Fortunately, the Milk

Written by Neil Gaiman · Illustrated by Skottie Young

A father's journey through time and space to get milk for his children's breakfast

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 68,151 ratings

114 pages· 7,668 words· Est. 1 hour read· 680L

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Bookroo's summary

When a father returns from buying milk, he encounters a hovering silver disc, sparking an unexpected journey through time. With pirates, piranhas, and aliens, his simple errand spirals into a madcap adventure. Can he navigate this bizarre world and return home safely? Discover the hilarity and oddities that unfold in this whimsical tale of breakfast cereal and time travel.

From the publisher

“I bought the milk,” said my father. “I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: t h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road.” “Hullo,” I said to myself. “That’s not something you see every day. And then something odd happened.” Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious New York Times bestselling story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 114
Words: 7,668
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Juvenile Reader
Lexile: 680L

Themes & topics

Books about time travel Books about breakfast Books about storytelling Books about dads Books about space and time

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Violence

This book contains many adventures the father tells about, and one instance includes ancient prophecies where they were going to sacrifice a small, skinny guy.

After the last page

Talk about it together

In this story, the father tells about many crazy experiences he had trying to get home after buying the milk. Which part of his journey was your favorite?

The children wonder why their father could be taking so long to grab milk for their cereal. Is there an errand you think takes a long time to help with? What fantastical story might you come up with to explain why it takes so long?

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.3

out of 7

5.3

“I think if I was an old person I'd probably call this book a "romp". It's wild and rowdy and a lot of fun. Neil Gaiman is a great storyteller, and this is a quick read.”

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

The author