Judy Moody, Book Quiz Whiz

July 1, 2019
Determination and hard work prepare Judy Moody as she tests her knowledge of book trivia in a battle of the books. Judy, little brother Stink, and some familiar classmates from their second and third grade classes are the Virginia Dare School Bookworms, the book quiz champions who will be representing the school in the First Ever Book Quiz Blowout at the Starlight Lanes Bowling Alley. Nervous about their competition--Braintree Academy's Bloodsucking Fake-Moustache Defenders and their star player, Mighty Fantaskey--the team is taking every possible moment to read: on the bus, during karate class, and even at the dinner table. Stink makes a cape out of scribbled-on sticky notes on the books he's read, and Judy tries her hand at speed-reading. Enthusiasm for reading is never lost even as the children prepare for the contest. A diverse gathering of familiar titles is referenced throughout, matching this series' reading level (all titles mentioned are compiled in the backmatter). Building excitement propels the story up through the competition to an ultimately satisfying ending. Reynolds' well-placed watercolor, tea, and ink illustrations break up text, allowing necessary breaks for bridging readers. Aside from teacher and coach Mr. Todd, who is black, and Mighty Fantaskey, who seems to be a child of color, all characters appear white. Another win for Judy and her friends. (Fiction. 6-9)

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September 1, 2019

Gr 2-4-Judy Moody, her brother Stink, and all their friends are back in a new book all about books. Judy and her book trivia team, the Bookworms, cram for their biggest competition to date while cracking jokes along the way and learning to deal with the stress of a big competition. References to kids' books abound, with several questions pulled from children's classics like E.B. White's Charlotte's Web and Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking, as well as modern works like Kara LaReau's Infamous Ratsos and Chris Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello's Library. The references are refreshing, but the trivia is incredibly tough (e.g., name the monsters that were eating the Oompa Loompas; identify all of Mr. Popper's penguins). Regardless, junior bibliophiles will appreciate the name-dropping, and all the books mentioned are listed in the back for further research. Reynolds's drawings are as charming as ever and round out this enjoyable tale. VERDICT Purchase where the series is popular.-Peter Blenski, Hartland Public Library, WI

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