Review - Fly Guy's Ninja Christmas

Fly Guy's Ninja Christmas (Fly Guy #16)
by Tedd Arnold
Date: 2016
Publisher: Cartwheel Books
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In the new book in Tedd Arnold's New York Times bestselling Fly Guy series, it's Christmazzz Eve and Fly Guy doesn't have a present to give his best friend, Buzz. But when he goes out to look for one, Fly Guy meets a stranger in the house whom he has to fight off with his ninja action. Will Fly Guy defeat the stranger? Will he find a present for Buzz?

Even reluctant readers will enjoy this fun, zany holiday story about Fly Guy meeting Santa Claus, knocking over the Christmas tree, and showing off his ninja moves!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think I'm a little too old for these. I might've liked them when I was in kindergarten, but they're obviously early readers, and as such, they kind of suffer from being... well, light. On everything: plot, characterization, illustrations.

In this short chapter book, Fly Guy realizes he doesn't have a present for Buzz. As he's searching for one, he encounters Santa, and the big guy helps the fly solve his problem.

It's okay for what it is, and I'm sure young children will feel a great sense of accomplishment for reading a "chapter book". But for older readers, there's not much here. I've read lots of picture books that are more advanced.

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Super Fly Guy!

Super Fly Guy! (Fly Guy #2)
by Tedd Arnold
Date: 2006
Publisher: Cartwheel Books
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Fly Guy loves the school lunchroom. He loves the dirty dishes, the smelly mop, and the garbage cans. But when the lunch ladies discover there's a fly in the cafeteria, chaos ensues! Though Fly Guy makes a mess of things, he also shows his powers as a Super Fly Guy!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think this may be the shortest chapter book I've ever read! Three chapters, and just over thirty pages in total. It's a quick read, that's for sure!

I couldn't get the first book from the library (typical) but they had the second one, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm not sure if I'm sold on the premise of a boy having a pet fly (flies don't live very long, do they?) but the pictures are kind of funny and the whole situation in the story is kind of gross... so kids will probably like it.

Buzz (the boy) takes his friend Fly Guy (a fly... obviously) to school with him. There, Fly Guy develops a sort of romance with the lunch lady, Roz. But when Roz's boss sees that she's allowed a fly into the kitchen, he fires her and replaces her with Miss Muzzle, whose culinary expertise extends to making burnt peas and turnips. So Buzz and Fly Guy concoct a plan to get a rise out of Miss Muzzle. She flips out and tries to swat Fly Guy, but in the process pretty much destroys the kitchen. The boss fires her and gives Roz her old job back. Everyone is happy.

There's not much story here, really, but because of the way the book is divided into chapters, it kind of seems like there's more than there is. I think the pictures are my favourite part of this, though. They're cartoonish and silly... but, then again, this is a story about a fly falling in love with the lunch lady.

This would be a great book for early or reluctant readers. Although, if you're grossed out by the idea of flies landing on your food, you might want to think twice before picking this one up!

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Fly Guy Presents: Weather

Fly Guy Presents: Weather (Fly Guy Presents)
by Tedd Arnold
Date: 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 37
Format: e-book
Source: library

It's time for a field trip! Fly Guy and Buzz are going to a weather station to learn all about weather. With straightforward text, humorous asides, and kid-friendly full-bleed photographs throughout, young readers will love learning about tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, and much more! Award-winning author/illustrator Tedd Arnold really brings nonfiction to life for beginning readers! And this book has eye-catching holographic foil on the front cover!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is actually a surprisingly strong non-fiction title about weather. I'm not familiar with Fly Guy, but you don't really need to be to get something out of this book. It's full of facts and pictures, teaching kids about weather and climate in an easy-to-understand way. We learn about precipitation, wind, jobs to do with weather, climates, and even a bit about climate change. The book makes the same ineffectual suggestions for saving the planet as most other children's books I've read (i.e., turn off lights, take shorter showers, plant a tree), but I've resigned myself to the fact that that's all we're going to get.

The information is laid out quite nicely, so it's all clear and easy to digest. Pronunciation of more difficult words is included (although, I found it kind of hilarious; when I said some of the words out loud, I found myself speaking with an American accent).

I didn't learn much that I didn't already know, but I can see this being a great title for kids. And if they're already fans of Fly Guy... that's even better!

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5