Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Olive is a scientist and her twin sister, Beatrix, is a witch. Every year the girls enter the school science fair, and every year Beatrix uses magic to win, much to Olive's chagrin. This year, the girls are preparing to battle it out again when something goes drastically wrong. While the two push and shove each other for the prime science fair setup space, the two projects crash into each other. The result is a supersmelly, moldy blob intent on devouring the school. Joined by Olive's friend, Eddie, and Beatrix's talking pig, the sisters race to try to make things right. As it turns out, the blob is stronger than they thought, and it will take just the right mix of science and magic to neutralize it, but to do that, the girls have to work together. Aimed at readers just transitioning into chapter books, this new series features short chapters in prose with dialogue helpfully set off in speech bubbles. This combination, along with full-color illustrations, should appeal to both emerging and reluctant readers. VERDICT A good addition to early chapter book sections as a stand-alone or with the first installment, The Not So Itty-Bitty Spiders (Scholastic, 2015).-Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Following The Not-So Itty-Bitty Spiders (2015), twins Olive and Beatrix return for another adventure featuring magic and science in this illustrated early chapter book. Olive ("an ordinary girl," as she informs readersOlive narrates the story) and her best friend, Eddie, love science, and they look forward to presenting their projects at the school's annual science fair. But Beatrix, who is a witch, uses her magic powers to create projects that always win the blue ribbon. This year though, Olive has worked extra hard and is certain she will win. On the day of the fair, the twins carry their projects ("the exciting world of MOLD" and "cloud made with science") to school early and jostle for the same display tableand both projects crash to the ground. Olive's mold and Beatrix's cloud combine to create an out-of-control slime that the twins and Eddie must use their combined resources to combat. The story has imaginative action and characters that model working together and respecting each other's talents despite philosophical differences, but it lacks notably diverse characters. Just showing a few characters as grayish doesn't make an impact. The book's visual format is lively, combining spot illustrations with full-page and double-page spreads and dialogue bubbles. Visually lively with an engaging story; here's hoping the next installment exhibits greater diversity. (activities) (Fantasy. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.