Cal and the Amazing Anti-Gravity Machine (Smart Kids) - Hardcover

Hamilton, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1582347239 ISBN 13: 9781582347233

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2006

Synopsis

In this wacky, adventurous chapter book, Cal and his grouchy talking dog, Frankie, discover the joys (and pitfalls) of anti-gravity when they join forces with Cal's inventive neighbor, Mr. Frout. This hair-raising adventure is a laugh-out-loud romp that lifts one boy's curiosity about science to a new level!

About this title

About the Authors

Richard Hamilton has worked for the BBC World Service as a broadcast journalist since 1998, including being a correspondent in Morocco, South Africa and Madagascar.

Richard Hamilton and Sam Hearn are the creators of Cal and the Amazing Anti-Gravity Machine. Sam Hearn divides his time between working as a bookseller at a bookstore in the United Kingdom and illustrating children's books. This is Sam's fourth book for Bloomsbury.

Reviews

Grade 3-4–In this Sorcerer's Apprentice sort of story for early chapter-book readers, 10-year-old Cal Barraclough learns his lesson after playing with the levers of a machine built by his eccentric neighbor. Mr. Frout is always clamoring about in his backyard, engaging in secret science experiments and driving his neighbors crazy. Drawn by the man's unconventional manner, Cal and his talking dog, Frankie, like to sit on the roof and observe him. When Mr. Frout's antigravity experiment goes awry, he reluctantly enlists the boy's help, and Cal wins his approval and friendship. Then he makes the mistake of playing with the machine in the inventor's absence and causes his whole neighborhood to be turned upside down–literally. Mr. Frout and Cal get things back under control, and the result is a calmer man who, in the end, takes up gardening and makes peace with his neighbors. Quirky pen-and-ink drawings complement the text, and short chapters make this story appealing to reluctant readers. A fun and inventive romp for those who like Jon Scieszka's Time Warp Trio series (Viking) or Jim Benton's Franny K. Stein books (S & S).–Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA
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Edition details

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1582347239
• ISBN 13: 9781582347233
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Hearn Sam
• Number of pages: 128