The Parent Agency is the imaginative and humorous debut children's novel by comedian and author David Baddiel. The story introduces Barry Bennett, a boy who is deeply convinced that his own parents are the worst in the world, constantly complaining about their rules, their boringness, and their general incompetence. Exasperated, Barry makes a wish that he had better parents. Much to his astonishment, he is transported to a magical, ultra-secret Parent Agency, where he is given the extraordinary opportunity to "audition" a new set of perfect parents, choosing from a variety of amazing, exciting, and wildly different candidates. However, the process quickly proves complicated, and Barry soon realizes that the "perfect" parent might not be the most fun or exciting one. Baddiel uses this clever, fantastical premise to explore themes of appreciation, family love, and the grass-is-always-greener mentality, ultimately leading Barry to discover that maybe—just maybe—his own original, flawed parents were the right ones for him all along.
