Stink and the Shark Sleepover

Gr 1–4—Stink's family and several of his friends have won a sleepover at the local aquarium. Everything is going swimmingly until the aquarium guide tells the story of "Bloody Mary," the undead vampire squid locked behind the door marked "Do Not Enter." Between worrying about Bloody Mary and the fact that his best friend Sophie's hermit crab is missing, Stink may never fall asleep! Barbara Rosenblat creates easily distinguishable characters, but her portrayal of wiseacre Riley Rottenberger has more sarcasm than necessary for an early chapter book, and Stink's scratchy, gravelly voice seems ill-suited to a second-grader. Factual chapter interludes are delivered with the style of energetic announcements and feature facts on aquatic creatures and on the origin of the "Bloody Mary" ghost story. Any child who gets anxious about sleeping away from home will relate to the Shark Sleepover. Best purchased as a companion for the illustrated print version.—Lisa Taylor, Ocean County Library, NJ