Cirrus@Austlit

'Mr Brainfright's important lesson #1: When you're breathing, it's very important not to fall out of the window.

'It doesn't take Henry McThrottle long to realise that Mr Brainfright, his new teacher at Northwest Southeast Central School, is rather unusual. His last teacher would never have fallen out of the window - twice - or taught Class 5C how to skid on banana peels.

'But Henry's got even stranger things on his mind... on a trip to Principal Greenbeard's office, he discovers that there is buried treasure on Skull Island, which is somewhere in the school! Henry and his friends Jenny, Gretel, Newton and Jack set out to find a chest filled with gold, jewel-encrusted goblets and pieces of eight (whatever they are).

'But soon their secret is out, and everyone has treasure fever. Can they find the buried treasure, beat the bully, catch the villain and save their teacher, Mr Brainfright?' (Publisher's blurb)

"Mr Brainfright says: 'It's important to keep a sense of humour at all times, especially when you're being ripped apart by a lion.'" Mr Brainfright is a teacher at Northwest Southeast Central School. He teaches Grade Five and in his class is a student called Henry McThrottle who likes telling stories. That's me. I'm Henry McThrottle and this is my latest story. It's about an evil pencil, a runaway lion, an avalanche and... falling out of windows. I hope you like it.

Source: Pan Macmillan Australia website, www.panmacmillan.com.au (Sighted 22/09/2008)

'The Mascot Madness! Test:

'1. Northwest Southeast Central School have never beaten Northwest West Academy at their annual track and field challenge because A: they're better at knitting than they are at sport. B: they are losers. C: Northwest West Academy will stop at nothing to win.

'2. Mr Brainfright dresses up in a banana suit and dances around because A: he's bored. B: he goes bananas. C: he thinks it will inspire the students of Northwest Southeast Central School and lead them to victory.

'3. When Henry McThrottle attempts the triple jump, instead of a hop, step and a jump he does A: a burp, a dribble and a sneeze. B: a twirl, a spin and the splits. C: a stumble, a trip and a fall. 4. Mascot Madness is A: a new type of dance. B: when a mascot gets angry. C: a very funny book about running, jumping, throwing, winning, losing, cheating, chasing, biting and really hard squeezing.

'The answers to these questions - and many more - are contained between the covers of this very funny book about running, jumping, throwing, winning, losing, cheating, chasing, biting and really hard squeezing.' (Publisher's blurb)