Brandon and the totally troublesome time machine

At first, inventing and using a time machine is all fun and games for Brandon. The pale-skinned, red-haired child heads back in time ("He saw the Colossus of Rhodes. And Alexander Hamilton"), then re-lives some big personal moments, including his birth. But things go awry fast when Brandon decides to fox his way out of studying and chores by creating a much-put-upon future Brandon to do his work. Cheeky, scribbly lined portraits by Fearing (the Frights from Feral series) show a plethora of once-and-future Brandons--with a few historical figures thrown in--engaged in an "ALL-OUT WAR." Eventually, the protagonist has a twofold revelation. First, "the thing about fighting your past and your future is that you can't possibly ever win against yourself," writes Fishman (Bad Drawer) with comic sageness. Second, "building a time machine took effort and smarts"--qualities that suggest Brandon isn't "lazy OR bad at homework." It's a silly time-travel comedy about shirking responsibility, with Alexander Hamilton cast as a great foil. Ages 5--8. Author's agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Illustrator's agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary. (Oct.)

What would you do if you could travel back in time? After inventing a time machine, pale-skinned, redheaded Brandon initially does the relatively expected and embarks on a time travel extravaganza: He watches animals evolve, checks out the Colossus of Rhodes, visits Alexander Hamilton, relives his favorite memories, and investigates some moments he's always been curious about, like his own birth. Then he decides to go back to a more recent time in order to complete a failed homework assignment; after all, he now knows the right answers. But soon past Brandon gets too reliant on future Brandon and begins slacking off, secure in the knowledge that future Brandon will put things right. Frustration ensues! What's a cheeky, work-avoidant boy to do? Sketchy, comical illustrations depict Brandon, a number of his past and future selves, and some surprise guests as they first wreak havoc, then set out to fix his admitted mistake and remedy the situation. Though there may be a few loose ends, "Brandon will deal with them…one day at a time." Lighthearted and joke-filled, with a gently inserted moral about the perils of laziness, this flippantly funny selection will appeal to reluctant readers, mistake makers, and homework shirkers alike. A lively lesson on the value of hard work and perseverance embedded in a wacky time travel adventure.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.