The Magic Pretzel : Ready For Chapters 1
buy bestselling books in print, audio books
|
 |
List Price: $3.99
Our Price:
$3.99
You Save: $0
|
| [ + Zoom ] [ Buy Now ] |
Book : Usually ships in 1 to 2 weeks |
|
|
The Magic Pretzel : Ready For Chapters 1 description
There is only one way to keep from turning into a werewolf, and that is with the help of a magic pretzel. This seems simple enough--unless the only magic pretzel on earth happens to be kept by your half brother Lance Von Sweeny in a special, burglar-proof case in the Museum of the Pretzel on Nemo Boulevard. This is the predicament of Mr. Talbot, beloved (yet weird and scary) teacher, half-man, half-wolf, and sponsor of the Watson Elementary School Werewolf Club. Norman Gnormal is the only nonwerewolf in the club, but the others let him in because his parents actually wanted a dog instead of a little boy and raised him accordingly. Although Norman (alias "Poodle Boy" or "Alpo-breath") is mocked for growling and keeping meat in his desk, his canine sense of smell and expert tracking skills serve him well in the search for the elusive, parsnip-driving Lance Von Sweeny and the desired magic pretzel. Of course, nothing turns out as expected in Daniel Pinkwater's delightfully absurd, absurdly delightful first installment in The Werewolf Club series of short chapter books. Jill Pinkwater's pen-and-ink illustrations suit the story's comic buoyancy and contribute to the airy, easy-to-read format. If your children are new to Pinkwater, it's as crucial as a magic pretzel to a reluctant werewolf that you introduce them to The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and when they're ready, his collection of classics, 5 Novels. Move over, Captain Underpants, and make way for The Werewolf Club. Awoooooo! (Ages 7 to 10) --Karin Snelson |
|
The Magic Pretzel : Ready For Chapters 1 Customer Reviews
|
|
|
|
♥♥♥♥♥
|
First in a fun and furry series
|
| This book features Normal Gnormal, a 4th-grader raised as a dog. When his parents become concerned about his behavior at school (growling and storing meat in his desk), Norman's principal signs him up for the school's werewolf club along with Ralf Alfa, Billy Furball, and Lucy Fang. The club is sponsored by "weird and scary" teacher, Mr. Talbot, who always wears a long coat, gloves, hat, scarf, and sunglasses. The children discover that Mr. Talbot is, in fact, a werewolf stuck in wolf form as a result of a curse placed on him by his half brother, Lance Von Sweeny. The curse can only be lifted by the titular magic pretzel, in Lance's possession. Obtaining the pretzel and returning Mr. Talbot to human form the book's main adventure. This is the first book in a series, which picks up from Pinkwater's 1985 book, I Was a Second-Grade Werewolf, slyly mentioned as Ralf's favorite book. Presented in 78 pages and 38 brief chapters, the story begins by providing a bit of background in "Chapter Minus Three" through "Chapter Zero" as a kind of countdown before launching into the main story. The tone is playful, current (the first chapter's "Frequently Asked Werewolf Questions" recall FAQ's on the World Wide Web), and hip without seeming to pander to childrens' tastes. The story is easy to follow with many comically nonsensical tidbits, including the parsnip car driven by Lance and the Museum of the Pretzel. The book's simple cartoonish black and white illustrations bring faces to the characters and, in the case of the children, present vital statistics such as height, weight, and type of wolf on ID cards. Although the characters and events are outlandish and comical, the story presents aspects of school and family life that will be familiar and poignant to children. Newly independent readers will enjoy the fast-paced and funny style of this chapter book; avid readers will also enjoy beginning an entertaining series. |
|
The Magic Pretzel : Ready For Chapters 1 Books In Print, Audio Books.