Spider Stampede (S.W.I.T.C.H.)

Sparkes, Ali

ISBN 10: 0761391991 ISBN 13: 9780761391999

Publisher: Darby Creek ™, 2013

Synopsis

All Josh and Danny Phillips want to do is play in the yard with their dog, like regular eight-year-olds. Unfortunately, their crazy neighbor Miss Potts makes sure that they never have any fun. When the boys accidentally stumble on Miss Potts's secret―that she is working on experiments that change people into bugs―they find themselves in a whole lot of trouble. (They also find themselves with six more legs than normal.) Can the boys survive in the world as spiders? And more important, will they figure out how to change back into humans in time for dinner?

About this title

About the Author

Before she became an author, Ali worked as a singer, journalist, magazine editor, assistant to a juggling unicyclist, and comedy columnist on BBC Radio. Ali describes herself as, at heart, an 11-year-old boy, and as a child spent a lot of time building forts, climbing trees, and digging up stuff.

Review

"In Spider, readers meet Josh and Danny Phillips, who make the mistake of visiting the backyard of their nasty neighbor, Miss Potts. The eight-year-old twins are searching for their dog when they discover that Miss Potts has developed a formula to turn humans into insects. They are accidentally sprayed and transformed into spiders. From trying to avoid being squished or eaten by a predator to finding food, the boys realize how hard it is to be a tiny spider. All ends well when they are rescued by a couple of helpful rats. The other titles follow a similar plotline: the brothers change into insects and are transformed back to humans at the end. Descriptions of their bug thoughts will hook readers. For example, who knew the smell of cake is so irresistible to flies that they are attracted to it in an almost trancelike state? Fun incidents, such as Danny as a spider taking delight in sucking the juice out of a trapped insect, will have readers giggling or completely grossed out. Amusing black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout. This light, early chapter-book series is a great introduction to a classroom study on insects or arachnids. Fans of Megan McDonald's 'Stink' (Candlewick), Tedd Arnold's 'Fly Guy' (Scholastic), or Dan Gutman's 'My Weird School' (HarperCollins) series will enjoy these books." ―School Library Journal

(Journal)

"Twin brothers, Danny and Josh, have encounters with their next door scientist neighbor Petty Pots who turns them, with her S.W.I.T.C.H spray, into different insects in each book. The two experience funny and scary escapades where they flee from predators and enjoy eating bug food. Each title in this series covers a different insect, its habits, body parts, and predators. Each book begins with line drawings and character descriptions of the two brothers and their dog. Each book ends with the Top Secret Diary of Petty Pots, and her conclusions of the events in the episodes. This is followed by recommended reading and websites about insects. Some of the books have a scientific glossary. Though the books are humorous, they are very informative and fascinating with the details about these small creatures." ―starred, Library Media Connection

(Journal)

"A spray of strange fluid gives 8-year-old twins Josh and Danny both six extra legs and a quick trip down the bathtub drain in this icky but informative series opener.
Shortly after chasing their dog Piddle into witchy next-door neighbor Petty Potts' hidden science lab, bug-loving Josh and his violently phobic brother Danny find themselves transformed into spiders. Their stereotypically spider-fearing older sister immediately sends them hurtling through the household plumbing down to the storm drains, where friendly rats Scratch and Sniff are already waiting to ferry them back outside, explaining that the effect is caused by Potts' S.W.I.T.C.H. ('Serum Which Instigates Total Cellular Hijack'). Happily, there's an antidote―which Petty Potts herself applies after saving the twins from a hungry toad with a quick stomp of her boot. Sparkes layers her lickety-split tale between a fact file about the twins and a helpful closing list of multimedia nonfiction resources for fans of all things creepy-crawly. Simultaneously publishing sequels include Fly Frenzy, Grasshopper Glitch and Ant Attack.
A buggy blast; readers will be happy with the clear signs that that the twins' career as experimental subjects is far from over." ―Kirkus Reviews
(Journal)

Edition details

• Publisher: Darby Creek ™
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0761391991
• ISBN 13: 9780761391999
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 104
• Illustrator: Collins Ross