Horace Splattly #3: Terror of the Pink Dodo (Horace Splattly, the Cupcaked Crusader) - Softcover

David, Lawrence

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0142500011 ISBN 13: 9780142500019

Publisher: Puffin, 2003

Synopsis

Everyone's favorite pint-sized pastry-loving superhero is back, ready to save Blootinville from nefarious villains and win the heart of fair Sara Willow! But unfortunately for Horace Splattly (a.k.a. the Cupcaked Crusader), his brilliant little sister Melody has other plans for him: the annual Blootinville Celernip Prince Pageant for Boys. Not even Horace's superpowers can save him from Melody's mortifying plans . . . or can they?

Illustrated by Barry Gott.

About this title

About the Author:

Lawrence David is the author of several picture books and two long, long grown-up books (without pictures). He has never eaten any cupcakes that gave him superpowers, but he hopes to one day. He lives in New York City, where he is always on the lookout for villains, monsters, school bullies, and licorice.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 2-4-This book aspires to be a comical playground-hero saga in the mode of "Captain Underpants" (Scholastic), but there is none of Dav Pilkey's inspired anarchy here. Horace Splattly is transformed into a superhero by eating cakes baked by his domineering younger sister, Melody. While the citizens of Blootinville are preparing for the annual Celernip Festival, giant dodo-shaped balloons suddenly release swarms of "pink butterfly hair clips" that devour the hair of anyone they touch. The resulting epidemic of baldness threatens to affect the event, and everyone blames the Crusader for the disaster. Meanwhile, Melody blackmails her brother into performing a humiliating stage routine in the Celernip Prince Pageant. Horace must save the town from hair loss, uncover the individual behind the balloon attacks, and avoid being unmasked. The episodic plot piles one bizarre event on top of another but never makes the absurd seem believable. Adult characters are cruel, sarcastic, and selfish, and the teacher is particularly unpleasant. Children don't fare especially well either. Horace's peers tease and bully him unmercifully and even his two best friends are quick to accept his guilt. Young superhero fans deserve better.
Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0142500011
• ISBN 13: 9780142500019
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160
• Illustrator: Gott Barry