Synopses & Reviews
Tom Angleberger's latest, loopiest middle-grade novel begins when M'Lady Luggertuck loosens her corset (it's never been loosened before!), thereby setting off a chain of events in which all the strict rules of Smugwick Manor are abandoned. When, as a result of "the Loosening," the precious family heirloom, the Luggertuck Lump (quite literally a lump), goes missing, the Luggertucks look for someone to blame. Is it Horton Halfpott, the good-natured but lowly kitchen boy who can't tell a lie? Or one of the many colorful cast members in this silly romp of a mystery.
Praise for Horton Halfpott
and#8220;A positively gleeful historical mystery farce. Short chapters, a fast pace and plenty of linguistic and slapstistic humor will have young readers hoping that a sequel is planned. The scribbly pen-and-ink chapter-heading cartoon illustrations are just icing on the cakeand#8212;or pickle and#233;clair. A romp from start to finish.and#8221; and#8211;Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;Exaggerated black-and-white drawings emphasize the often wacky humor in this goofy faux-British mystery. Sprawling, outlandish tale.and#8221; and#8211;The Bulletin of the Center for Childrenand#8217;s Books
and#8220;Readers will enjoy Anglebergerand#8217;s penchant for the absurd as well as his many droll asides. With Anglebergerand#8217;s many eclectic characters, his wild-and-witty storytelling, and a lighthearted but perplexing mysteryand#8212;involving a and#8220;lumpand#8221; of diamonds, a couple of wigs, and a bust of Napoleonand#8212;readers are in for a treat.and#8221; and#8211;Publishers Weekly
and#8220;From the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, hereand#8217;s an amusing romp of a mystery that balances skulduggery with just rewards.and#8221; and#8211;Booklist
and#160;and#8220;Much like Dickens or Dahl, an opinionated narrator with a strong sense of the ridiculous directs this story.and#8221; and#8211;School Library Journal
Synopsis
Award-winning author Tom Angleberger flexes his comic muscle in this hairy adventure story with twists at every turn.
Regular kid Lenny Flem Jr. is the only one standing between his evil-genius best friend--Casper, a master of disguise and hypnosis--and world domination. It all begins when Casper spends money from his granny on a spectacularly convincing fake mustache, the Heidelberg Handlebar #7. With it he's able rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president. Is Lenny the only one who can see through his disguise? And will he be able to stop Casper from taking over the world?
Praise for Fake Mustache
"There's no twist too goofy or absurd as Angleberger pulls out all the stops for this unabashedly silly story."--Publishers Weekly
"Angleberger's foot-on-the-floor zaniness helps pull it off, fueled by a steady stream of gags and utter ridiculousness that make Saturday-morning cartoons seem reasonable in comparison. Pure, unfiltered hilarity."
--Booklist
"The 2012 campaign season just got a little hairier. Kids will delight in the various ways in which Casper exploits his power over grownups."
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Appropriately goofy."
--The Horn Book
"Angleberger severs all ties with sanity in his latest farce for preteens with hilarious results. There's plenty of action and goofiness. Fans of Angleberger's previous efforts won't be disappointed. Total deadpan lunacy."
--Kirkus Reviews
"This is a cute, although improbable, story about two best friends, Lenny and Casper, who live in the small town of Hairsprinkle.. Jodie brings many positive traits of a strong, female hero."
--Library Media Connection
Synopsis
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger flexes his comic muscle in Fake Mustache, a hairy adventure story with twists at every turn. Regular kid Lenny Flem Jr. is the only one standing between his evil-genius best friend--Casper, a master of disguise and hypnosis--and world domination. It all begins when Casper spends money from his granny on a spectacularly convincing fake mustache, the Heidelberg Handlebar #7. With it he's able rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president.
Is Lenny the only one who can see through his disguise? And will he be able to stop Casper from taking over the world?
"There's no twist too goofy or absurd as Angleberger pulls out all the stops for this unabashedly silly story." --Publishers Weekly
"Angleberger's foot-on-the-floor zaniness helps pull it off, fueled by a steady stream of gags and utter ridiculousness that make Saturday-morning cartoons seem reasonable in comparison. Pure, unfiltered hilarity." --Booklist
Synopsis
When Joules and Kevin Rockmanand#8217;s parents drop them off at Camp Whatsitooya on their way to an International Spamathon, the twins expect a summer of marshmallows, campfires, and canoe trips. What they do not expect is to defend the earth from an invasion of sugar-addicted, murderous, seven-foot-tall rabbits from another galaxy. Happily, the Rockman twins, veteran watchers of the
Late, Late, Late Creepy Show for Insomniacs, are unusually well-prepared for dealing with monstrous beings from outer space. If only their fellow campers were so lucky.
Andrea Beaty, author of several very funny picture books and a mysterious novel, here reaches new heights of hilarity and verbal dexterity in a novel sure to become a campand#151;ba-dum-dumand#151;classic.
About the Author
Andrea Beaty was raised in a small southern Illinois town, where her family ran a tiny grocery store. When she wasnand#8217;t roaming the nearby fields with her brothers and sisters, she was reading Nancy Drew mysteries up in the branches of a maple tree. Andrea now lives outside Chicago with her family. She is the author of When Giants Come to Play, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, and Iggy Peck, Architect, illustrated byand#160; David Roberts. Andrea blogs about funny books for kids at www.ThreeSillyChicks.com. Learn more about her at www.AndreaBeaty.com. Dan Santatand#8217;sand#160;Guild of Geniuses (2004) won the Marion Vannett Ridgeway Award for best debut author/illustrator. He has since illustrated The Secret Life of Walter Kitty, by Barbara Jean Hicks; the Otto Undercover series, by Rhea Perlman; The Ghosts of Luckless Gulch, by Anne Isaacs; and Chicken Dance, by Tammi Sauer. He is also the creator of the Disney animated series The Replacements, and is at work onand#160;a graphic novel, The Domesticated Four. He lives with his wife and two children in Southern California. Visit him at www.dantat.com.