Review: Frankie Pickle and the Mathematical Menace

Looking for new books to share with your child? Check out the book review below! Each week we bring you the latest reviews of books geared toward children in grades K-5 from the creators of "Sweet on Books", a locally-based initiative with reviews written for you exclusively by mothers, as part of our ABC7 Learning Section Enjoy!

Title: Frankie Pickle and the Mathematical Menace

Author: Eric Wight

Themes: Graphic Novel, Humor, Adventure, School, Math

Published: 2011, 96 pages

'Sweet' book summary:
Reviewer: Melissa Y.

Frankie has just bombed his math quiz. Instead of facing the quiz head on, he has doodled and lost focus, and now there is no time left to complete the quiz. When the teacher corrects the quizzes and hands them back, Frankie doesn't get one; he thinks he has possibly dodged a bullet! But no, the teacher asks him to stay after class. Miss Gordon decides to have mercy on Frankie and tells him he can have another chance to take the quiz on Monday.

Frankie spends the whole weekend worrying about the re-test but not actually studying for it -- or did he? As it turns out, his family is out to help this math-o-phobe. While Frankie wasn't looking his mom was teaching him math in the grocery store, his sister was teaching him math in the backyard and his dad was teaching him while baking. Unsurprisingly, Frankie aces his quiz.

Besides the fact that this is just an entertaining read, I really like what Frankie embodies. He is a nice little kid with normal, everyday problems. I am sure many young boys (and girls) will find a kindred spirit in Frankie. Who hasn't been intimidated by a subject at school? For many, I am sure it is math. Frankie navigates his challenges with humor and imagination. I especially like that Wight has created a character that is funny and has super hero powers (albeit imagined) and all without the use of any gross-out humor. A wonderful feat, indeed!

What You Need to Know:

Hurray, there is a new Frankie Pickle book! This is the third in the series.
Frankie Pickle is a fearless fourth grader with a very vivid imagination.
Kids who enjoy graphic novels, super heroes and just plain funny stuff will eat these books for breakfast.
The hybrid graphic novel and early chapter book format of the books in this series is a perfect combination for the young, newly independent reader you are hoping to get "hooked" on reading!
This particular format is a good confidence booster for a fledgling reader. The appealing sequentially-paneled episodes, interspersed throughout the book, give a fledgling reader a place to rest after reading a few pages of text, a rest they will likely need as they are starting out.
I predict the interest level will span a large age range. My 5-year-old son was entranced while I read it to him. Subsequently, after leaving it lying around conspicuously, my 10-year-old son picked it up and read it in the time he would have spent playing a video game (score!).

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