The Mischievians is a charming little book. It doesn’t have much of a plot but is entertaining nonetheless.
Two children send up a balloon asking for help. Their homework keeps disappearing, so they are in trouble with their parents. Next, a hole opens up in the earth and they fall through into the laboratory of Dr. Zooper, who tells them all about the little monsters lurking in their house.
What do the monsters do? Steal just one sock, hide the remote control, create belly button lint, and of course steal homework, among other serious crimes.
The book is breezily written with just a bit of gross humor that kids like.
As usual with Joyce, the illustrations are beautiful. The pictures featuring the children are charmingly retro, and the little monsters are cheerfully grotesque. Letters in the text are occasionally tweaked out of place by a mysterious hand. The cover is designed to look like an old, worn out book.
This book is for a little older kids than The Leaf Men, probably suitable for six- to eight-year-olds, although smaller kids will enjoy it, too.
What? Me Read? 
I love William Joyce! Dinosaur Bob is one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for calling my attention to this one!
I’ll have to check out Dinosaur Bob!
Gross humor – right up my kid’s (and a lot of kids that I know) alley! 😉
They seem to love it!