Thursday, August 26, 2021

Branch into Chapters: Iggy is the hero of everything by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sam Ricks

  I have to admit that I've never really "gotten" the appeal of Ivy + Bean, but I love Iggy. Mind you, one has a great deal of sympathy for his long-suffering parents, teachers, neighbors, and basically everyone who comes in contact with him, but from a distance reading his adventures is hilarious.

When Iggy's neighbors have a burglar, Iggy's first thought is for his own family's safety. Well, ok, let's be honest; his first thought is for his Halloween candy. Regardless, he is determined to protect his family's possessions (and his candy) from thieves, even if it means a lot of work and trouble and dealing with that nasty little kid Rudy Heckie from next door. Really, Rudy should be grateful Iggy helped him get such a cool scar! And it wasn't even Iggy's fault (or plan) it was all Rudy's fault. Mostly.

Black and white illustrations decorate the pages of this hilarious tale of hapless hijinks as Iggy explains all the perfectly logical steps he has taken to protect his home, family, and valuables. Although the fallout is sometimes drastic, Iggy really does mean well and his exhausted parents keep doing their best to teach him to think ahead and consider his actions. The reading level is on the higher side of beginning chapters, and this is a good follow-up after books like Junie B. Jones, Ivy + Bean, Horrible Harry, and Roscoe Riley. It's disappointing that the hero is white, since there is a distinct lack of funny books featuring boys (or girls) of color, but I'll take this series until something better comes along.

Verdict: An intermediate chapter book series that will appeal to young readers who like funny stories and will please caregivers who want something that will at least portray consequences, if not good behavior.

ISBN: 9781984813367; Published May 2021 by Putnam; Purchased for the library

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