Melonhead and the Big Stink - Softcover

Kelly, Katy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0375845275 ISBN 13: 9780375845277

Publisher: Yearling, 2011

Synopsis

Melonhead is back in action, filled with curiosity, stirring up a little trouble (even though he doesn't mean to), and determined to have a summer of fun! In this second book in the Melonhead chapter book series, Melonhead is still pals with Lucy Rose, but he's not going to Parks & Rec camp this summer. He ruined one of Mrs. Wilkins's favorite garden plants, so his parents have "loaned" him to her to do chores. This is going to mess up his summer plans if he doesn't figure something out. He and Sam need to find a way to get to New York City to see the titan arum "bunga bangkai" plant. It's supposed to be twelve feet tall, weigh a hundred pounds, and smell like dead mammals, plus rot, plus spoiled food. It only blooms once every seven years, and even then only for two days and then it keels over dead. It's the Big Stink of a Lifetime! But Melonhead has to get a few more good deeds out of the way first, and doing chores for Mrs. Wilkins is a good start, even if it wasn't in the plan to begin with!

About this title

About the Author

About the AuthorKaty Kelly is also the author of the hilarious Lucy Rose chapter book series. She lives in Washington, D.C.
About the IllustratorGillian Johnson is a UK-based author and illustrator. She lives in Oxford, England.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6 Rising fifth graders Melonhead and Sam are determined to see the titan arum (corpse flower), a plant that weighs 100 pounds, emits a smell like rotting meat, and only blooms once every seven years. The only problem is that they need to get one of their parents to take them to New York City and they can't seem to stay out of trouble. They form the B.I.G F.A.R.T.S.S., a Boys' Improvement Guide for Acting Responsible Till Stink Sunday, to remind themselves to think before acting. Of course, it's not so easy, and they end up throwing curtain rods out of windows, swimming in public fountains, and destroying an elderly woman's prized plant. As a result, Melonhead's mother makes him work for Mrs. Wilkins. Predictably, she turns out to be quite a bit nicer and more generous than Melonhead originally thought. In the end, they do get to see the bunga bangkai, with Mrs. Wilkins. Some of the characters and their relationships are not fully explained, so familiarity with Melonhead (Delacorte, 2009) helps. Readers will enjoy the humorous adventures of a good-hearted boy who makes bad decisions. The short chapters, frequent dialogue, and pencil drawings generously dispersed throughout make this an accessible read for reluctant readers. Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Yearling
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0375845275
• ISBN 13: 9780375845277
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224