Mega Rich Guinea Pigs by Kate and Jol Temple

Title: Mega Rich Guinea Pigs

Author: Kate and Jol Temple

Genre: Humour

Publisher: HarperCollins Australia

Published: 26^th August 2025

Format: Paperback

Pages: 240

Price: $16.99

Synopsis: A hilarious new illustrated series for kids aged 8+ featuring a group of extremely cashed up guinea pigs and a capybara, from the bestselling authors of Frog Squad!

The world’s richest man, Magnus McAloon, has tragically died in a rocket experiment gone wrong.

The sole heirs to his estate are his four beloved pet guinea pigs: Hot Head, Lunk, G-Chip and Big Pig (who is actually a capybara, but don’t tell him that).

Not everyone is happy – especially the members of the McAloon family, who are determined to get back the fortune that they feel belongs to them, and not the newly mega rich guinea pigs.

From the bestselling creators of children’s books, Kate and Jol Temple.

~*~

What happens when the world’s richest man, Magnus McAloon dies when he blows out birthday candles on a rocket ship? All his millions, billions and trillions of dollars is left to his four guinea pigs. Well, three guinea pigs and a capybara but we don’t tell the capybara that’s what he is, apparently. Meet Lunk, G-Chip, Hot Head and Big Pig, who can speak dozens of languages, play sports, play music and who live in a huge mansion perfectly appointed for their tiny needs with staff ready to appease their every whim. They even have chips in their butts to pay for whatever they need using their inheritance.

But here’s the glitch. Magnus only left them the money because he had no children, and now his brother Morris, his brother’s two wives Lomarti and Rubella, and their children, Barrett and Ellarea have found out that the guinea pigs are getting all the millions, billions, trillions of dollars! And they are MAD! So mad. The guinea pigs don’t care – they’re MEGA RICH GUINEA PIGS! They can do whatever they want. Until the McAloons decide to find a way to get their hands on the cash. Except…their plans to get rid of the guinea pigs go awry.

Join four guinea pigs (well three plus one capybara) as they outwit the McAloons to protect their money. They make some unexpected friends along the way, and this adds to the utter joyous chaos that I have come to expect from Kate and Jol Temple’s books. So, what would you do if a super-rich relative left all their money to guinea pigs? This book is jam-packed with humour and adventure, all with the trademark style the authors have curated over the years. The guinea pigs are the heroes of this book, with the McAloons and driver Craig Cresswell (but you don’t need to remember his name) playing secondary roles. Although, there is something very diabolical about the McAloons and it does make you wonder what they will try next to get their hands on the money the guinea pigs have ultimate control over.

This was a fun read, and kids will gobble this up. What kid hasn’t dreamed of having endless money to spend on whatever they want? Who hasn’t imagined living in their dream home that has everything they can think of? Or having talking pets who can go on their own adventures and have loads of fun? Well, all of these elements are in this book and come together very well. This is one of those books that comes to life from the first page, and the action begins explosively. Literally. The chaotic nature of this book makes sense and fits in with the story so well. It is surely to have wide appeal with the ridiculously perfect concept that just flies or scurries off the page towards a bunch of carrots. And let’s face it – who can go past a group of dancing guinea pigs, which felt like a cheeky nod to Hampton the Hampster and the Hampster Dance. It’s success lies in the clever and cheeky references that some readers will appreciate and understand, as well as the way it all seamlessly works to tell a funny story that I’m sure many readers will enjoy.

Another great Kate and Jol Temple book!