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.  

I’m Here

I’m Here written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Simon and Schuster)

HB RRP $19.99

ISBN 978-141699649-1

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

A little boy plays alone in a schoolyard while the rest of his classmates play in the distance – they are there, he is here.  But soon a little girl joins the little boy, returning his paper airplane and making a new friend.

I’m Here was created to reach out and appreciate those children in the autism spectrum, as well as anyone who is different.  As a parent of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome, I was immediately drawn to this book.

It is a truly lovely story that gives voice to a child who is unable to bridge the gap between himself and those around him; and encourages others to make that first connection. While the behaviour of the young boy in the story is reminiscent of Autism Spectrum Disorder, it is open enough that any child who feels shy or on the outer could relate.  It also shows the importance of making the first move with kids who are shy or isolated and, maybe, make a new friend.

There is a lot of subtlety to the story and it is wonderfully complemented with Peter H. Reynolds’ delicate illustrations. There is lots of white space on each page and this represented pictorially to me the tendency of many autistic and Asperger’s kids to shut out the world around them (I don’t know if this was the intention).

I’m Here would be a great book to read in a classroom setting as there would be so much for kids to learn, discuss and relate to. It is a beautiful book that I would certainly recommend.

Peter H. Reynolds is an author and illustrator of children’s books and the Founder of the educational media company FableVision. He has illustrated Someday and Little Boy both written by Alison McGhee.  He is also the creative mind behind the bestselling picture books The Dot and Ish.