‘ 2l5l \n iniaginatiye and play lttl sltow t‘S[‘k‘cl.tll_\ lill : (‘ _\t‘.il l‘ltl\ llc‘ s\\t‘(‘1 till yotn leet and spun iotiitd into a lll.l‘_'lk.ll lloaliiig woiltl lillctl with lllllSlt.ll stoiytclling .tiid spells

Huff Puff and Away Sat it t kt. 11am 6. 2pm :5 ttlb laiiiily tickctt liitiiitoii lheatic. l .tdywell \\.ty. \ltlSSt’ll‘llli'li. N0 221“ \t't' .il‘t‘\ t‘

Mr Bones Puppet Show Stttt to ( kt. 2 iptii lice. ticketed ()xgangs | ll‘|.il\. i-13()\g.iiigsl\’tkitl\oillt. ‘2"551‘1 Songs. stories and ptippct pandeiiioiiitiiii' Stiitable loi ages 1 10 Iickcts ayatlablc lioiii the libiaiy in adyaiice \lso at .\lcl)onald l tbiaiy t5“) *0 lot and \lttiihotise l tbiaiy i52‘l 5‘2Si on 1 ' t )tt Perfecting Eugene watt 1 y t k l.

10. 30am tk 2pm £5 it. i Stii \oiilt Izdinbtiiglt \its ( 'entic. 15a l’eimywcll (witlll. i152151 \n exploiation into the science ol litiiiiaii genetics by liiitaiit's leading Dance in l'tlllcalltill ( 'oiiipany l)t‘Slj_‘llt'tl lti litlllll‘dltl lllt‘ St'llSt'S \\ Hi} .i punchy. initoyattyc nioycntent style. da//ling liliii. eclectic sounds and surprising design

Freshmess Triple Bill w ed 1 4 t kt. " tttpiii. £10 i£5 £0 50t Iiitiiiton lhcatie. ladywell \\ay. .\1ttsse|btii}._'h.(it)5 2210 l'l't'Slllllt'SS tneige hip hop sty lc w iili contcnipoiaiy tl.lllkt'lt1t'lt‘.llt'.i itcw toini ol nioyenient that is easy to lollow aitd great ltlll to watch Stiitable lot ages 10‘ Bill 8. Ben and Andy Pandy ill

1.5 Sun 12 ()ct. l-ti«Sal l ltlpiii. SatSttn l0. 30am tk lilllllll 9.") 501”: King's Illllt'dllt‘. 2 l.t'\t'll Silt'k'l. 22‘) Will” .\ltisical ltiii with the llowei pot inen .iiid .'\ndy l’dlltl}. .\ges 2 (t.

Freshmess Triple Bill Sat it. t k i. Spin. £11 t£4.50 £05m liayetse lheatie. ('ainbrtdgc Stiect. 22S 1404, See aboye Tam O’Shanter Sun 17 ( )ct. 2pm .\ 5pm. £5. '1 i‘ayerse 'l'heatie. (aiiibiitlgc .Sll't'cl. 223 Hill. SL‘tllltllltlS llltlSl latliiitts ghost story retold with liye iiitisic atid lots ol ltiit by .a\ndy (‘aniion and \\et- Stoiies 'l'hcalre, .\ haunting pci'loiniance lot c\ct'yoiic met 0 See pliolocaplioii

Exhibition

Pleasurelands Sat (i i let Sat .1 Ike inot Stini. 10am 5pm liee. ('in .\rt ('t'iitic. 2 \laiket Sheet. 52‘) i003 ,-\ lllll packed exhibition exploiing the poptilai history ol laii'gi'oitnds and ciictises Ill (ii'eat liritain,

Drop-In-and-Draw Sun I" tk-t.

1 4pm. l'i'ee. National (iallei'y ol Scotland. The \lotiiid. 024 0200 l)iop tit drawing sessions intiodticiiig dilleiciit types ol art lroin the gallery 's collection. .'\ll llltllt‘l'lt’tlS [inn Itlt'tl.

Books

Jacqueline Wilson tile 12 (kt. 4pm. Waterstonc‘s tt)ccan 'l'ei‘minal i. ‘)b/‘) t)ecan 'lerminal. ()cean l)riye. l.cith. 554 7732. Popular author Jacqueline \Vilson will be signing copies ol her latest children's book. I)I(INIUI1(/ (hr/y.

Share Your Favourite Poems! 'l'htt 7 ()ct. 12.45 1.30pm. l'ree. \Vcston |.ink. Hawthorndcn Lecture 'l‘hcatrc. National (iallery. The Hound. Ages S». ('clcbratc National Poetry Day by bringing along your layourite poem on the subject of loud.