The tale of Angelino Brown / David Almond ; illustrated by Alex T. Smith.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In this hilarious yet touching story from the masterful David Almond, life takes a surprising turn after a bus driver finds a tiny boy angel in his pocket.

Do you believe in angels? Bert and Betty Brown do, because Bert discovered one in his shirt pocket the other day while he was driving his bus. All of a sudden they had a little boy of their very own to care for -- how heavenly! Bert and Betty's friends think Angelino is lovely. So do Nancy and Jack and Alice from school. But the Head Teacher, Mrs. Mole, is not so sure. Neither is Professor Smellie. And who is the mysterious Man in Black who claims to be a School Inspector? Or the big, lumbering Basher Malone? What could all these sneaky adults possibly have against such a perfect little angel?

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Bus driver Bert Brown feels like he's having a heart attack at work, but the fluttering in his chest turns out to be a tiny angel lodged in his pocket. When a stunned Bert brings the creature home to his wife, Betty, she knows just what to do: fix him dinner, make him a little bed, and give him a fitting name. It doesn't take long for the angel, whom they name Angelino, to become a beloved member of the couple's family, as well as a popular student at the school where Betty works. But two villains are watching the angel's every move, waiting for the opportunity to kidnap him. Almond (Harry Miller's Run) once again works his magic to draw readers into a world of wonderful possibilities and dreadful obstacles, captured in Smith's whimsical pencil drawings. He makes it clear that heroes, villains, and angels alike are products of their environments, and that a little nurturing (or angel companionship) is the best way to improve a person's attitude and behavior. Almond's dry wit will bring smiles, and his underlying message about good and evil may shake up some preconceived notions. Ages 8-12. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-6-Bert and Betty Brown are tired of their humdrum lives; Bert drives a bus, Betty cooks for schoolchildren, and the couple is still grieving the loss of their young son. But all this changes when Bert discovers a tiny, innocent boy-angel in his shirt pocket and takes him home. The angel, whom they name Angelino, creates joy and chaos in a struggling school and is angel-napped by a young man named Kevin trying to prove himself a villain. Kevin's attempts at dastardly deeds and the ensuing rescue mission provide a handy plot structure, while queries about the angel's existence gently raise larger theological questions. This charming story weaves slapstick humor and fart jokes with passages of surprising beauty and depth, hinting at darker troubles without sacrificing child-appropriate levity. The ensemble of plucky schoolchildren and bumbling adults is somewhat forgettable, but the book's evocative tone resonates more than the story line would indicate. VERDICT A quirky addition to middle grade shelves.-Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Bert is a discontented bus driver. His wife, Betty, works happily in the school cafeteria. One day while driving, Bert thinks he's having a heart attack, but instead he discovers a tiny angel in his pocket. So begins a story as filled with wonder as it is a look into the human condition. Angelino, who only whispers and laughs (and farts!), brings happiness to Bert and Betty, excitement to the local school children, and consternation to the school officials; he also brings out the greed in two bullies who snatch Angelino, intending to sell him for big bucks. In a style reminiscent of Roald Dahl, with over-the-top baddies and determined young heroes and heroines, this narrative at times speaks directly to the reader, encouraging them to think about the underlying themes that are portrayed, sometimes subtly. Particularly relevant is the issue of bullies, what makes them, and what can change them. Smith's illustrations add to the fun, and despite the levity, there's depth here that will generate discussion as well as giggles.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2018 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Almonds assured, energetic storytelling is in full force in this wonderfully outlandish, funny story of an angel come to earth. When Bert the bus driver feels a fluttering around his chest, he thinks hes having a heart attack. But no: its an angel in his pocket, a tiny boy angel with (as seen in Smiths frequent pencil illustrations) a topknot of curly hair and a penchant for mini gumdrops and farting. Bert and his wife Betty, the cook at St. Mungos School, care for the angel as their own and name him Angelino. At school the students love him, even though all he has to say for himself is, I dont know nowt and I dont know who I am. Then hes spotted and kidnapped by young criminal K, whose villainous Boss thinks an angel will sell for millions on the black market, and the race is on. This is a rumbustious mix of over-the-top villains, cheeky giggles, and investigations into the nature of angels, faith, and heroismas well as being a spirited school story. At its heart, it celebrates messy, inspired, and accidental human-ness, whether in tiny angels, lads daft as a brush, unconventional art teachers, or ordinary children. The homey, vividly evoked British setting (pints in the pub, telly watching, even the ever-enticing cake and custard) and use of regional diction are part of what gives the tale its appeal, along with Almonds wit, tenderness, and sheer imaginative nuttiness. deirdre f. baker (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Angelino Brownan actual angelfinds a home and grows into a real boy in Almond's latest.Almond's not-overly-reverent look at the transformative power of a pure heart is both sweet and broad-humored. Bert Brown is generally disgruntled with driving his bus ("Passengers! Who invented passengers?"), but then he finds a small angel in his pocket. Somehow the day gets better. Angelino, as Bert and his kind wife, Betty, name the winged child, is fond of such foods as cake and gumdrops, and he farts gently with some frequency. At school, where Betty is the cook, Angelino confides to young Nancy, "I don't know who I am," but he plays soccer with heart despite his size. Bert and Betty, who lost a child long ago; students Nancy Miller, Alice Obi, and Jack Fox; and the lovely art teacher, Ms. Monteverdi, become Angelino's champions and defenders. Most characters appear to be white, but Alice is illustrated with dark skin and hair arranged in puffballs, and school secretary Samantha Cludd, also dark-skinned, wears a headscarf. Almond pokes fun at the self-important and the needlessly important, employing terrifically silly names: for example, Professor Smellie (formerly of the University of Blithering-on-the-Fen). A badly behaved pair of young men kidnaps Angelino, hoping to sell him to the highest bidder, but Basher, a bully as a boy and worse now, represents the dark side of the heart and brings out Angelino's fighting spirit.A wise and tender comical adventure. (Fantasy. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.