Melonhead and the Big Stink

The life lesson Adam Melon (Melonhead, 2009) has the most trouble learning is to think before he acts. No need to think too long before picking up this satisfying sequel though, because as summer vacation kicks off for this now official fifth-grader and his friends in Washington, D.C., the fun is in bloom. In an attempt to keep his excessive enthusiasm in check, Adam's mom presents him with a Remind-O-Rama, and her campaign, which results in a ladybug-infested kitchen and a painted baby, makes for hilarious reading.--Medlar, Andrew Copyright 2010 Booklist

Gr 3-6-Rising fifth graders Melonhead and Sam are determined to see the titan arum (corpse flower), a plant that weighs 100 pounds, emits a smell like rotting meat, and only blooms once every seven years. The only problem is that they need to get one of their parents to take them to New York City and they can't seem to stay out of trouble. They form the B.I.G F.A.R.T.S.S., a Boys' Improvement Guide for Acting Responsible Till Stink Sunday, to remind themselves to think before acting. Of course, it's not so easy, and they end up throwing curtain rods out of windows, swimming in public fountains, and destroying an elderly woman's prized plant. As a result, Melonhead's mother makes him work for Mrs. Wilkins. Predictably, she turns out to be quite a bit nicer and more generous than Melonhead originally thought. In the end, they do get to see the bunga bangkai, with Mrs. Wilkins. Some of the characters and their relationships are not fully explained, so familiarity with Melonhead (Delacorte, 2009) helps. Readers will enjoy the humorous adventures of a good-hearted boy who makes bad decisions. The short chapters, frequent dialogue, and pencil drawings generously dispersed throughout make this an accessible read for reluctant readers.-Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Accidental troublemaker and would-be inventor Melonhead makes some unusual friends in his second book. On his best behavior pending a much-desired trip to see the titan arum, the world's stinkiest flower that only blooms every seven years, he still gets into trouble at every turn. Lighthearted gray-scale illustrations depict the entertaining adventures of Melonhead and his knucklehead ways. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Melonhead is as irrepressible as ever in his second outing (Melonhead, 2009). Out of fourth grade for the summer, his escapades pile up with duckling rescues gone awry, a black-paint disaster and more. Melonhead and his best friend Sam want to visit New York to view the bunga bangkai (otherwise known as the "corpse flower") that only blooms for two days every seven years. To earn the trip they try hard to behave. A fateful game of "fenceball" lands Melonhead in the doghouse, though, when he destroys the elderly Mrs. Wlkins's treasured plant. His punishment is to be her helper, but an affinity develops as Melonhead learns about her fascinating past. Meanwhile, Melonhead strikes up a friendship with a teenager but finds that isn't quite what it seems. When events conspire to dash everyone's hopes, forces come together in a shining example of how one good deed begets another. The clever dialogue sparkles, and Johnson's blithe sketches add to the cheerful mood. A breezy and humorous middle-grade tale that illuminates the value of intergenerational relationships. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The life lesson Adam Melon (Melonhead, 2009) has the most trouble learning is to think before he acts. No need to think too long before picking up this satisfying sequel though, because as summer vacation kicks off for this "now official" fifth-grader and his friends in Washington, D.C., the fun is in bloom. In an attempt to keep his excessive enthusiasm in check, Adam's mom presents him with a "Remind-O-Rama," and her campaign, which results in a ladybug-infested kitchen and a painted baby, makes for hilarious reading. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 3–6—Rising fifth graders Melonhead and Sam are determined to see the titan arum (corpse flower), a plant that weighs 100 pounds, emits a smell like rotting meat, and only blooms once every seven years. The only problem is that they need to get one of their parents to take them to New York City and they can't seem to stay out of trouble. They form the B.I.G F.A.R.T.S.S., a Boys' Improvement Guide for Acting Responsible Till Stink Sunday, to remind themselves to think before acting. Of course, it's not so easy, and they end up throwing curtain rods out of windows, swimming in public fountains, and destroying an elderly woman's prized plant. As a result, Melonhead's mother makes him work for Mrs. Wilkins. Predictably, she turns out to be quite a bit nicer and more generous than Melonhead originally thought. In the end, they do get to see the bunga bangkai, with Mrs. Wilkins. Some of the characters and their relationships are not fully explained, so familiarity with Melonhead (Delacorte, 2009) helps. Readers will enjoy the humorous adventures of a good-hearted boy who makes bad decisions. The short chapters, frequent dialogue, and pencil drawings generously dispersed throughout make this an accessible read for reluctant readers.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA