The bell rang, and Mrs. Dempster passed out spelling words. Three of the new words were shrink, shrank, shrunk. At lunch, the dessert was strawberry shortcake. And in Reading, Mrs. Dempster read everybody a book called THE SHRINKING OF TREEHORN. The book was all about a boy who plays games and reads cereal boxes and gets shorter and shorter. He keeps shrinking and shrinking. Then, just when he becomes a normal size again, he turns green! "Any comments?" Mrs. Dempster asked when the story was over. Stink raised his hand. "Is that a true story?" Mrs. D. laughed. "I'm afraid not," she said. "It's fantasy." "Fantasy's my favorite!" said Sophie of the Elves. "Especially hobbits and elves." "Are you sure it's fantasy?" asked Stink. "Because that kid is a lot like me. Because I'm . . . I'm . . ." Stink could not make himself say shrinking. "Because you both turned another color?" asked Webster. "Um, because I like to read everything on the cereal box, too," said Stink. "Okay," said Mrs. Dempster. "Let's see. Who's going to carry the milk from the cafeteria today?" Stink was barely paying attention. He never got asked to carry the milk. "How about Mr. James Moody?" asked Mrs. Dempster. "Me?" asked Stink. He sat up taller. "I get to carry the milk?" Stink walked down the second-grade hallway. It looked longer than usual. And wider. He took the stairs down to the cafeteria. Were there always this many stairs? His legs felt shorter. Like they shrink, shrank, shrunk. ________________________ STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID by Megan McDonald. Copyright (c) 2005 by Megan McDonald. Published by Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA. Excerpted from The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
Publishers Weekly Review
| This spirited launch of a new series focuses on Judy Moody's younger brother, Stink. But Judy's fans will be pleased that she plays a pivotal role here. Each day she pulls out a tape measure to learn whether Stink-the shortest kid in his second-grade class at 3' 8"-has finally grown. After one such session reveals that her brother has shrunk, Judy suggests he apply gel to make his hair stick up so he'll look taller, which turns his locks bright orange. The lad believes his luck is changing when the teacher draws his name to care for the class pet, a newt, for a weekend. Alas, another of Judy's attempts to help results in calamity: when the two are cleaning the newt's cage, the pet disappears down the kitchen sink and Judy accidentally flips the switch for the garbage disposal. Yet the quick-thinking girl assures Stink that the creature likely slipped down the pipes to safety ("Think of it like Stuart Little. He's probably sailing down the river right now on a raft, having a big, fat, newt adventure"). For a President's Day assignment, Stink eschews Washington and Lincoln to write about James Madison, the "shortest president ever" (his family shows their support by throwing the boy a James Madison Day party). "The Adventures of Stink," silly comic strips hand-drawn by the boy and positing him in various superhero roles, add little to the plot but may well attract reluctant readers. McDonald's breezy narrative and likable characters will keep Judy's followers amply amused and recruit new fans. Ages 5-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved |
School Library Journal Review
| K-Gr 2-Judy Moody's little brother, James (aka Stink), is the shining star of this dramatic production of Megan McDonald's beginning chapter book (Candlewick, 2005). Stink's perception that he is shorter than the average second grader is reinforced by his sister, Judy, who revels in every opportunity for sibling rivalry. While the story line centers around Stink's height problem, it also embraces humor and provides plenty of facts to make the story believable. When President's Day arrives, for example, Stink presents a brief report on the shortest president, James Madison. McDonald's humor-infused story is full of puns (the classroom "newt in shining armor" meets his untimely end in the garbage disposal while under Stink's care for the weekend) that will keep listeners glued to their headphones. Unique voice talent is provided by Nancy Cartwright, best known as the voice of television's Bart Simpson. Her timing is impeccable and her voicing is playful, adding a new dimension to this already compelling story. Appropriate for group or individual listening, this title will be especially appreciated by emergent readers.-Kirsten Martindale, formerly Menomonie Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Booklist Review
| Gr. 2--4. The pesky little brother in McDonald's popular Judy Moody series gets his own book and tells his own story here. Little is the word for James (Stink ) Moody; he's short, the shortest kid in his second-grade class. Is he shrinking? Judy is his bossy older sister, but he learns to handle her. For Presidents' Day, Stink's hero is not big tall Lincoln but another James, James Madison, the shortest president ever. The narrative is fun and laced with puns--from Mt. Trashmore to newt in shining armor, and it's peppered with black-and-white illustrations, including comics (The Adventures of Stink ) reflecting Stink's triumphant fantasies. Stink sometimes seems younger than his years, so try this as a read-aloud for preschoolers or kindergarteners fed up with big, bossy types telling them what to do. --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2005 Booklist |
Horn Book Review
| (Primary) Kate Forbes, long the voice of the famously feisty Judy Moody (Recorded Books), also created the slightly nasal accents of Judy's little brother, Stink. Now Stink has his own book and his own narrator -- and what a narrator it is. Nancy Cartwright honed her skills as the voice of Bart Simpson, and she brings considerable expertise to bear in the creation of another beleaguered but indomitable character. Making a nice transition from the previous recordings, Stink is still a recognizable bundle of adenoidal angst and enthusiasm. In his debut chapter book, he is convinced he's shrinking, and his obsession with his height is not helped by Judy's jokes, his parents' platitudes, or the prospect of being publicly weighed and measured in the school nurse's office. Those who listen to Cartwright's hilarious narration will hardly miss the goofy cartoon illustrations peppered throughout the print version. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved. |
Kirkus Review
| Judy Moody's little brother Stink, a.k.a. James, finally gets his turn. He uses it to obsess about his height--especially after he loses a quarter of an inch between morning and night (as does everyone, he later learns). He also records unfortunate incidents with hair-gel dye, the class newt and a sink drain, and an all-too-shrinkable wig intended to kick his report on James Madison, the shortest President and so, not coincidentally, his favorite, up a notch. Presented in large type on small pages, enhanced with plenty of Reynolds's black-and-white ink-and-wash drawings, plus comics contributed by Stink himself, and ending on a triumphant note, this makes fine fare for fledgling chapter-book readers. Stink definitely measures up to his memorable sister. (Fiction. 8-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
