Skip to main content

Belly Up


Belly Up
By Stuart Gibbs
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010. 294 pages. Fiction.

I admit it, I totally judge a book by its cover. In this case, I was not disappointed- it is as fun and intriguing and the cover promises. 12 year old Teddy lives with his photographer dad and monkey scientist mom on the property of Funjungle, the world's biggest amusement park and zoo in Texas. The book starts right off with Teddy's grand adventure- Henry the Hippo is found floating belly up in his pond. Henry is a key player here, because he was essentially the zoo's mascot, like Shamu is for Sea World. Although beloved by outsiders, he was extremely cranky and loathed by the zoo's employees. Author Stuart Gibbs offers hilarious descriptions of Henry's mischief, such as his habit of shooting "streams of feces" at whoever is nearby. Teddy believes that Henry was murdered, and sets off on a wildly fun whodunit investigation.

In case your gross-o-meter didn't perk up at "streams of feces," I have to warn readers that this book is pretty disgusting at times. Boys will love it. This is a fast-paced adventure story with incredible attention to detail. Stuart Gibbs' experience with working in a zoo pays off well. This is a great mystery novel for 5th grade and up. A warning for sensitive parents: there is some mild language. It's unfortunate, because this could have been a great pick for younger readers. Belly Up also has a great message about respecting animals and their habitats.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

Books to Read... Inspired by Our Summer Reading Theme

I am very excited about the summer reading theme here at the library: Color Our World. From the first moment I heard what the theme was going to be, it has been on my mind, and I noticed I was seeing bright and vibrant colors in so many picture books. Here are a few colorful books that inspired me! I hope you enjoy reading all summer long. How Do You Eat Color? Written by Mabi David Illustrated by Yas Doctor Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. If you want a book full of vibrant colors, this one will definitely meet your expectations. Bold and eye-catching, the illustrations are a reminder that color is all around us, including in delicious foods that we eat. Even the endpapers are a deep and stunning shade that made me think of summer! I appreciated the tips the author included for why eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is important for all of us. Inventions to Count On Written by Dana Marie Miroballi Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud New Y...