Not many little brothers are “kool-with-a-k!” enough to get their own spinoff series from a popular set of books about their big sister.
But not many little brothers are Stink Moody!
Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker gives Judy Moody’s younger brother his own space on bookshelves. And – in true Megan McDonald form – it’s filled with all the fun, silliness, and life lessons that her Judy Moody books are well-known for.
In Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker, we first find Stink and Judy in a local candy store where Stink is attempting to spend his newly won $5 gift certificate on as much candy as he can muster. When the jawbreaker he buys doesn’t exactly live up to its name, Stink writes a letter to the candy company, expressing his disappointment.
“There is a big problem with your jawbreaker. It did NOT (I repeat NOT) break my jaw.”
In response to his letter, Stink receives a shipment of 21,280 jawbreakers and a great big super-galactic idea!
“If Stink could write one letter, he could write two…three…four!”
Stink starts writing more letters to other companies who’ve disappointed him, and the freebies just keep rolling in. Eventually, Stink realizes that his love for all this excess has caused him to lose sight of more important things…namely, his best friend’s birthday party.
“Now he knew why Webster was such a grump. Stink felt like a heel. No, he felt like 177 pairs of heels.”
But Stink, like his older sister Judy, is a problem solver. He finds a way to save his relationship with Webster while also getting rid of all those jawbreakers and the other free stuff. (Hint: There’s nothing like a classroom Pajama Party with a fully-stuffed piñata!)
Throughout Stink and the Super-Galactic Jawbreaker, author Megan McDonald sprinkles in some teachable moments with her very clever use of idioms. From reminding readers that sometimes “when it rains, it pours” to encouraging us to try not to “make a mountain out of a molehill,” the use of over three dozen idioms is a playful addition to this fast-paced book.
If you’re on the hunt for a book that is “more fun than a barrel of monkeys,” then consider Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker for your next read-aloud. While this illustrated book is aimed at younger readers, everyone involved will feel like they “hit the jackpot” with Stink and all his antics!
