Doyle, Roddy. The Giggler Treatment. Illustrated by Brian Ajhar. Scholastic, 2000. ISBN 0-439-16299-8. $14.95. 112 pp. B 3-6 FI Reviewed by Sharon Kuttler Mr. Mack sends his sons to their rooms without supper for breaking a window. Gigglers, small, furry creatures that change color to match whatever they are near, overhear Mr. Mack. For thousands of years, gigglers have been giving “the treatment” to men and women who are mean to children. The giggler treatment is poo on the shoe. Mr. Mack’s children continually rescue him from stepping on fresh dog poo, provided by Rover, the millionaire dog who is amply paid by the gigglers for his commodity. This humorous, easy-to-read book will appeal to Roald Dahl fans, but be prepared for references to dog poo and bodily functions. The abundant pencil illustrations are amusing and enhance the story considerably. A glossary explains the British slang used in the story. The last chapter has a list of messages from the story, including “not all dogs are millionaires, only the ones that poo a lot.” This book is clever, but also crude.
