Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot 4: Vs. The Mecha-Monkeys From Mars

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot 4: Vs. The Mecha-Monkeys From Mars by Dav Pilkey, Illustrated by Dan Santat (Scholastic Inc)

PB RRP $10.99

ISBN 978-0-545-63012-2

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Ricky Ricotta and Mighty Robot are in trouble again. This time they have wrecked the family car by using it as a skateboard for the gigantic robot. Now they need to find some way to pay for the damage.

But before they can, they are caught up in the plans of another villain, the mean little Major Monkey. This evil monkey would love to enslave earth's inhabitants. He is lonely on Mars and has no one to talk to, or more importantly, no one to be mean to. But he has been watching the heroic deeds of Ricky Ricotta and Mighty Robot and knows he needs to outsmart this pair or his evil plan will end in the same manner as the previous ones. He needs to set a trap...

This fourth Ricky Ricotta follows the last three adventures with Ricky and mighty Robot up against evil creatures from other planets who want to take over earth. Short, fully illustrated and easy to read, this series is great for young and beginning readers who want a fast, action-packed and humorous read. Both the text and illustrations are fun and the imaginative villains,  mini-comic fight scenes and alliterative text make an entertaining read.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot 3: Vs. The Voodoo Vultures From Venus

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot 3: Vs. The Voodoo Vultures From Venus by Dav Pilkey, Illustrated by Dan Santat (Scholastic Inc)

PB RRP $10.99

ISBN 978-0-545-63011-5

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Ricky Ricotta and Mighty Robot are not allowed to watch television. They have arrived late for dinner for the third time in a week and Ricky's parents have decided to ban TV until the two friends can learn to be a little more responsible. Little do they know it is a very good thing not to be watching television this particular evening.

On Venus, an evil vulture has been hatching a plan to get off the horribly hot planet and make a permanent move to earth. And when his Voodoo Ray was beamed down and picked up by the TV signals, everyone on earth was hypnotised by Victor Von Vulture – all except our two heroes who could not watch television.

And so his evil plan to get earth's population to bring food to him and his Voodoo Vulture army appears to be a smashing success! Only two people stand in his way: Ricky Ricotta and Mighty Robot, who must hatch a plan of their own to stop the vile vulture.

This is the third book in the action-packed, funny Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot series for young readers. The alliteration and imaginative silly humour is entertaining to read and the bright glossy illustrations enhance the frenetic pace of events while mini-comics and flip-o-rama's add to the craziness of the book's plot.

Towards the end is a great illustration of the jail which is starting to fill with all the villainous masterminds from previous books that Ricky and his robot have thwarted.

I'm sure there will be plenty more. 

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury by Dav Pilkey, Illustrations by Dan Santat (Scholastic Inc)

PB RRP $10.99

ISBN 978-0-545-63010-8

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

In this second adventure, Ricky Ricotta and his friend Mighty Robot are back in action. Ricky sees mutant mosquitoes attack Squeakyville from his school window but the teacher will not let him leave to save the earth until he finishes his maths test. Luckily, Ricky is a whiz at maths. With his robot friend, Ricky must battle evil mosquitoes which are sick of living on their hot planet of Mercury, and want to take over Earth for their home.

Thin, colourful, and glossy, the short chapter and easy text will attract young boys who are looking to extend their reading to chapter books. And the action, with animal-like alien monsters will keep them hooked. Comic style pages enhance the action in the battle scenes and the illustrations.

Created by the author of Captain Underpants, and illustrator Dan Santat, the Ricky Ricotta tales are filled with action, aliens, heroes and flip-o-ramas, which will appeal to lower primary readers and younger Captain Underpants fans.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey, Illustrated by Dan Santat (Scholastic Inc)

PB RRP $10.99

ISBN 978-0-545-63009-2

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Ricky Ricotta lives with his Mum and Dad in Squeakyville. His biggest wish is for a friend, a big one, who will help him thwart the bullies who pick on him. So one day, when evil Dr Stinky McNasty brings his Mighty Robot to town, Ricky befriends the giant robot. Instead of destroying Squeakyville, Mighty Robot teams up with Ricky to destroy evil and they become heroes and close friends.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot is another series by the author of Captain Underpants which is well loved by primary aged boys everywhere. Together with illustrator Dan Santat, Pilkey has created a colourful, glossy book, full of fun illustrations, cartoon strips, boy humour, evilness, alien monsters and flip-o-rama's, that will also appeal to the young Captain Underpants fans.

A thin volume with very short chapters, short sentences, easy words, craziness and lots of action, Ricky Ricotta will attract beginning and reluctant readers as well as those who just want a fun fast read.