I am So Over Being a Loser by Jim Smith: Book Review

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

When Barry's mom wins a supermarket contest and becomes the "Face of Feekos",  his life becomes an even bigger embarrassment. It's not enough that huge posters of his mom eating some digestive thing pop up all over, but those of her wiggling her butt ensures that everyone at school makes fun of him, topping off his humiliation.

In his effort to deal with his mom's new found fame, he winds up getting himself into trouble and misses a long anticipated ski trip. To make matters worse, his best friend, Bunky, ditches him for his nemesis. Thank goodness he has his napkin collection, a new friend named Nancy Verkenwerken, and his Snailypoos. Maybe he can prove his "keelness" once and for all.

The hilarious third book in the I Am Not a Loser series will have the young reader splitting their sides with laughter. Just when you think it can't get funnier, it does. The plethora of noses give the illustrations a comical life of their own. A definite must read for kids who love humor.

  Recommended to Highly Recommended ★★★★✬ (4 1/2)

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Jelly Pie, an imprint of Egmont UK June 2014)
Ages: 7-9
Pages: 240
ISBN-13: 978-1-4052-6033-6

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Book Review: Fluff Dragon (Bad Unicorn Book 2) by Platte F. Clark

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Book received at no charge to facilitate my review.

Fresh off the defeat of a killer unicorn, Max Spencer and his friends want nothing more to return home. Instead they are trapped in the magical world of Margus. Unfortunately, Max is the only one who can read the Codex of Infinite Knowability so when it stops working, he has to figure out how to reboot it before he and his friends can return.

Max, his friends, and a cast of zany characters must thwart the evil Rezormoor Dreadbringer, who wants to acquire the Codex and find the recipe for reproducing a fluff dragon, a creature essential for making hair pieces for the powerful men of the kingdom. The humor in the first part of the book makes it hard to take the plot serious but it ends up working in the end. The reader will get plenty of laughs while still recognizing the danger for Max and his group.

Book 2 of the Bad Unicorn Trilogy, Fluff Dragon is a case where the second installment is better than the first.

Publishing Information

Publisher: Aladdin (4/14/2014)

Pages: 384

Ages:8-12

ISBN-13 9781442450158

Rating:  Recommended ★★★★☆

This book can be purchased at the following retailers.

Book Review: The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer

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Book received at no charge to facilitate my review.

Tim can't get anybody to believe him. When he explains that the Ninja ate the last piece of cake or that the astronaut took his dad's hammer, he is sent outside to rake leaves and to think about his lies. But when he decides to tell real lies and own up to all of the trouble created the giant squid, tea drinking pirate and time-traveling monkey, his parents assign him more chores to think about the bad things he has done.

Poor Time just can't win.

Instead he conjures up a fabulous idea. He writes a letter inviting the band of miscreants to a party at his house. When they actually show up, his parents have no choice but to apologize to Tim. The modern, stylized characters are sure to illicit giggles from the young reader. A humorous twist on a classic theme. Clever and fun for the ninja lover.

Publishing Information:

Peachtree Publishers (Feb. 1, 2014)

32 pages

Ages: 4-8

ISBN: 978-1561457748

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Book Review: Charlie Bumpers Vs. Really Nice Gnome by Bill Harley & Illustrated by Adam Gustavson

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

Charlie Bumpers can't wait until his teacher posts the parts for the school play. He knows which part he wants, the Evil Sorcerer Kragon. Playing the bad guy sounds awesome. Instead, he gets the part of the Nice Gnome. He can't think of anything worse. Any part would be better than the Nice Gnome, even if it is the biggest part in the play. Too bad he can't just trade.

In fact, Charlie does try to trade parts but his teacher, Mrs. Burke, won't let him. When trading doesn't work, Charlie tries two other times to rid himself of such a nice part, even going so far as to rewrite all of his lines. All to no avail. 

Luckily, his big brother Matt gives Charlie a special set of sneakers to add to his costume, sure to put put the part of the Nice Gnome somewhere in the "cool" spectrum. Even better,  Charlie saves the play elevating him to hero status.

The younger middle grade reader will delight in Charlie's antics while at the same time will relate to the disappointment of not always getting what you want. Author, Bill Harley, pegs elementary school humor in a sequel that won't disappoint. The illustrations by Gustavson elicits additional laughs. The reader will anxiously wait the next installment.

Rating:  Recommended ★★★★☆


Publishing Information:

Publisher: Peachtree (April 1 2014)
Pages: 160 
ISBN: 978-1-56145-740-3
Ages: 7-10

This book can be purchased from the following retailers:

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**Disclosure: Book received at no charge from publisher to facilitate review. No monetary compensation was received. As always, I am free to give an honest review based upon my actual experience.**

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