Frank Pearl in the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle

Frank Pearl in the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Erwin Madrid (Walker Books)

PB RRP $11.95

ISBN 978076367213

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

This chapter book full of fun, exploration, determination and trial and error, is from the series Judy Moody and Friends for the 6+ age group.

All the children are practising their Yo-Yo skills at the Frozen Yogurt shop. The best player will get to name the new flavour. Frank, unlike his friends, has never won a contest. He longs to have something to boast about as the others do. He is last to show his skills with the Flying Skunk. But things go wrong, for the ‘skunk stunk’ and he ended up breaking his glasses.

Feeling a failure but still optimistic, Frank enters Cookie his parrot in the in the Pets are Family contest. But Cookie chooses the wrong moment to refrain from public performance. Refusing to give up, Frank is determined to try one more time.

The Great Third Grade Breakfast Bash and Waffle-Off will determine who can make the best-dressed waffles. Frank feels the Blue Ribbon he longs for is within reach with his innovative exploding waffle. Unfortunately, his Mount Vesuvius has a meltdown. Just when he expect things to turn out one way, they do a flip and take an unexpected direction.

Frank is a fantastic role model for young readers. He encourages children through his actions to be persistent, give things a go, be in it no matter what, and always try to have fun. It will be your turn to win sometime. Don’t ever give up!

The whole series has familiar faces and names, terrific characters, lots of lessons to be learnt about friendship, and many other positive reinforcements. The illustrations are outstanding and complement the text perfectly.

Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm

Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Walker Books)
HB RRP $ 24.95
ISBN 9780763634513
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Judy Moody is on a lucky roll. She believes it’s due to her lucky penny from the 1970s that Grandma Lou gave her. Judy wins three times with the claw, and during the celebrations for Jessica’s birthday at the Extreme Bowling Challenge.

The Spelling Bee competition is coming up. The finals are to be held in Washington D.C., home of the President and other great sights. Judy has her heart set on going, but everyone knows that Jessica is the world’s best speller.

Judy depends on her lucky penny to win. But winning without putting in the work is a lesson that Judy must learn.

Not having studied, and in an attempt to be last in line for the classroom spelling test, Judy goes to the toilet and her lucky penny falls from her pocket into the bowl. The penny is rescued, but it’s ‘goodbye lucky penny and hello bad luck charm’, for Judy is out of the Spellathon, and Jessica is going to Washington.

But things take an unusual turn. Jessica needs a pig-sitter for Pee Gee while she’s at the competition. Judy puts her hand up and the Moody family set out on a road trip where they see the sights of Washington after all. Judy and Stink believe they have it made without any effort, until the time comes to pig-sit.

Jessica’s pet is set on having a good time too, and that means freedom. He slips away from the siblings through an open door. The chase is on - down stairs and elevators, through foyers and hallways. Chaos and destruction reign.

When he’s caught, mum’s the word about his escape. But the room is nothing less than a pigsty and there’ll have to be explanations. Judy reaches for her lucky penny to save the day only to find a hole in her empty pocket.

Taking responsibility for your actions and working hard to succeed, are important issues in this Judy Moody which is ideal for readers of the 9+ age group.

Judy Moody and the NOT bummer summer

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Walker Books)
HC RRP $ 24.95
ISBN 9780763657116
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

The countdown is heading to the last millisecond on the last day of school and the onset of summer holidays. But Rocky is going to circus camp and Amy is accompanying her mother to Borneo. Therefore Judy is left with Frank to have the best summer ever, which with the others gone, she anticipates as being totally boring!

Her brother Stinky though has big plans and nothing can dampen his spirits. There have been Bigfoot sightings and Stinky with his mate Zeke, are determined to catch him.

An emergency with Gramps takes the Moody parents to California, leaving Stinky and Judy with their Aunt Opal, a person they haven’t seen in years. Boring and double boring! But when Opal arrives she brings with her a huge smile, mood rings, hippie clothes, and an even cooler attitude to life. She is an immediate hit.

Thus begins a summer of dares and thrill points. While Rocky and Amy are building up their points, Judy and Aunt Opal are making strides of their own, even if they aren’t collecting points. Opal shows Judy how to create art from rubbish and teaches her that fun can be had in the most unexpected and unplanned ways.

The not so bummer summer comes and goes camouflaged in mayhem, mishaps mischief and masses of goo.

For first time readers of the Judy Moody books, there is a double page of Who’s Who of the characters incorporated in Judy’s world. The illustrations in the book are done in watercolour, ink and tea, the last being a favourite medium of the illustrator. Judy Moody books are ideal for early chapter book readers. They are funny, gross and highly entertaining!

Book Review: Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk

 Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Walker Books)

HC RRP $24.95

ISBN 9780763656928

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

It’s only seven days before the release of Book 5 of Nightmare on Zombie Street and best friends Stink and Webster can’t wait. The release of the book at the bookstore will be followed by a midnight zombie walk through town. In combination with the Zombie festival, their school aims to reach one million minutes of reading.  But the boys have spent all their pocket money and have to find a way to get funds to buy the books. Their attempt to sell smells ends in destruction.

The boy’s grossness has no end. Although they continue to read and rack up the minutes, their world has become totally zombiefied.  They now communicate through zombie-speak. Their food is transformed into gruesome, gooey and disgusting gruel if only in their imagination.

The whole school is behind the reading target and is fully into the zombie swing of things. Everything is green and slimy. The canteen is serving zombie food and the children have gone through a temporary but grotesque transformation. Zombie sleepovers are arranged. Stinky has redesigned his ventriloquist’s dummy into a zombie doll which results in a frightening experience.

The celebrations begin along with the countdown. Lots of surprises are in store for everyone. The most important thing is that the children have read so many books that they have reached the reading target. This means they will receive books for the library donated by the townspeople while great fun has been had by all.

This is a gross, highly entertaining book ideal for reluctant young readers, mainly boys, which shows that reading can be fun. It has a profusion of equally gross illustrations which will send the senses reeling and keep the pages turning. The green cover depicts Stinky’s face in a zombie trance all over the place. It also has an attractive and well designed half-jacket with Stinky and friends doing the midnight zombie walk.