Read the book!

This post on Facebook shocked me last week - not the content - the fact that this teacher did not think he/she should have read the book first before reading this book or perhaps ANY book to the class and then I was even more shocked to read that he or she isn't even going to read it over the weekend - the story will unfold for the teacher and the class next week. Surely this is just meant to be facetious?

I asked for recommendations for my class a couple of weeks ago and was overwhelmed by fantastic suggestions. My class chose "You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum" and we're absolutely loving it... or at least, we were...We have a long weekend this weekend and finished chapter 8 at 2.58pm. School finishes at 3.
JAKE DIES AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER. Cue half a class of seven-year-olds crying, me frantically flicking through in search of a spoiler (the whopper dog can't really be dead!), parents peering through the window wondering what on earth is going on... Honestly, should have come with a trigger warning. It's going to be a long five days waiting to find out what happens next! I've got my fingers crossed hoping Polly pulls something out of the bag...

I read You're a Bad Man Mr Gum when it was first published in 2006. I didn't remember much about the story so I re-read it last night. This is just meant to be a fun/funny/silly book - the term slapstick comes to mind. What this teacher didn't seem to know:

• This book is aimed at readers aged 7+ so it is very unlikely or even I might say impossible that a main character, even a dog main character will die. Sure, in books for older children such as Charlotte's Web and Bridge to Terabithia a loved character does die but You're a Bad Man Mr Gum is just a funny illustrated junior novel perfect for younger children or reluctant older kids who just want a laugh. (think of books like George's Marvellous Medicine).
• If you read the words from the scene on page 110 chapter 8 where Jake eats the poison left for him in Mr Gum's garden and then think about them it seems obvious that he is not dead: "But before he could take another bite, he gave a sad woof and fell over on his side, his big furry belly moving rapidly in and out."  I assume this is where the teacher stopped.
• The teacher could have turned to the last page and read "and Jake the dog played happily in gardens all summer long." (page 160). Voila - a happy ending - surely you are not surprised. 
• Finally, if the teacher had looked at the back cover there is a happy illustration of Polly and Jake together.

I seem to read comments like this so often - they make me despair. Teachers and parents asking for advice about books - when all they need to do is actually read the book themselves. It took me less than 20 minutes to read You're a Bad Man Mr Gum - surely this teacher could manage that!

The teacher could also have read a few review comments - because if Jake had died, I think the reviewers would have expressed their outrage. Here are a few comments I found on Goodreads. None talk about Jake dying:

It's silly, surreal, often abstract, did I mention silly? And it works enough of the time to pull you through the book and deliver the promised good time.

I haven't genuinely laughed at a book, like I did with this one in a long time. It was completely absurd and completely fun.

The nice thing about Andy Stanton's Mr. Gum books is that they're written with a two-dimensional villain in place with whom you never, at any point, sympathize.

Finally, back to my comment that surely teacher would have read the book prior to sharing it with her class. I maintain this is vital. If you personally don't like a book then it is surely okay to find another one to share. When a teacher truly loves a book it is nearly always true the class will too. I adore dystopian stories but I am not a fan of timeslip. Everyone has their own personal preferences and taste. I realise the teacher did like this first book from the series of eight by Andy Stanton but I just do not understand why he/she had not read it themselves. Sorry for the rant.