Fungus the Bogeyman

'Repulsive but none the less compulsive'. This classic Raymond Briggs book hasn't got a real storyline. It's more like an comic strip encyclopedia on the life of bogeymen (Fungus) and bogeywomen (wife Mildew) and their bogeychildren (son Mould). The book just charts a day in the life of a bogeyman, who it seems, exists merely to torment us 'Drycleaners'. This clever study of bogeydom revels in all things revolting, slimy, putrid, and lavatorial, and even raises deep questions on the meaning of Bogeydom life. The book is filled with visual and literary gags, e.g. hidden on Mildrew's bathroom shelf there's 'FemStench' perfume which is real Eau de Toilete (toilet water), plus you finally find out what Great Aunt Ada Doom of Cold Comfort Farm really saw in the woodshed as a child (and yes it was something nasty). This book would be of interest to any kid over 7, boys might go for it at an earlier age than girls - although be warned it's not suitable for sensitive parents. It's also ideal for well read teenagers and young adults, who will appreciate the sophisticated humour more. So if you ever wondered what makes the bogeyman hiding under your bed tick, get this superbly illustrated and funny book.

An absolute classic. Probably not the easiest book to read to your kids and the tiny type proved a challenge for me. However the kids loved it.

brought it as second hand, it was just as suppier stated, arrived on time. a fun if not wierd book more for the older child as some words hard for the younger child

This took me back to my own childhood - have always loved this book. Would say the text is smaller and more challenging to read than I remember - so definitely for more confident readers 7+

I still have my original first edition of Fungus from 1978, a book which was a firm favourite then and remains so to this day. I read Raymond Briggs' book so many times that I can still quote from it ("Nothing is permanent but woe" as seen on a bogey sandwich board; "Fungus inspects his trousers which have been marinading overnight 'mmmm! these really stink!'")and I find the book enduringly funny yet poignant. Fungus is a decent hard-working bogey but asks himself what is is all for? why do bogeymen exist? why do they have to pester and frighten the Drycleaners? (as we who live on the surface are known.) It seems as if no one has the answer, not even his beloved wife Mildew "the ugliest woman in Bogeydom." Children (and doubtless many adults) will love this brilliantly illustrated book, and all the detail so lovingly described within - it is funny, rude, tender, thoughtful and even moving. I cannot recommend it enough.

Having bought this for my other half, whom I was shocked to realise had reached the age of 38 without even having heard of it, I couldn't resist a few minutes refreshing my memory of it before wrapping!! The way the book is written and laid out is very quirky but this doesn't at all make it difficult or annoying to read, that said it is definitely aimed at competent readers (I actually snorted tea out my nose reading the earlier review by the parent giving it a poor rating for not being suitable for a 4 year old) I remember discovering and loving it at ten but having just looked at it again I'm pretty sure it is going to be swiftly claimed by my 7 year old daughter after my other half has read it as it's something I think she'll like, everyone's different.

Its impossible not to love this book. We had it when I was a kid and fondly remember looking for him in the woods near our house. We were never scared of the bogeyman or the dark! The illustrations are, oddly, quite beautiful and the humour is quirky and wonderfully atmospheric. A treat for any older child or adults imagination! And remember, "nothing is permanent but woe" (fungus)

I remember reading this as a child and thinking what a great read it would be for my 7 year old. I hadn't opened the front cover for 25 years so it was a suprise that when I did it was fairly different to how I remember. The book is full of incredibly descriptive, advanced wording that my daughter really struggled with. However learning a whole new "bogey language" and all that comes with it was fun, and we found there was lots of depth to everything on each page. A really good book, will live in the memory