Meet SPHDZ.
Be SPCHDZ.
Save the world.
The perfect combination of the age old experience of holding and pouring over a physical book with newest media technology that kids love!
Michael K. just started fifth grade at a new school. As if that wasn't hard enough, the kids he seems to have made friends with apparently aren't kids at all. They are aliens. Real aliens who have invaded our planet in the form of school children and a hamster. They have a mission to complete: to convince 3,400,001 kids to BE SPHDZ. But with a hamster as their leader, "kids" who talk like walking advertisements, and Michael K as their first convert, will the SPHDZ be able to keep their cover and pull off their assignment?
This was a quirky, goofy story tailored to young children, especially boys. The cover grabs your attention with it's bright colors, whimsical text and clever illustrations that are also carried throughout the book. The artwork was not finalized in the ARC so there are even more illustrations in the finished edition.
Michael K. is the new kid, a sympathetic character who's having a rough first day at school. Add in the other new kids and the class hamster, who just happen to be aliens, and it can't get any worse, can it? No one would ever believe his classmates were aliens and they never stop repeating the commercials they've learned from us. (Think outside the bun!, Stronger than dirt! - Even if the kids don't recognize these products and jingles the parents probably will.) Special Agent Umber is suspicious of alien activity and he may be ambitious but he's also a bit inept. Who can we really trust to save the world? Since this is the first of the series we'll have time to figure it out and each book will also have it's own interactive website. I look forward to following along!
Author Jo
n Scieszka has several hilarious children's books. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man was a favorite at our house.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an ARC to review.
Release date: 6/22/10
Pages: 144
Price/format: $14.99/hardcover
Type: middle grade fiction
Ages: 7-10, grades 2-5
Posts
I thought this book was loads of fun!
ReplyDeleteThe Girl and I are reading this together now, and so far we're finding it hilarious!
ReplyDelete