Cracked Classics, a series where great classic books come hilariously alive!
Sixth-grader Devin Bundy doodles on his hand in class. His pal for life, Francine (Frankie) Lang, has perfected the art of staring at air. Together, they have been major goof-offs since they were born. In the words of every teacher they've ever made suffer, Devin and Frankie are classic cases of "not living up to their potential." They are kids who "just don't apply themselves." And so, as punishment for not reading the classic book that English teacher Mr. Wexler assigned to them, our lazy duo get "sentenced" to library duty, under the book-loving school librarian, Mrs. Figglehopper. That's when the real fun begins. Because before you can say kkk-zzz-blam! the kids find themselves catapulted into the classic book -- yes, into the book! -- with all of the "real" characters. And the only way out -- is to read!
Adding humor and wacky antics to famous classics, Frankie and Devin bring a bunch of time-tested stories into the world of today, while encouraging readers to reach for the original books.
1. Trapped in Transylvania (Dracula)
Sent to do library duty for not reading the assigned book in class, Frankie and Devin are told by Mrs. Figglehopper, the school librarian, to repair books in the infamous library work room. They quickly discover a strange set of security gates, a crack in the wall, and before they know it, they are sent tumbling into the world of Bram Stoker's vampire classic, Dracula
2. Mississippi River Blues (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
Frankie and Devin have been transported by the library zapper gates once again, this time to Mark Twain's
3. What a Trip! (Around the World in Eighty Days)
Thanks to Mrs. Figglehopper's mysterious library zapper gates, Frankie and Devin are once again sent hurtling into a classic book -- this time Jules Verne's travel adventure,
4. Humbug Holiday (A Christmas Carol)
'Tis the season to be jolly -- but Devin won't share his food for the school Christmas banquet, and he and Frankie forgot to read A Christmas Carol for class. Then they meet someone with even less holiday spirit. . . . Ebenezer Scrooge! The library zapper gates transport the class misfits once again, this time into Dickens's own Christmas classic. Frankie and Devin find themselves on a wacky, ghost-guided tour that just might turn around this humbug holiday.
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! The kids are up to their old tricks again, finding every excuse in the book to keep from reading it. But when their shenanigans land them 18th-century England, they fall in with the likes of Long John Silver and his eye-patched, bad-teethed, bandana-wearing buccaneers! Before you can say "Arrh-arrh, me mateys!" the undynamic duo is sailing on their way to the distant, scary, mysterious Treasure Island, and it's every man (and boy and girl) for themselves!
6. Crushing on a Capulet (Romeo and Juliet)
Mr. Wexler's English class is performing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. But Frankie and Devin are in for the drama lesson of a lifetime when the library's zapper gates send them right into the play! Now they are in the middle of a feud between two families who would not be pleased that Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are hanging out together. Can Frankie and Devin help these star-crossed lovers uncross their fate?
These books are available at libraries, your local independent bookstore, chain bookstores, and all online booksellers. Happy Reading!
DANGER GUYS is a funky bunch of books starring those awesome best friends, Noodle and Zeek. These guys just naturally attract excitement and danger -- and they love every second of it! Quite funny, according to readers. Great for readers who enjoy fast action, nifty stories, do-or-die friendship, and classic adventure. A cult favorite among 2nd graders on up.
1. Danger Guys. When Noodle and Zeek go to the grand opening of a new adventure store, they get more than new gear -- they find danger! The two friends uncover a plot to steal ancient artifacts. They must do some quick thinking to save the treasure -- and their lives.
2. Danger Guys Blast Off. Noodle and Zeek look forward to a day of fun at the Mayville carnival. Sorry, Guys! When the rocket ride they're on makes weird noises, and they fly out of the fair and begin to buzz the school, the boys know that once again, they've found danger!
3. Danger Guys: Hollywood Halloween. Noodle and Zeek have two tickets to Paragon Studio. But when lightning strikes and the studio goes haywire, Noodle and Zeek find themselves battling every movie monster ever made -- a menacing cyborg, a sneezing dinosaur, a moaning mummy, and an entire army of sword-wielding skeletons!
4. Danger Guys Hit the Beach. Noodle and Zeek think they're in for a boring day at the beach. But when their surfboard crash-lands on a haunted island, the Guys find themselves face to face with a sea captain's ghost, a mysterious sunken treasure ship, and a gang of nasty thieves. Once again, it's Danger Guys to the rescue!
5. Danger Guys on Ice. The Guys find danger everywhere they go -- and the ski resort on Mine Mountain is no exception. As soon as they hit the slopes, Noodle and Zeek fall off the chairlift, tumble through an avalanche, and drop straight into the Pit of Death! That's when the trouble really starts.
6. Danger Guys and the Golden Lizard. It's danger time for Noodle and Zeek as they set out on the ultimate treasure hunt -- deep in the jungles of South America. They're determined to find the mysterious Golden Lizard of Maribo, even if they have to fight off man-eating plants and hungry alligators to do it. This is the ultimate classic
Since they were originally published in 1994 - 1996, Danger Guys books are a bit hard to find these days. Try your local library or a used book dealer. Happy Hunting and Happy Reading!
TIME SURFERS
NED BANKS ISN'T SURE how he did it, but he beamed two kids from the year 2099 into his bedroom closet. Roop and Suzi are Time Surfers --cool kids who travel through time. And they want Ned and his best friend Ernie Summers to join them! Hold onto your seats for a screamingly fast and funny ride as the Time Surfers try to keep the universe free of the domination of a nasty time lord named Vorg. Ages 7 and up.
1. Space Bingo; 2. Orbit Wipeout; 3. Mondo Meltdown; 4. Into the Zone Zone; 5. Splash Crash; 6. Zero Hour; 7. Shock Wave; 8. Doom Star.
THE WEIRD ZONE
THE WEIRD ZONE just might be the zaniest science-fiction comedy series ever written. For Liz, Mike, Sean, Holly, and Jeff, being born in the bizarre town of Grover's Mill was an awesome stroke of bad luck. Grover's Mill seems to be routinely attacked by bumbling (and singing) aliens, dinosaurs who don't know they're extinct, a giant octopus that may or may not be a spaceship, and big stone heads that pop up from the ground. Too bad only the kids know how to stop the madness. It's all in a day's work in...The Weird Zone! Ages 7 and up.
1. Zombie Surf Commandos from Mars; 2. The Incredible Shrinking Kid; 3. The Beast from Beneath the Cafeteria; 4. Attack of the Alien Mole Invaders; 5. The Brain that Wouldn't Obey; 6. Gigantopus from Planet X; 7 Cosmic Boy Versus Mezmo Head; 8. Revenge of the Tiki Men.
DON'T TOUCH THAT REMOTE!
DON'T TOUCH THAT REMOTE! is a uniquely hilarious couple of books in which 7th grader Spencer Babbitt and his three chums find themselves the stars of a television comedy show filmed in their school. It's Seinfeld for kids! Possibly the funniest books ever written for kids. Chapters are called scenes, occasional dialogue is scripted (as if it were a real TV script!), and actual camera directions are included -- all resulting in a jolly reading experience for the smart, TV-savvy reader. Ages 9-12.
1. Sitcom School; 2. The Fake Teacher