Mr Stink facts for kids
 |
|
| Author | David Walliams |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Quentin Blake |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
|
Publication date
|
29 October 2009 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 272 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0007279050 |
| OCLC | 535490682 |
| LC Class | PZ7.W1593357 Mr 2010 |
Mr. Stink is a funny and heartwarming book by David Walliams, published in October 2009. It features amazing illustrations by Quentin Blake. This popular story has even been turned into a stage musical and a TV movie by the BBC, which first aired at Christmas in 2012.
Contents
What is Mr. Stink About?
The story follows Chloe, a lonely 12-year-old girl. She lives in a British town and feels misunderstood by her family. Chloe loves writing stories, but her mother doesn't approve. She thinks her mother prefers her younger sister, Annabelle.
Chloe meets a local homeless man named Mr. Stink and his dog, Duchess. She wants to help him but isn't sure how. Secretly, she invites Mr. Stink to live in her family's garden shed.
Chloe's mum, Janet Crumb, wants to become a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent people in government. Her main goal is to get homeless people off the streets. This makes hiding Mr. Stink very tricky for Chloe!
Things get even more complicated when Chloe's mum is invited to a TV show. She's asked to bring Mr. Stink along to talk about his life. Mr. Stink becomes a big hit on the show, making everyone laugh.
He's even invited to meet the Prime Minister! The Prime Minister wants Mr. Stink to pretend to care about homeless people for political reasons. Chloe stands up for her friend. In the end, Mr. Stink must leave and continue his life on the streets.
Who are the Main Characters?
Chloe Crumb
Chloe is a 12-year-old girl with brown hair. She often feels unhappy and lonely. She loves her dad but doesn't get along well with her sister or mum. Chloe has no friends, except for Mr. Stink. She loves stories but dislikes Christmas, mince pies, and tinsel.
Mr. Stink
Mr. Stink is a kind but very smelly gentleman. His beard is said to smell even worse than he does! His only companion is his loyal dog, Duchess. Later, Chloe becomes his friend too. We learn that Mr. Stink became homeless after his house burned down and his wife died. It's also revealed that he was once very rich and his real name is Lord Darlington.
Annabelle Crumb
Annabelle is Chloe's 10-year-old sister. She is a bit of a snob and can be mean. Chloe's mum really favors Annabelle. Annabelle is good at sports and music. She does many activities to please her mother.
Mr. Crumb
Mr. Crumb is Chloe and Annabelle's father and Janet's husband. He is afraid of his wife. At the start of the story, he is the only family member who is kind to Chloe. He used to be in a rock band called the Serpents of Doom.
Duchess
Duchess is Mr. Stink's smelly, white Yorkshire Terrier. People often think she's black because she's usually covered in dirt and soot. She loves sausages!
Janet (Mrs.) Crumb
Mrs. Crumb is Chloe and Annabelle's mother. She is very strict and wants to be an MP. She is obsessed with her youngest daughter, Annabelle, and wants to appear fancy. She wants to "clean up the streets" and make people work hard. She is shocked when she appears on a TV show with Mr. Stink.
Other Characters
- Rosamund: A popular and mean girl who often picks on Chloe.
- Elizabeth: The Crumb family's plain white cat, named after Queen Elizabeth.
- Raj: A humble and kind shopkeeper who owns the local newsagent.
When Was Mr. Stink Published?
Mr. Stink was first published by HarperCollins in October 2009 as a hardcover book. It has since been released in other formats, including paperback and as an audio book.
Connections to Other David Walliams Novels
Ratburger is another book by David Walliams that shares a similarity with Mr. Stink. In both books, the main character (Chloe in Mr. Stink and Zoe in Ratburger) finds her only allies in Raj and her father.
Mr. Stink on Television
A 60-minute film version of Mr. Stink was shown on BBC One on 23 December 2012. It was originally planned for Boxing Day. The film was very popular, with 6.34 million viewers watching it. It was the most-watched show in its time slot. This film was also the first story program from the BBC to be filmed in 3D.
