- Illustrated Chapter Books
- Ages 8–11
- Fantasy
Flember: The Secret Book
Book 1 of 5 in FlemberView the full series
A fully illustrated fantasy-adventure with Jamie Smart's usual comic energy, but with more emotional warmth and world-building than his pure gag comics. A strong bridge from Bunny vs Monkey-style visual comedy into longer illustrated fiction.
- Best for8–11
- FormatIllustrated
- Length368 pp
- Read aloud~5 hr15 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Heartwarming
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
On Flember Island, young inventor Dev spends his time building strange machines and trying to understand the mysterious energy known as Flember. When he creates Boja, a giant red robot bear, his invention becomes far more than a machine: Boja becomes a friend, a protector and the beginning of a much bigger adventure. This first book introduces a world where technology, magic and comedy sit side by side, giving readers gadgets, monsters, mystery and heartfelt friendship in a highly visual package. The story has more sustained plot than Jamie Smart's gag-led comics, but the pages remain busy, funny and heavily illustrated, making it approachable for readers who like pictures on almost every spread. It is particularly good for children ready for a longer book but still wanting visual support, silly humour and a big imaginative setting.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 8–11
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 8–11
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Bunny vs monkey fans
- Inventor stories
- Robot friends
- Visual fantasy
- Illustrated adventure
Avoid if
- Prefers real world school comedy
- Needs very short reads
- Dislikes busy pages
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Interested in science
- Making friends
- Struggling with reading
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A funny, inventive fantasy-adventure series — a reluctant-reader-friendly classroom-library pick.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific kick is making your best friend — Dev the inventor accidentally bringing Boja the red robot bear to life, the friendship that becomes the spine of the whole five-book run. The Flember opener for a child who wants illustrated fantasy with proper warmth.
- Secret world
- Making a difference
- Adventure and freedom
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
Jamie Smart's longer-arc series — quieter and more story-driven than Bunny vs Monkey, with the same accessible art and humour. Strong gateway for a child who loves the Smart visual style but wants a sustained fantasy rather than gag strips.
- Shared humour
- Beautiful illustrations
- Quick to read
In the series
Flember.
5 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Jamie Smart.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Where you’ll find it
On these reading lists.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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