Cyndi Marko

On a remote island that several criminals have made their home, a mysterious illness strikes. Can the island's one police officer find the culprit, or does Paz the sloth need to investigate?

I really wanted to like this book. The general concept is good, the title is catchy, and there's lots of fun visual gags and jokes throughout (some that will probably be even more humorous to the target audience of youngsters, such as those dealing with poop and whatnot).

However, the mystery wasn't done well and there's a lot left up in the air at the end of the book. I presume that is so there can be a sequel(s), but I think a book should be more or less self contained, even if another title may or may not follow.… (mere)

Kung Pow Chicken was one of the earliest Branches series, published in 2014, and a popular choice for many of my transitional readers. There were lots of disappointed kids when I told them it looked like the series had ended a few years later in 2016. However, I was delighted to see another one pop out this summer!
Gordon Blue, after falling into the classic vat of toxic waste, now has the ability to become Kung Pow Chicken! In the first four books, he acquired a sidekick, Egg Drop (aka Benny, his little brother) and a sometimes partner, superhero Beak Girl (his best friend Annie Beakly, unknown to Gordon). With the aid of Gordon's Uncle Quack and his various gadgets, they all fight crime together.

In this new adventure, a trip to the museum goes wrong when Uncle Quack makes a mistake and accidentally sends the heroes back in time. However, it turns out that's just where they need to be, since the sinister scientist at the museum, Dr. Strangebok, is up to no good in dinosaur times! Will Kung Pow Chicken admit he needs help and work with Beak Girl and Egg Drop to save the day, and the dinosaurs, from Dr. Strangebok?

Colorful pictures look like colored pencil drawings and have a stick-figure, child drawing effect. Puns and sound effects abound, speech bubbles, although in a smaller font and somewhat wordy, have an accessible reading level. If you use a leveling system, this will come in higher because of the made-up words (Fowladelphia) and dinosaur terms, but most readers will breeze right through them.

Verdict: Time to promote this series again! The original fans are teenagers now, but a whole new generation can discover egg-related puns. Recommend to fans of Lunch Lady, Inspector Flytrap, and other goofy and colorful graphic mysteries.

ISBN: 9781338596649; Published September 2020 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library… (mere)

This is a fun little story that follows a lot of classic superhero archetypes. It's a very easy read and would be a nice transitional book for a reluctant young reader who needs a plot driven by action. I don't know if I really have a favorite line because the language is quite simple, but in People magazine, the uncle is reading and exclaims "Oh look boys, it's a picture of Honey Comb eating Candy Corn." Puns about and I love how that perfectly captures the pointless things we take pictures of celebrities doing.… (mere)