If Your Child Liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid

It is time for a graphic novel to spice things up, although the book I am profiling today is a bit more of an illustrated novel.  But however you classify it, it is just darn funny.

As these books continue to gain in popularity, I would encourage parents to include these as part of your child's reading repertoire.  These books motivate kids to read, and the only way to get better at reading is to do it.  Additionally, we know that reading for pleasure increases kids scores in vocabulary, comprehension and even math.  So get your child excited about books and use these illustrated novels as a tool to foster their passion for something that really is good for them.

Don't forget to Like One Great Book on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest in graphic/illustrated novels that will have your child giggling and yes, reading!

Title:       The Odd Squad: Zero Tolerance

Author:   Michael Fry

Target:    Grades 3-7

Series:     Yes

What this book is about: 
Well the Safety Patrol is back, a group of lovable nerds (Nick, Molly and Karl) who work to stop bullies.  The problem is they have run the biggest bully out of town, so they have kind of lost their way.  When a new girl arrives and seems to have all of Nick’s friends wrapped around her finger, Nick fights back.  He knows something is up.  But going after the new girls proves to be a problem for Nick when the school institutes a Zero Tolerance Policy.  As his plans backfire, as they are certain to do, he finds himself facing the ultimate humiliation - repeating seventh grade.

Why I love this book: 
A nice continuation of a series.   Nick, Molly and Karl continue to develop as characters I have grown to like.  Nick’s grandma Memaw, is still the standout character, and frankly I would love a book were she was the primary focus.   I can envision a road trip with Nick and Memaw which might be off the charts funny. When she pops up in the story, it just gets funnier.

This book packs a lot into a short time, and if anything, I felt this one got a little too full.  But that said, it is smart funny and while a bit reminiscent of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the humor is intelligent enough to stand on it’s own.

Who this book is for: 
Great for kids who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.  The lovable nerds strike again.  I would recommend reading the books in order (Odd Squad, Bully Bait) to appreciate them more.  The book is laid out with text and pictures or comics on every page.

Final thoughts: 
Poor Nick hanging from a hippo head in his underwear - this is laugh out loud stuff.

To purchase this book:
Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Odd Squad Zero Tolerance (An Odd Squad Book)  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog at no cost to you.