Owen Foote, Mighty Scientist

October 1, 2004
Gr 2-4 -In this sixth book featuring Owen, the third grader is faced with a project that many children dread-the school science fair. He hopes to impress a popular fourth-grade science teacher so that he will be chosen to be in Mr. Waszak's class the following year. Working with his sidekick, Joseph, he sets out to find the perfect idea. Their project, an uromastyx lizard named Chuck, is not a willing specimen and soon the friends are at odds over what to do for the assignment. What ensues provides readers with chuckles and a few heartfelt moments, as the boys finally realize that friends can have different interests. In this fast-paced story, Greene strikes just the right balance of action, humor, and honest emotion. Pencil drawings highlight important moments and add amusing touches. Owen is a spunky character who children enjoy reading about, and his fans will not be disappointed.-Linda Zeilstra Sawyer, Skokie Public Library, IL

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2004
Gr. 2-4. Greene's sixth easy chapter book about Owen Foote will appeal to his fans and also to readers fascinated by animals and science. Owen can't get enough of lizards. He loves weird animals that look exotic and dangerous, and he wants desperately to win the science fair project with his best friend, Joseph. The trouble is, Joseph feels queasy around the slimy creatures, and when the lizard poops on Owen's hand, even Owen wants to try something else. Maybe he'll work with tadpoles and use a control group to show the evil effects of fertilizer and pollution. But does that involve deliberately injuring the creatures in one group? This is a great title to spark discussion in science classes, not just for the physical facts and issues related to testing hypotheses but also for the realistic account of failure and learning from mistakes at home and in the classroom. Like the other books in the series, this is also a contemporary story of friendship and the acceptance of differences.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)