Friday, July 8, 2016

Doodle Adventures: The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs! by Mike Lowery

This quirky beginning chapter book isn't ideal for a library collection, but it's so fun I simply must find a way to use it!

You, yes YOU, have been recruited for a dangerous mission. Wait, you aren't the new agent? Too bad, you're in anyways. Fortunately, Carl the Duck (and your own imagination) are here to guide you. Once you've signed the oath (and drawn a cool cat with sunglasses) you're ready to begin. As the comic story progresses, there are multiple pauses where the reader is instructed to draw or write, favorite places or foods, a space suit, bridges, and more. With your help, the mission ends successfully, Carl gets back his top-secret jar (it had peanut butter in it) and you're ready for another mission!

Lowery's cartoon illustrations are wacky and fun and will encourage kids to try their own doodles and comics in the spaces provided and beyond. The book has an orange and blue color scheme and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that fans of Captain Underpants fans will enjoy.

Verdict: But....you're meant to write in it. A lot. Realistically, this isn't a book you can put in a library. I mean, I wouldn't even buy Battle Bunny because one pencil, crayon, or marker mark will breed more. I have seen it and it is true. However, this is a delightful, silly, and imaginative effort. If you have the funds, multiple copies for a book club would be delightful. Or, possibly photocopying the interactive pages and reading it out loud in a program while the kids follow along. I will definitely be trying this out at some point in the future!

ISBN: 9780761187196; Published May 2016 by Workman; Review copy provided by publisher

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