Poop Fountain!

November 1, 2014

Gr 3-7-Friends Lyle Hertzog, Marilla Anderson, and Dave Raskin discover that they are all facing a boring Christmas Day filled with annoying siblings, parents working, and too much alone time. So they plan the first adventure of the newly founded Qwikpick Adventure Society: visiting the sludge fountain at the Crickenburg Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is being retired. Determined to be among the last to see the old "poop fountain" in action, the three plan a trip to sneak into the plant and find the fountain. While there is literally plenty of potty humor here, readers will also find truly interesting and likable characters, a nicely developed friendship story, and an exploration of economic differences among the friends. Narrator Mark Turetsky provides an inviting voice for the first-person narration of Lyle Hertzog and adds enough differences in his tone so that readers can recognize the voices of Marilla and Dave as well. He brings out the humor and fun of the story along with the undertones of financial stress and loneliness faced by some of the characters. Overall, this is a quick, engaging, hilarious series launch that will appeal to reluctant listeners.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT

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