CM Magazine: Stink: The Fabulously Freaky Collection. (Books 7-9.)

________________ CM . . . . Volume XXIII Number 8. . . .October 28, 2016

cover
Stink: The Fabulously Freaky Collection. (Books 7-9.)

Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press (Distributed in Canada by Random House of Canada), 2007/2014.
3 vol., boxed set, $18.50.
ISBN 978-0-7636-9076-2.

Contents:

Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk.
Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press (Distributed in Canada by Random House of Canada), 2012/2013.
144 pp., pbk., $7.00.
ISBN 978-0-7636-6422-0.

Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout.
Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press (Distributed in Canada by Random House Canada), 2013.
148 pp., pbk., $7.00.
ISBN 978-0-7636-6688-0.
See review at Vol. XXI, No. 15, December 12, 2014.

Stink and the Shark Sleepover.
Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press (Distributed in Canada by Random House of Canada), 2014.
158 pp., pbk., $6.50.
ISBN 978-0-7636-7678-0.
See review at Vol. XXI, No. 31, April 17, 2015.

Grades 2-5 / Ages 7-10.

Review by Elaine Fuhr.

**** /4

excerpt:

Then he stepped inside.

Gadzooks! The windows were swamp-green. The tables were puke-green. And gross green stuff hung from the ceiling. “The cafeteria got slimed!” said Stink.

“And it smells like a swamp,” said Webster.

The Vomiteria buzzed with excitement. Everyone was talking at once.

Stink grabbed a tray.

He started through the lunch line. He read the board that said:

TODAY’S MENU:

-SCRAMBLED BRAINS         -EYEBALL SOUP WITH A SIDE OF GUTS

-ZOMBIE FRIED RICE         -SPAGHETTI MEDULLA WITH DRIPPING BLOOD SAUCE

-SPLEEN STEW         -SLOPPY TOES ON A BUN

“Eeuw. Everything looks like insides,” said Webster.

“That s-s-soup is s-s-staring at me,” said Sophie.

“I think I feel the pukes coming on,” said Stink.

“Welcome to the vomiteria,”said a voice. A zombie voice.

Stink, brother of the famous Judy Moody, and his friends are obsessed with zombies and are very excited about the coming of Book #5 in the series ‘Nightmare on Zombie Street’. And it will be presented at the town library with a Zombie Walk down the streets of their town. How exciting! Stink wants to be the first in line. At school, they are all working towards reading 1,000,000 minutes and looking forward to the surprise that is in store for them. So, as impatient as they all are, they must stay busy with school and working on costumes for their special night. Stink has one problem. He has no money to buy his book. This situation could be a serious problem because, on top of everything else he has to do, Stink must find a way to make money before Friday when the book comes out. First, he and his friend Webster try selling old toys, but they find that they are much too attached to most of them to let them go. A brilliant idea forms, and they are off to set up a table to sell, no, not lemonade, smells. Friday night arrives, and with so much excitement, Stink, and his family and friends head to the Zombie Walk.

Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk is a delightful beginning to chapter books for young readers. Meagan McDonald has developed a realistic character in Stink, one that readers in grades 2, 3, 4 and beyond will feel a bond with – he’s just too funny and is never short of brilliant ideas. Sentences are shorter and less complex while the vocabulary may be a little more challenging for the youngest readers, but this chapter book meets the needs of readers over a greater age range. Younger readers can enjoy reading with someone else, and more advanced readers can experience the excitement on their own. Many illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds add interest and information, including a full page of ideas for Zombie after-school snacks.

Highly Recommended.

Elaine Fuhr is a retired elementary and middle school teacher from Alberta.

Editor’s Note: Because two of the three books in this boxed collection have been previously reviewed in CM, Elaine Fuhr has only reviewed the one title not previously reviewed.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364 Hosted by the University of Manitoba.