- Illustrated Chapter Books
- Ages 5–8
- Comedy
Murray and Bun: Murray the Knight
Book 2 of 4 in Murray and BunView the full series
The magic cat flap opens into a medieval world, and Murray is absolutely convinced he was born to be a knight. The second book is the most being_special_or_chosen-flavoured entry in the series, Bun's scepticism is funnier here because the gap between Murray's confidence and the reality is wider.
- Best for5–8
- FormatIllustrated
- Length96 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr20 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
- Onomatopoeic
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Exciting
- Adventurous
- Absurdist
- Warm
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Murray the Knight follows the established series formula with the medieval setting giving Stower the most classic fantasy tropes to play against, castles, quests, and a cat who is entirely certain he is the chosen hero. The being_special_or_chosen core fantasy is at its highest weight here (vs. surviving_danger in book one), reflecting a book more interested in Murray's self-mythology than the external threat. The responsibility deep theme at 0.5 is the most prominent it appears in the series: Murray genuinely has to step up when the stakes are real, which gives the comedy room for a moment of earned earnestness. The low_self_esteem reader_situation at 0.45 is worth noting: Bun's relationship to Murray's confidence is quietly reassuring for a child who identifies as the more cautious one in a friendship. The series formula is fully established by book two, can_read_out_of_order is genuine; each book stands alone.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–8
- Read aloud · 5–7
- Independent · 6–8
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
High
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Reluctant readers
- Laugh out loud
- High energy
- Gift book
Avoid if
No common reasons to avoid this one — a rare clean sweep on the sensitivity flags.
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Making friends
- Low self esteem
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A funny magical-adventure series — a great pick for newly independent and reluctant readers.
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 delight is Murray's chosen-hero certainty — the cat flap dropping them into a medieval world, Murray absolutely convinced he was born to be a knight, Bun's scepticism wider than ever because the gap is bigger. The Murray and Bun where the cat's self-mythology is at its highest.
- Adventure and freedom
- Animal companions
- Being special or chosen
- Secret world
- Shapeshifting
Why parents love it
The second Murray and Bun — being-special-or-chosen at full volume, Bun's quiet voice working as reassurance for the more cautious child in any friendship. Series formula now established; works standalone. Reliable next-step for the early-chapter reader.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
- Conversation starter
In the series
Murray and Bun.
4 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Adam Stower.
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.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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