FICTION

Slappy Birthday to You

by R.L. STINE
160p. (Goosebumps SlappyWorld: Bk. 1). ebook available. Scholastic. Feb. 2017. lib. ed. $17.20. ISBN 9780606397308; pap. $6.99. ISBN 9781338068283. POP
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Gr 3–6—Be very careful what you wish for. For Ian's birthday, his father surprises him with a unique gift: Slappy the Dummy. As veteran Stine readers are bound to know, Slappy is no ordinary toy. Ian's obnoxious cousins, Jonny and Vinny, who have a penchant for playing mean jokes on Ian and his little sister Molly, kidnap the dummy and read aloud the magical words that bring the evil creature to life. Unfortunately, no one believes Ian when he explains that the dummy is responsible for all the terrible things starting to happen. The cousins do, eventually, get their comeuppance. Fans of "Goosebumps" will find the usual winning formula at play here—short chapters, lightning fast pacing, slapdash character development, and groan-inducing humor balanced with slight scares.
VERDICT Stock well where Stine devotees thrive.
Reviewed by Valentine Muyumba, Terre Haute, Indiana State University , Feb 01, 2017

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