Author/Illustrator: Tim Byrd
Plot Summary: Having a famous world adventurer for a father is just the beginning for Brian and Wren Wilde. Their grandparents also happen to live in the Empire State Building. It is here where Brian first encounters the infamous frogs. But that is just the beginning. As the family crosses the globe in search of their missing father and grandfather, the frog situation gets much more complicated. Readers will be introduced to gadgets, foreign cultures, exotic languages and a variety of weapons as they make their way through this fast-paced tale.
Comments: Slightly far-fetched, and a little too glamorous to be believed, this is an exciting adventure that will appeal to readers craving non-stop action and an interesting cast of characters. The author is a local Decatur-ite who has already been contracted for two additional "Doc Wilde" books. The million dollar question for me is: Is this book suitable to have in my library for third graders? It is a touch violent in parts and is somewhat sophisticated in its references. For this reason, it could also be appealing for high school students whose reading levels are below their grade level.
Extensions:
1. A book club/literature circle would invite students to read the book and then design and draw the characters. The idea for the book was taken from early comic books thus, the author is very interested in this genre. Suggestions can be found in the author's gallery on his website - http://www.docwilde.com/gallery/
2. The author is local - he lives in Oakhurst in the city of Decatur. He is a new author and judging by his website, his rates for classroom visits are still reasonable. He would be an interesting choice for an author visit for fourth through eighth grade.
Themes/keywords: Missing persons, Frogs, Rain forests, Extraterrestrial beings, South America, Adventure and adventurers
Age/Reading Level: Interest level - 3rd - 8th grade; ATOS 6.6; Follett - 5.5
Standards:
Reading Across the Curriculum - 6/7/8th grades
ELA6RC1 - The student reads a minimum of 25 grade-level appropriate books or book equivalents per year from a variety of subject disciplines.
ELA6RC3 - The student acquires new vocabulary in each content area and uses it correctly.
ELA6RC4/ELA7RC4 - The student establishes a context for information acquired by reading across subject areas.
ELA7R2 - The student acquires new vocabulary in each content area and uses it correctly in reading and writing.
Publisher's Info: G.P. Putnam's Sons a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, New York. 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0-399-24783-5
ISBN-10: 0-399-24783-1
Awards/Review Sources:
School Library Journal 08/01/09 | Booklist 08/01/09 |
| Kirkus Review 04/01/09 |
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Websites:
Author's site: www.docwilde.com
Notes for Booktalk:
Vocabulary: intriguing, carnivorous, parasite, vial, abysmal
Comments