The fix-it man

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
Publication Date
[2016]
Language
English

Description

Meet Joshua James, the fix-it man. If he can’t fix it, no one can!

When a stinky problem arises, Joshua James takes matters into his own hands with a little help from his younger sister, Sophie.

This playful read-aloud story with catchy text and imaginative illustrations is sure to inspire young inventors everywhere.

More Details

Contributors
Chung, Arree illustrator., ill
ISBN
9780062370853

Discover More

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the genres "picture books for children" and "easy readers."
These books have the genres "picture books for children" and "stories in rhyme."
These books have the genres "picture books for children" and "stories in rhyme."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "inventions," "child inventors," and "flying-machines."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "inventions," "child inventors," and "inventors."
Awesome Dawson - Gall, Chris
These books have the genres "picture books for children" and "stories in rhyme"; the subjects "inventions" and "child inventors"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations" and "colorful illustrations."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; the subject "child inventors"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations" and "bold illustrations."
These books have the genres "picture books for children" and "stories in rhyme"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; the subjects "inventions," "child inventors," and "inventors"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "inventions" and "child inventors."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; the subjects "inventions" and "child inventors"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations" and "colorful illustrations."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "inventions," "child inventors," and "inventors."

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These authors' works have the subjects "dogs," "world war ii," and "children."
These authors' works have the genre "easy readers"; and the subjects "dogs," "animals," and "girls."
These authors' works have the genres "stories in rhyme" and "easy readers"; and the subjects "animals" and "holocaust (1933-1945)."
These authors' works have the subjects "dogs," "animals," and "girls"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations."
These authors' works have the genre "easy readers"; the subjects "dogs," "animals," and "children"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations" and "bold illustrations."
These authors' works have the genres "stories in rhyme" and "poetry"; and the subjects "children," "play," and "halloween."
These authors' works have the subjects "children," "play," and "rescues."
These authors' works have the genres "picture books for children" and "stories in rhyme"; and the subjects "animals" and "girls."
These authors' works have the subjects "dogs," "girls," and "fear in children."
These authors' works have the genres "stories in rhyme" and "easy readers"; and the subjects "dogs" and "animals."
These authors' works have the genre "stories in rhyme"; the subjects "dogs," "children," and "mischief"; and illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations."
These authors' works have the genres "stories in rhyme" and "songs"; and the subjects "dogs," "halloween," and "halloween costumes."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Joshua James is a fixer: he makes repairs, and he invents and builds as well. To fix the problem of his younger sister's smelly diapers, he hatches Operation: Dump the Diapers, a fantastical plan that involves a series of pulleys, cranes, Ferris wheels, and many more simple machines to get the diapers removed from the house. J.J. is a hands-on operator, tweaking his invention as needed and comforting his sister when she has a mishap. After the invention is successfully put in motion, the hatching of a bird's egg demonstrates how nature fixes things. The brief text is in a jaunty rhyming format, and its enthusiasm is mirrored in the illustrations. The digitally enhanced mixed-media pictures work on two levels: for those interested in a quick read, the cartoon-style illustrations show J.J. happily involved in various tasks, while schematic-style drawings are included throughout to give a detailed view of J.J.'s inventions. This will have broad appeal, especially for those who like to have a tool in their hands.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Rat-a-tat-tat! Make way for Joshua James and his tool belt and hard hat! In this lighthearted and innovative story, Joshua (aka Mr. Fix-It) tinkers with broken household items and manages a checklist on his clipboard. One day, he tries to concoct a mechanism that dumps his sister's smelly diapers from the house into the outdoor garbage can. Once his plan is in place, the wheels start turning and the Fix-It Man is on the case. Two silly critters, assumed to be household pets, dillydally across each page either assisting the children or taking part in mischievous activities, which adds even more humor. Some of the content is displayed in comic book layout, along with some catchy onomatopoeia to grab readers' attention. Joshua's contraptions are each illustrated in a sequential order of lettered parts that could help children follow along with the mechanics of inventive construction. The children and animals are drawn with cartoonlike characteristics, such as oversize heads and squat legs, while watercolor and ink illustrations cover each spread. The subjects of brothers and sisters and apologies are explored as the story progresses, demonstrating what can go wrong when things don't go as planned. VERDICT Pair with Andrea Beaty's Ada Twist, Scientist for a terrific session on the trial and error of tinkering and problem-solving. A recommended general purchase.-Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Powered by Syndetics

