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Summary
Summary
In this wacky, adventurous chapter book, Cal and his grouchy talking dog, Frankie, discover the joys (and pitfalls) of anti-gravity when they join forces with Cal's inventive neighbor, Mr. Frout. This hair-raising adventure is a laugh-out-loud romp that lifts one boy's curiosity about science to a new level!
Author Notes
Richard Hamilton is the author of many children's books, including Polly's Picnic and Violet and the Mean and Rotten Pirates . He lives in England.
Sam Hearn graduated from art school in London and works as an illustrator with a part-time job in a children's bookstore. He also illustrated Violet and the Mean and Rotten Pirates .
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-4-In this "Sorcerer's Apprentice" sort of story for early chapter-book readers, 10-year-old Cal Barraclough learns his lesson after playing with the levers of a machine built by his eccentric neighbor. Mr. Frout is always clamoring about in his backyard, engaging in secret science experiments and driving his neighbors crazy. Drawn by the man's unconventional manner, Cal and his talking dog, Frankie, like to sit on the roof and observe him. When Mr. Frout's antigravity experiment goes awry, he reluctantly enlists the boy's help, and Cal wins his approval and friendship. Then he makes the mistake of playing with the machine in the inventor's absence and causes his whole neighborhood to be turned upside down-literally. Mr. Frout and Cal get things back under control, and the result is a calmer man who, in the end, takes up gardening and makes peace with his neighbors. Quirky pen-and-ink drawings complement the text, and short chapters make this story appealing to reluctant readers. A fun and inventive romp for those who like Jon Scieszka's "Time Warp Trio" series (Viking) or Jim Benton's "Franny K. Stein" books (S & S).-Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Cal and his talking dog, Frankie, are new to the neighborhood, and everyone in his family is having a hard time adjusting to the neighbor, Mr. Frout. His sleep-interrupting inventions wake everyone up and infuriate Cal's mother. What is Frout doing? Cal and Frankie are intrigued, especially when they see Frout's newest contraption, a giant magnet attached to some wires. And, when Frout arrives, clad in a knight's costume, they can't keep away. Whether Frout sticks to the magnet or accidentally reverses the gravitational pull of the earth in their neighborhood, Cal and Frankie are part of the excitement of weightlessness. But, as bugs and worms and humans wake up for the day, the unexpected implications of anti-gravity are obvious. Hilarious situations accompanied by lively spot illustrations make this an appealing offering for new readers, especially ones who are interested in science. (Fiction. 7-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3-5. This illustrated chapter book from the author and illustrator of Violet and the Mean and Rotten Pirates0 (2003) introduces Cal, a quiet lad who soon acquires Frankie, an amazing talking dog, though only Cal understands Frankie's peculiar speech. Together they befriend their eccentric next-door neighbor, Mr. Frout, who, while tinkering with the scrap metal in his yard, invents a machine that first eliminates then reverses gravity. Readers with a taste for common or garden-variety fantasy, rather than the medieval or highfalutin kind, will enjoy the fun as Cal overcomes his initial shyness with Mr. Frout, observes the freedom and inconveniences of weightlessness, and takes action when the phenomenon becomes chaotic and frightening. The many ink drawings amplify this entertaining addition to fiction collections, which is also an eye-opening tribute to the benefits of walking on solid ground. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2006 Booklist
