Night of the Living Ted

March 15, 2020
Teddy bears come to life--and they're evil. Lisa Marie loves both big words and the Create-a-Ted-a-Bear store. On Halloween, while shopping with her new older stepbrother, Vernon, she sees that Create-a-Ted has a sign declaring a new owner--and it's giving away Halloween bears. They get an Elvis bear (original name: Bearvis; Lisa Marie's new name: Elvis Grizzly) for her Elvis-loving father; Lisa Marie makes a cute witch bear; Vernon--too cool for bears but pressured to make one--tosses together as many ghastly accessories as he can (a decision that will come back to haunt him). On Halloween night, the bears come to life, magically endowed with the abilities and powers of their personae. The witch bear and Vernon's monstrosity start looting the town and causing all kinds of mayhem--including changing people into animals. Decisive Lisa Marie, with the help of Vernon (when he's not fainting) and the heroic Elvis Grizzly, must find a way to stop the sinister stuffed menace, which escalates under the leadership of Vernon's bear. The humor--apart from the zany setup--ranges from potty jokes (both innocent and gross-out) to tongue-in-cheek quips and a generous helping of puns. The ending doesn't quite restore the status quo (but leaves a bully hanging in a funny way), promising the story will continue. The human characters are illustrated as white. A riotous genre-mashing good time. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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April 20, 2020
Two siblings get the surprise of their lives when the teddy bears they assembled at their local Create-a-Ted store on Halloween come to life as part of a plush army determined to conquer the town. It’s bad enough that Lisa-Marie’s witch bear is capable of casting magical spells, such as turning her mother into a slug, but her older stepbrother Vernon’s “vampire, pirate, warlock and alien” bear, dubbed Grizz, is pure evil and bent on wreaking havoc. With the town overrun by plush aliens, ghosts, werewolves, and more, and Bearvis, a heroic Elvis-themed bear, by their sides, Lisa-Marie and Vernon must confront the mastermind capable of transforming cuddly toys into wicked monsters. Hutchison’s (Anty Hero) series opener capably balances the absurd, the adorable, and an emphasis on family and loyalty as the quarreling siblings learn to work together amid their dire situation. Cosgrove’s cartoonish illustrations add a humorous touch to this adventure-packed story just right for reluctant readers. Ages 8–12.

May 1, 2020

Gr 3-7-What do zombies, teddy bears, and two children have in common? Much more than one would think when it comes to this story. This is a creepy tale filled with humorous characters and zany situations. Characters Lisa-Marie and Vernon are stepsiblings who find themselves in the strangest situation of their young lives. On Halloween, the siblings found a store that was giving away free teddy bears, complete with costumes and accessories. Little did Lisa-Marie and Vernon know, there was an evil plot behind these bears. What ensues is a tale of bravery, ingenuity, and determination as the main characters try to defeat the evil villains and save not only their neighborhood but the entire world. Who will win: the children or the zombie teddy bears? This is a quick and easy read, and Cosgrove provides humorous illustrations throughout. VERDICT Readers who are interested in funny and absurd action-packed stories will be entertained by this title. Fans of series such as "Goosebumps," and "Last Kids on Earth," will enjoy this story's zaniness.-Megan Honeycutt, University of West Georgia

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2020
Grades 3-5 It's a crazy world out there, but when teddy bears start coming to life to rob you and turn your parents into slugs, you know you're in trouble. The trouble begins with a visit to Create-a-Ted, where step-siblings Lisa Marie and Vernon make a Bearvis (Elvis Bear) for their father's birthday present and free Halloween bears for themselves: Lisa Marie's a carefully fashioned witch, Vernon's a monstrosity that only a troubled tween could dream up. That night, every Halloween bear wakes up as evil as its outfit, except for jovial Bearvis, and begins pillaging the neighborhood. As Lisa Marie, Vernon, and Bearvis face off against the bears in their house, more were gathering outside, like the ranks of the world's most adorable army. The ensuing hilarious horror show forges sibling bonds and pits good against evil?human and teddy alike. Clever writing and cartoonish illustrations strike just the right tone, as events unfold over the course of one night. This trilogy starter is filled with tricks and treats, action and absurdity, and massive kid appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)