Picture Perfect Pick: Back To School With Bigfoot

Back To School With Bigfoot
by Samantha Berger and Martha Brockenbrough
Illustrated by Dave Presser
Arthur A. Levine Books
40 pages (page count from Amazon)
ISBN: 9780545859738

Available June 27, 2017

. Back to school is tough for anyone, but can you imagine if you were Bigfoot?

Quirky illustrations will win readers over including a favorite on the first spread depicting a young student coming unglued over a pile of texts including the titles: Learning Is Hard, Hard Math, Impossible Math, Vague Geography, and Grammar Ain't Easy.

Bigfoot is worried about school. Shopping for clothes and shoes is impossible for someone his size. He decides school is overrated and he'll just stay home, but he will miss his teacher, Miss Sierra Nevada! And his friends. He thinks about all the fun he will miss with his friends and even dreams of becoming the Valebigtorian of the class! Bigfoot happily agrees to go back to school where he can meet his friends and have fun.

Bigfoot is an affable character smiling on each page. He is lovable and winsome and every reader will want to meet him.

This little charmer would be a great read for a child who is afraid of going to school for the first time or to a new school.

Highly recommended for young readers.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the F & G from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Middle School Pick: Cloneward Bound (The Clone Chronicles, Book 2)

Cloneward Bound (The Clone Chronicles, book 2)
by M.E. Castle
Egmont
2013
259 pages

Fisher Bas is worried; the government is questioning his scientist mother about how an ounce  of her growth hormone is unaccounted for, and Fisher knows it's only a matter of time before someone realizes that he is the one to blame. You see, Fisher heisted the hormone and created a clone of himself that he names "Two."

That 's not the only problem. Two is on the lam in Hollywood looking for his mother and Fisher is worried someone might connect the dots and find out their secret. Amanda Cantrall is already breathing down Fisher's neck, so he finally tells her about Two's existence. Lucky for Fisher, his class is taking a field trip to Hollywood to visit the set of "Strange Science." Fisher wants to use this opportunity to look for Two and get him back under control.

As the kids board the bus, Fisher offers this random  thought, "School bus' is the normally used term because "asylum on wheels" is considered impolite"---from the personal notes of Fisher Bas. Readers will enjoy Fisher's dry wit and sarcasm; the author has a great ear for teen dialog and snarky comments.

Fisher and Amanda close in on Two, but they fear someone is following them. If their secret gets out, Fisher's in big trouble and no telling what will happen to Two. The kids have their hands full of crazy Hollywood types, pushy "stars," and an evil mad scientist, Dr. X.

Will the kids be able to save Two and escape Hollywood? Who is following them and why? Can Two ever lead a "normal" life? Will Fisher be able to clear his mother's name?

Readers who like a good laugh and a some kooky science will love Cloneward Bound. You really don't have to read book 1 to understand the action, but why would you miss it? It is such a treat to read both of M.E. Castle's kid-friendly books.

Highly recommended for fans of the series and kids who have a great sense of humor. Grade 5-up.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)