K-Gr 3 The seven new students at Mad Scientist Academy include a werewolf, a robot, and other odd creatures; and the school is pretty strange, too. Appealing comic book art takes readers through the kids' first day, in which they receive an unusual, but informative introduction to the world of dinosaurs. Dr. Cosmic is their brilliant, sometimes bumbling, teacher, who leads the group through a highly interactive prehistoric exhibit. The students follow clues to solve a dinosaur puzzle, learning plenty along the way. Prehistoric facts are provided through the automated handbooks that each child receives, and when the mechanical dinosaurs become activated, the kids must use research and their own attributes to avoid danger and complete the assignment. The Frankenstein-ish "Ken," for example, uses his monstrous strength to tear down a tree that successfully tempts an Iguanodon into revealing a clue. Pencil, ink, and digital illustrations carry the story through effective use of panels, word balloons, and cartoonish drawings. Characters have distinct looks and expressions, lending specific personalities to each of the students. The illustrations provide a light tone aided by occasional humorous asides from the kids. Larger panels depict a Tyrannosaurus attack and other action scenes, while the informational segments are neatly set off as handbook entries. VERDICT Like Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen's "Magic School Bus" series (Scholastic), the use of a school setting, a quirky teacher, and wild hands-on learning situations provides an engaging blend of humor, adventure, and information. Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

Six young students (all child versions of classic movie monsters) arrive at Mad Scientist Academy, where they meet the titular mad scientist, their new teacher, Dr. Cosmos. On their first day, they learn about prehistoric reptiles with an exhibit of mechanical dinosaurs designed and created by Dr. Cosmos. While the students follow scavenger-hunt clues through the exhibit, the dinosaurs switch from safe mode to live mode. Now the students must find their way to safety using their high-tech handbooks and figure out how to power down the dinosaurs before the whole academy is wrecked. Dr. Cosmos is a wackier, klutzy version of Ms. Frizzle, of the Magic School Bus series, and this book offers a similar mix of adventure, humor, and facts. With clearly illustrated panels and only a few easy-to-read word balloons per scene, McElligott's visual storytelling will be well suited to readers new to the format and may appeal to reluctant readers in particular. Informative back matter and plenty of fact boxes make this a good classroom pick, too.

On their first day at the Mad Scientist Academy, the appropriately loony Dr. Cosmic leads a group of young monsters through a new dinosaur exhibit. Chaos ensues. The comic-book format and thin veneer of narrative hijinks are diverting; the high-interest combination of dino facts and lunacy is winning.