The Super-Smelly Moldy Blob

March 1, 2016

Gr 1-3-Olive is a scientist and her twin sister, Beatrix, is a witch. Every year the girls enter the school science fair, and every year Beatrix uses magic to win, much to Olive's chagrin. This year, the girls are preparing to battle it out again when something goes drastically wrong. While the two push and shove each other for the prime science fair setup space, the two projects crash into each other. The result is a supersmelly, moldy blob intent on devouring the school. Joined by Olive's friend, Eddie, and Beatrix's talking pig, the sisters race to try to make things right. As it turns out, the blob is stronger than they thought, and it will take just the right mix of science and magic to neutralize it, but to do that, the girls have to work together. Aimed at readers just transitioning into chapter books, this new series features short chapters in prose with dialogue helpfully set off in speech bubbles. This combination, along with full-color illustrations, should appeal to both emerging and reluctant readers. VERDICT A good addition to early chapter book sections as a stand-alone or with the first installment, The Not So Itty-Bitty Spiders (Scholastic, 2015).-Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

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