by Greg Trine
First sentence: “When Willy Maykit was three years old, his father went on an African safari and came home with amazing stories of lions, tigers, and bears.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Content: It’s on the simpler end of things, language-wise. Short chapter, easier words. Good for reluctant and younger readers. It’s in the middle grade (grades 3-5) section of the bookstore.

Willy Maykit has exploring in his blood: his father was a fantastically adventuresome explorer. The problem is that he went missing in the Amazon a year ago. And so, Willy’s problem is getting his mother to let him go on the field trip to Planet Ed. Of course, she lets him  (or there wouldn’t be a book), and of course he, and another friend, get left on this strange planet (that looks a lot like Colorado), Of course they have adventures and fight monsters. Of course they get rescued (sort of). And, of course, the book is filled with knock knock jokes and silly puns.

(My favorite? The book Yellow River, by I. P. Freely.)

It’s a silly premise for a silly book. And you know what? It totally works. Especially if you’re 8 years old at heart. (And even if you’re not, it’s a good punny book.) No, it’s not Deep with well-drawn characters or a good plot, but it is Fun, and sometimes, that’s what counts.