Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--4--Set in an ever-shifting Cafetorium (part cafeteria, auditorium, and gymnasium), these illustrated vignettes mix over-the-top wackiness with expressive illustrations. Gertie, the elderly custodian, tells stories about Newville Elementary, each set in the Cafetorium and focusing on a different student. Each of the six entries is edited by Venable and written by a different author, which keeps the overall tone consistent yet fresh. Though the book is described as "serving up spooky thrills and plenty of laughs," the spookiness component is debatable. The plots are too ridiculous and the humor too broad for the tales to seem genuinely eerie--in one story, Jell-O transforms into people, but no one notices except one shocked girl. In another, a boy gets an "excuse notepad," from a book fair and his new prize makes all his excuses come true. Still, the odd happenings and quirky characters give off a zany "Wayside School" vibe that kids will likely find funny. VERDICT Large font and evocative illustrations make this an inviting option for early readers ready to try chapter books.--Rachel Rosenberg, North Vancouver District Lib., BC
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Weird is the norm in this school. Gray-haired custodian Gertie guides readers through the cafetorium of Newville Elementary (home of the Flying Pickles!). A cafetorium can be anything you need it to be--a cafeteria, an auditorium, a gym, or maybe even an interdimensional portal. No matter what, though, odd, downright eerie stuff happens there--and also sometimes things that are just superannoying. Even the staff are weird; one never stops talking, and the other never says anything (some people believe they're a robot). Six tales by different authors comprise this animated collection, each featuring a different protagonist but connected through recurring characters. The stories include a doppelgänger made of Jell-O, an earworm that continually plays in everyone's heads, a sinister balloon in search of hot air, a basketball that won't bounce, a book full of excuses (that come with a price), and a spotlight that focuses on the one person who most wants to avoid it. While the characters may be rolling their eyes or quaking in nervous fear, readers are more likely to have fits of giggles. A few loose ends are not resolved but add to the general atmosphere. Jung's fun and kooky full-color illustrations add to the Saturday-morning--cartoon feel of the collection and include visual jokes for readers to enjoy. The illustrations depict characters with a range of skin tones. Fun, not-too-scary school-themed spooks. (cast of characters, recipe) (Fiction. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
