Tom Gates - Excellent Excuses

Perfect for readers, who:
• Love laughs, doodles and school-life chaos from a kid’s perspective
• Are fans of diary-style, illustrated chapter books with humour, mischief and sibling rivalry
• Are roughly ages ~ 8-12 and enjoy stories about everyday school and home adventures

Why You’ll Love It:
✅ A hilarious continuation in the “Tom Gates” series where Tom tries to survive two weeks without school, deals with toothache, keeps his band “DogZombies” going and tries to out-wit his annoying sister Delia. 
✅ Packed with lively doodles, scribbles, comic-style illustrations and Tom’s witty commentary—making it perfect for readers who prefer fun visuals and light text. 
✅ The tone is relatable and real: homework trouble, school awards, band practice, family antics—kid readers will recognise and laugh at the difficulties of being “just a kid”. 

Also consider the below aspects before you select:
❌ The story is light on deep drama or serious themes—it’s more about everyday school fun and mishaps than intense conflicts. 
❌ Some British school/culture references (gold-star reward charts, certain sweets like caramel wafers, UK classroom customs) might need brief explanation for international or younger readers. 

Verdict: A thrilling, laugh-out-loud illustrated diary-style chapter book that combines doodles, school misadventures and sibling humour—an excellent pick for middle-grade readers who love fun, character and cheeky school stories.