Horn Book Review

With help from his baby sister and pet rodents, Joshua James, who could be a protigi of Rube Goldberg, devises elaborate plans to overcome daily trials. The simple rhyming text celebrates J.J.'s skills while offering life lessons about apologies, empathy, and wonder. The inventive fixes (detailed diagrams included) reside in Chung's child-friendly comic illustrations: digitally manipulated mixed-media collages with duct-tape accents. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Powered by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

Stuff happens. Things break, but fixing them can be as much fun as breaking them, sometimes.Young, bespectacled Joshua James is a fix-it kind of kid. Not only can he mend the chair and get the couch-pillow bridge back up, but he is an inventor as well. Getting out of bed can be a drag, so why not invent a Rube Goldbergian device to make the days entrance exciting? In Chungs busy, clever illustrations, Joshua James cockamamie plans use physics and gerbils to get the job done. Hoods text is a different matter. The rhymes are tired (Joshua James is the Fix-It Man. / If he cant fix it, no one can!) and tonally out of sync with the smart ebullience of the illustrations. There are also elements of the narrative that are strangely wayward: when Joshua James baby sister runs afoul of a pulley, Joshua James apologizes; when Joshua James dad takes a header after stepping on a skateboard the Fix-It Man left on the walk, readers are told, Everyone goofs, and things can break. / Even dads can make mistakes! Yeah, Dad, watch where youre walking. The characters allnbsp;have brown hair and light skin. Think of it as a cautionary tale. If you can fix a chair, you can put away the skateboard. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

Booklist Reviews

Joshua James is a fixer: he makes repairs, and he invents and builds as well. To "fix" the problem of his younger sister's smelly diapers, he hatches Operation: Dump the Diapers, a fantastical plan that involves a series of pulleys, cranes, Ferris wheels, and many more simple machines to get the diapers removed from the house. J.J. is a hands-on operator, tweaking his invention as needed and comforting his sister when she has a mishap. After the invention is successfully put in motion, the hatching of a bird's egg demonstrates how nature "fixes" things. The brief text is in a jaunty rhyming format, and its enthusiasm is mirrored in the illustrations. The digitally enhanced mixed-media pictures work on two levels: for those interested in a quick read, the cartoon-style illustrations show J.J. happily involved in various tasks, while schematic-style drawings are included throughout to give a detailed view of J.J.'s inventions. This will have broad appeal, especially for those who like to have a tool in their hands. Copyright 2016 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2016 Booklist Reviews.
Powered by Content Cafe

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—Rat-a-tat-tat! Make way for Joshua James and his tool belt and hard hat! In this lighthearted and innovative story, Joshua (aka Mr. Fix-It) tinkers with broken household items and manages a checklist on his clipboard. One day, he tries to concoct a mechanism that dumps his sister's smelly diapers from the house into the outdoor garbage can. Once his plan is in place, the wheels start turning and the Fix-It Man is on the case. Two silly critters, assumed to be household pets, dillydally across each page either assisting the children or taking part in mischievous activities, which adds even more humor. Some of the content is displayed in comic book layout, along with some catchy onomatopoeia to grab readers' attention. Joshua's contraptions are each illustrated in a sequential order of lettered parts that could help children follow along with the mechanics of inventive construction. The children and animals are drawn with cartoonlike characteristics, such as oversize heads and squat legs, while watercolor and ink illustrations cover each spread. The subjects of brothers and sisters and apologies are explored as the story progresses, demonstrating what can go wrong when things don't go as planned. VERDICT Pair with Andrea Beaty's Ada Twist, Scientist for a terrific session on the trial and error of tinkering and problem-solving. A recommended general purchase.—Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ. Copyright 2016 School Library Journal.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal.
Powered by Content Cafe

Reviews from GoodReads

Loading GoodReads Reviews.

Staff View

Loading Staff View.