Have any of you heard about or seen the 1960's cartoon The Jetsons? I've seen a few episodes over the years and always have enjoyed their glimpse into the future. When I read the blurb on today's read, it reminded me a bit of this earlier cartoon. Today's read jets into the future and appears to be the first in a new series for beginning readers. It should center around the members of a family, so I'm expecting lots of sibling and friendship goodness. I am a bit surprised to see it holds only 32 pages...and that's by no means a bad thing, especially for reluctant readers. I'm hoping for some imagination, humor, and family heart.
So, let's open it up and see what it's about!
THE SOLARBALL SLIP-UP
by Bryan Patrick Avery
Illustrated by Vincent Batignole
Picture Window Books
Children's Science Fiction
Beginning Reader
32 pages
ages 5 to 8
COMING AUGUST 1st!!!
When his dad forgets his CubeKey at home, Charlie Cosmos sets out to deliver it to him at work. Along the way, Charlie tests out a new solarball with his friends and loses track of his dad’s device. Will Charlie find the CubeKey in time or will his solarball slip-up land him in hot water? Young readers will find out in this fun and funny sci-fi adventure! With easy-to-read text and art that pops off the page, every early chapter book in The Cosmos Family series takes readers on a joyous journey into the future.
MY TIDBITS
Life in the future might hold high-tech gadgets and even some surprises, but family and friendship never change.
Charlie Cosmos' father has forgotten his CubeKey at home but desperately needs it for a big meeting within the next hour. Charlie promises him mother to get it to his father but runs into a friend along the way, who wants him to try out a new solarball. Of course, Charlie doesn't want to let his father down, so he makes sure he plays for only a few minutes. Although Charlie reaches his father's office with a little time to spare, he realizes the CubeKey is no longer in his pocket and must have gotten lost during the short game.
This is a bright and bold book with tons of energy. The illustrations pop on each page and bring this futuristic world to life while letting Charlie, his family, and his friends gain visual personality. This works very well to balance with the text, especially for beginning readers. The text is very fitting for those readers, who are mostly sure of their words but need more practice. The font and spacing are on the larger side for easy reading. There are several, short chapters to help breakdown things and keep it light. Add the short page length, and it's a read even reluctant readers can enjoy.
There's never a boring moment in Charlie's adventure, and readers will have no problem connecting with him, since the problem is a very familiar one that can happen to anyone. His desire to play with his friend is understandable, and the trouble it causes isn't overly surprising yet still grabs. There's enough tension to have readers wondering if he'll get things worked out, and the ending rounds everything off nicely. With such a short page length, the plot flies by very quick, and some readers might find this a bit too fast since the entire world is new. To help buffer this, the author includes a quick description of unfamiliar terms at the beginning of the book. These are brief and leave a lot of room to the imagination.
At the end of the book, there are several questions to open up to discussion and check reading comprehension. Classrooms and homeschoolers will appreciate this aspect as well.
And here he is...
Bryan Patrick Avery discovered his love of reading and writing at an early age when he received his first Bobbsey Twins Mystery. He writes picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels. His middle grade story, “The Magic Day Mystery,” was published in 2020 in Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, an anthology from Harpercollins and the Mystery Writers of America. His debut picture book, The Freeman Field Photograph was published in 2020. Bryan lives in northern California with his family.
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