Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

In honor of Judy Moody's younger "bother," the creators of the award-winning series have put themselves in a very Stink-y mood — proving, once and for all, that you're only as short as you feel.

Shrink, shrank, shrunk!

Every morning, Judy Moody measures Stink and it's always the same: three feet, eight inches tall. Stink feels like even the class newt is growing faster than he is. Then, one day, the ruler reads — can it be? — three feet, seven and three quarters inches! Is Stink shrinking? He tries everything to look like he’s growing, but wearing up-and-down stripes and spiking his hair aren't fooling anyone into thinking he's taller. If only he could ask James Madison — Stink's hero, and the shortest person ever to serve as President of the United States.

In Stink's first solo adventure, his special style comes through loud and strong — enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the book. From "The Adventures of Stink in SHRINK MONSTER" to "The Adventures of Stink in NEWT IN SHINING ARMOR," these very funny, homespun sagas reflect the familiar voice of a kid who pictures himself with super powers to deal with the travails of everyday life — including the occasional teasing of a bossy big sister!

School Library Journal

Gr 1-2-"Short, shorter, shortest!" Stink, the younger brother of the ever-popular Judy Moody, is shrinking. In the morning he was exactly one quarter inch taller than he is that night. For the shortest second grader in his school (maybe in the world), this is a disaster. What can he do? Judy suggests stretching him out, but he decides to take his mother's advice and eat his peas instead. However, Stink has other worries as well, such as a disastrous weekend caring for his class's pet newt. Then, a President's Day project allows Stink to shine as he shares all he knows about his favorite president, James Madison, who was also short. Delightful full-page and spot-art cartoons and playful language in large type bring the child's adventures to life. "Things are definitely looking up, up, UP" with this bright addition to beginning chapter-book collections.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Library, UT Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Judy Moody's little brother Stink, a.k.a. James, finally gets his turn. He uses it to obsess about his height-especially after he loses a quarter of an inch between morning and night (as does everyone, he later learns). He also records unfortunate incidents with hair-gel dye, the class newt and a sink drain, and an all-too-shrinkable wig intended to kick his report on James Madison, the shortest President and so, not coincidentally, his favorite, up a notch. Presented in large type on small pages, enhanced with plenty of Reynolds's black-and-white ink-and-wash drawings, plus comics contributed by Stink himself, and ending on a triumphant note, this makes fine fare for fledgling chapter-book readers. Stink definitely measures up to his memorable sister. (Fiction. 8-10)

Customer Reviews

Number of Reviews: 3
Average Rating:
Write a Review

Product Details

• ISBN: 0763628913
  
• ISBN-13: 9780763628918
• Format: Paperback, 128pp
• Publisher: Candlewick Press
• Pub. Date: April 2006
• Edition Description: Reprint
• Sales Rank: 8,836
• Age Range: 5 to 8
• Series: Stink Series

• Table of Contents
• Read an Excerpt

Table of Contents

Read an Excerpt

The bell rang, and Mrs. Dempster passed out spelling words. Three of the new words were shrink, shrank, shrunk. At lunch, the dessert was strawberry shortcake. And in Reading, Mrs. Dempster read everybody a book called THE SHRINKING OF TREEHORN.

The book was all about a boy who plays games and reads cereal boxes and gets shorter and shorter. He keeps shrinking and shrinking. Then, just when he becomes a normal size again, he turns green!

"Any comments?" Mrs. Dempster asked when the story was over.

Stink raised his hand. "Is that a true story?"

Mrs. D. laughed. "I'm afraid not," she said. "It's fantasy."

"Fantasy's my favorite!" said Sophie of the Elves. "Especially hobbits and elves."

"Are you sure it's fantasy?" asked Stink. "Because that kid is a lot like me. Because I'm . . . I'm . . ." Stink could not make himself say shrinking.

"Because you both turned another color?" asked Webster.

"Um, because I like to read everything on the cereal box, too," said Stink.

"Okay," said Mrs. Dempster. "Let's see. Who's going to carry the milk from the cafeteria today?" Stink was barely paying attention. He never got asked to carry the milk.

"How about Mr. James Moody?" asked Mrs. Dempster.

"Me?" asked Stink. He sat up taller. "I get to carry the milk?"

Stink walked down the second-grade hallway. It looked longer than usual. And wider. He took the stairs down to the cafeteria. Were there always this many stairs? His legs felt shorter. Like they shrink, shrank,shrunk.

________________________
STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID by Megan McDonald. Copyright (c) 2005 by Megan McDonald. Published by Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA.