STINK AND THE WORLD'S WORST SUPER-STINKY SNEAKERS
by Megan McDonald
illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick Press
Hardcover: 0763628344
Paperback: 9780763636692
Ages 5-8
144 pages

Stink is as happy as a pig in slop. He and his friends, Webster and Sophie, are on a class field trip at the science museum --- and the exhibit is called "Gross-Me-Out: The Wonderful World of Smelly Stuff." Stink starts with the giant nose, where he gets to gawk at enormous nose hairs and learn how boogers are made. He loves it!

But when Stink's teacher, Mrs. D., dares him to experience the "Everybody Stinks" exhibit, he has to summon up his courage. After all, no one else will even go near it. One whiff of the B.O. scent almost does him in, but he recovers long enough to sniff more smelly odors, including dirt, rotten eggs, skunk scent and perfume. It appears that Stink has a real talent for smelling. He can smell better than anyone else in his class. In addition, he learns tons of smelly facts.

At lunch, the kids read flyers about a stinky sneaker contest the museum is putting on. Naturally, Stink must enter. Others are interested as well, so he'll have plenty of competition.

At home, Stink demonstrates The Nose and even impresses his big sister, Judy Moody. Stink is confident that his Nose will make him famous someday. When he researches the science of smelling, he finds information about the corpse flower, the world's stinkiest blossom, rumored to smell worse than outhouses, dead elephants and rotten fish.

Stink is inspired to create some terribly stinky perfume and sets up a Franken-stink lab. He and Sophie work up a recipe (including toilet water, dead-flower water, pickle juice and more), but he's distracted when Sophie tells him she's planning to compete in the stinky sneaker contest. Stink is determined to win.

He's positive that his reeking old sneakers have a great chance to win the competition. But his plan is foiled when Judy deodorizes them with sweetly fragrant powder. What is he going to do? He can't pour anything (like his stinky perfume) in them since the rules say the shoes must stink from being worn. Can his entry be saved?

In a startling turn of events, Stink saves the day when misfortune strikes the contest. He also gets to meet a professional smeller who has actually sniffed a corpse flower. It all makes for a happy (or at least smelly) ending.

This is another enjoyable book in the Stink series, sure to appeal to young readers (especially to boys who are enthralled with the grosser aspects of life). As always, author Megan McDonald manages to tickle readers' funny bones, slip in a little subtle education and tell a good story.

   --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

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