STINK: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
by Megan McDonald
illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763628913
Ages 5-8
112 pages

Stink Moody is already the shortest second-grader in Class 2D and the shortest member of the Moody family. He's exactly 3 feet, 8 inches tall every morning when his sister Judy measures him. One day the tape measure reads 3 feet, 7 and three quarters inches! How could he be shrinking?

Stink is the younger brother from Megan McDonald's award-winning Judy Moody series. He may be short in stature, but by no means is he short on personality. Stink tries everything to grow taller, from spiking his hair to wearing vertical stripes. He eventually accepts his height limitations and finds a short role model to admire.

STINK is filled with fun adventures and cool illustrations. Comic strips, drawn by Stink, are scattered throughout the book. Comics such as "The Adventures of Stink in Newt Boy meets Jaws Monster" show Stink solving everyday problems with superhuman powers.

The author knew that Stink needed to star in a book of his own when she visited a school and the class chanted, "Stink! Stink! Stink." This book will appeal to both boys and girls, but young boys will especially identify with Stink and his bossy older sister. I hope McDonald writes many more adventures for Stink. He's a delightful character.

   --- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (renee.kirchner@usa.net)

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