Derek Dool Supercool: Run for Your Life

 Derek Dool Supercool: Run for Your Life by Adrian Beck, illustrated by Scott Edgar (Puffin) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 978 1760892975

Here is yet another book in the Derek Dool series which is targeted at readers aged 9+ years. It is a humorous series in the vein of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Timmy Failure being highly illustrated in a fun and energetic style.

Derek is far from being a natural athlete but he’s willing to have a go. The school’s cross-country is coming up and Derek aims to win it. However, all his plans fall apart when the race begins, especially as there are rumours of a witch lurking in the bush. Are the rumours true?

Featuring breakout chapters and jokes, this series is perfect for both confident and reluctant readers. Underneath the bravado, the antics and the sometimes laugh-out-loud humour, themes of hobbies, friendship, family, self-confidence, resilience, and staying true to yourself resound.

Derek Dool Supercool: Going Viral

 Derek Dool Supercool: Going Viral written by Adrian Beck and illustrated by Scott Edgar (Penguin Random House) PB $14.99 ISBN 978 1 760 892968

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Adrian Beck has brought back Derek Cool 2 with more laughs and antics. Derek accidentally goes viral and becomes a super hit. Now he’s on a mission to go viral deliberately. Big Denise, Booger and the rest of Grade 5, along with Mr Mustard and annoying Vice Principal Vernie are all back in fine form. A Garlic Festival, with a tearaway jumping castle that flips onto a river and heads towards a raging waterfall, ensures the reader is never bored.

 

The text is well paced and each character’s voice speaks clearly. The text creates vivid imagery that brings the story to life, and the action builds so you want to keep on reading. The slapstick humour and antics keep you hooked.

 

Scott Edgar’s black and white illustrations create cartoon-like humour that adds extra meaning to the text. The characters facial expressions are both true to form and comical. The illustration on page 4, at the funeral home, sets the tone and setting for the story brilliantly. It’s lots of fun checking out the different illustrations that are often in the page corners.

 

The back of the book feature biographies and a photo of both the author and illustrator at eight years old.  Children love these features in books.

 

Derek Super Cool Going Viral is a middle grade read that has the humour that children love. This book can easily be read on its own or after the first book Derek Super Cool Busts a Move.

Derek Dool Supercool 2: Going Viral

Derek Dool Supercool 2: Going Viral by Adrian Beck, illustrated by Scott Edgar (Puffin Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN9781760892968

In the vein of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Weirdo, Derek Dilbert Dool returns in another supercool adventure! Thankfully, so do his friends Booger and Big Denise. The first chapter begins with the words, ‘Not many people turned up to Derek’s funeral.’ Derek is inside a coffin in the funeral parlour his dad owns, preparing to burst out, wearing vampire teeth, his face smothered in zinc cream to look deathly pale. His prank surprises his classmates and teacher Mr Mustard who are present.

Derek’s escapades later sees him exposing his bright purple undies on video. After accidentally going viral, Derek is then on a mission to deliberately go viral! After all, what is more supercool than being an internet hit? The only problem is, none of his ideas are quite working out as he expected. But Derek's not the type to give up. No way! He is determined to achieve viral victory – even if it's the last thing he ever does.

Children aged 7 to 10 years are likely to find lots to laugh about in this fast-paced, fun-packed series which is full of bravado with its themes of hobbies, friendship, family, self-confidence and staying true to yourself. The book features breakout chapters, many jokes and numerous black and white cartoon illustrations.

Derek Dool Supercool Bust a Move

Derek Dool Supercool Bust a Move by Adrian Beck, illustrated by Scott Edgar (Penguin Random House) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781760892951

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

School friendships, two school rivals with big egos duel it out at the school disco with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. A dance off between the school loser and the school cool kid. Who will be the winner?

This hilarious new book by Adrian Beck is sure to be a winner.  Derek thinks he’s the coolest, funniest, most handsome kid in school, amp that up a gazillion times and you have Derek Dilbert Dool. The only problem is he is the only one that thinks so.

Derek has a front that hides the insecurities he holds inside, that are revealed as we get to know him. At first you wonder why anyone would be his friend. As a reader you to get laugh along at his embarrassing misfortunes, all brought on by his own belief that he is the best dancer in the whole school. He’s kidding himself and his dancing skills are a big problem. But deep down he wants to be liked by all the cool kids and fit in.

Derek, along with his two sidekicks Big Denise and Booger, and Cruz with his blinding smile and friends go head to head. Bring into the picture vice principal Verne who should have been on the stage and you have setting for a dance off like no other. There are laughs galore but there’s also clever writing that shows the inner side of the characters and their behaviours. This allows a reader to not only laugh but think and empathise with each character and champion for Derek and his friends in the end.

Scott Edgar’s cartoon sketches add to the humour and bring more layers of meaning to the character, setting and events. They also show how small Derek feels when the spotlight is upon him at the big dance off.  The cover is perfect for the book with Derek front and centre along with a disco ball. It captures the heart of the story well.

The text is engaging, action packed and easy to read. The story moves along at a fun pace that really engages a reader. This is a great book for middle grade readers, especially those in grades 2-4.

Derek Dool Super Cool: Bust a Move

Derek Dool Super Cool: Bust a Move by Adrian Beck, illustrated by Scott Edgar (Puffin) PB RRP $14.99

Cashing in on the success of books such as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Timmy Failure comes this visually interesting and humorous novel which is likely to be of interest to readers aged 8 years and over.

“(Red-haired) Derek is the type of kid who is so full of himself he reckons his underpants should be framed as a work of art.” Ever since he was a baby, he’s had something to prove…

Life sure is tough when your name’s Derek. The poor boy is destined to be uncool, but he’s determined to find something that will change the fact that he’s always picked last in PE, he never gets invited to parties and the cool kids don’t treat him as he expects.

The action starts at Ruttsmell Primary School’s final dance lesson where Derek tries to engage his best “friends” Big Denise (the nicest, most polite person in the world) and the ever-hungry Booger. However, onto the scene comes Carmichael Cruz, Derek’s archenemy and the most popular kid in the school. How, Derek thinks, can he surpass Cruz in the popularity stakes?

This new series is ideal for both confident and reluctant readers with its breakout chapters and frequent animated black and white illustrations. The stories are action-packed, the language laid-back and words picked out in the text and highlighted. It will be interesting to see if this new Australian children’s book series will take off.