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| Paperback ©2011 | -- |
Charlie loves the "buzz" that comes from thinking up new inventions to share with the other kids in the Zigzag School's Afternoon Center. Most of his projects don't go very well, but Charlie keeps trying; eventually his work ends up helping both the librarian and the custodian. The story is entertaining but rather forgettable. Lively illustrations help give the characters some personality.
Kirkus ReviewsThe third in the Zigzag Kids series, which features a culturally diverse, tight-knit cast and focuses on one character per installment, turns to would-be inventor Charlie. Charlie can't wait to show off his new invention to his buddies in the after-school program. Unfortunately, the red sneakers with glued-on suction cups are about as successful at climbing walls as his Breathe-underwater Box was at supplying air. So far, his inventions aren't helping him to live up to his older brother's stellar reputation with the teachers at Zigzag School. Compounding his woes, Mrs. Farelli picks him to organize the Come as a Character Day and dress as Peter Rabbit. It's a tough week for Charlie as he struggles with self-doubt and others' expectations. As the day of the event approaches Charlie begins to feel the wonderful buzz signaling an idea for an invention. Could there be an opportunity in a huge load of detritus Jake the Sweeper's truck dumped in the playground by accident? Now he's got a plan that, if successful, could help everyone and prove that junk is in the eye of the beholder. The cheerful drawings offer levity to the spare, straightforward prose laid out in one- or two-sentence paragraphs. The tension builds mildly, exploring the concept of individuality and the expanding pressures of growing up, demonstrating Giff's keen understanding of chapter-book readers. (Fiction. 6-9)
School Library Journal (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)Gr 2-4 The latest adventure at Zelda A. Zigzag School stars Charlie, a budding inventor. At the after-School program that provides the setting for the various adventures of the series, a teacher asks Charlie and a few others to participate in a "Come as a Character Day." They have trouble getting their classmates excited about it, even though parents and the retired principal herself have been invited to attend. Meanwhile, two flat tires stifle the janitor's task of bringing unwanted junk to the dump, resulting in a pile left out on the playground. When the teacher organizing the event gets sick, Charlie uses the pile of junk, a bit of invention, and a lot of creativity to put on a spectacular show. The short chapters and engaging story lines will motivate developing readers to learn more about the cast of characters. Spot illustrations throughout help bring the action and kids to life. Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN
Horn Book
Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)
Wilson's Children's Catalog
Charlie counted in his head. Three. Two. One.
Brrrriiiinnnng!
The three o'clock bell.
It was time for Afternoon Center.
Everyone was going outside today. Some kids were playing basketball. Some kids were doing a potato race.
Charlie had a new invention.
Wait until everyone saw it. They'd be yelling, "Char-lie, Char-lie!"
He was even wearing his brother Larry's good luck T-shirt.
Larry was in high school now. He'd gone to the Zigzag School, too. He'd read every book in the library. Even the boring ones.
The teachers still remembered him.
Larry's shirt said WISHBONE on the collar.
Charlie was wishing, all right.
Wishing his invention would work.
Charlie grabbed his bag. "Come on, guys," he yelled. "Invention time."
He raced downstairs and outside. A bunch of kids raced, too.
"Wait up, Charlie," Destiny called. Today she had braids and beads all over her head.
Beebe, a new girl, was with her. Her hair was the color of a carrot.
"I don't hear very well," she told Charlie.
She flipped up her curly hair.
He could see little tan circles in her ears.
"Hearing aids," she said. "They help me hear better."
Charlie leaned against the wall to wait. The school was long and yellow. The bricks were warm.
Beebe was still talking. "My name is Beebe. Like two 'B's."
Charlie nodded. He could see Ramon, the college helper. Ramon was bouncing balls at the handball court.
Sumiko burst out the door. "I'm here." She had a book in her hand. It had a bunch of Japanese words.
Habib came out next. He was juggling two Popsicle sticks. "Me too."
"I hope your invention is good," Mitchell told Charlie.
"Did you ever see anyone walk up a wall?" Charlie asked.
"You're going to do that?" Mitchell asked.
"You'll see." Charlie tapped his bag.
"Hey, Ramon," Mitchell called. "Charlie's going to be a human fly."
Charlie's heart began to pound.
If only this worked.
He'd be a hero.
His picture would be on the wall. Right next to Zelda A. Zigzag's. She had been the first principal of the school.
Charlie opened the bag. He took out his Flying Feet.
He'd been working on the feet for days.
It had started with a buzz in his head.
That was the way all his inventions began.
Buzz! An idea!
He'd taken Larry's thrown-away sneakers. They were huge.
He'd found suction cups on his father's workbench.
He'd glued. . . .
Painted the sneakers bright red. . . .
Outrageous!
Now he took off his socks. His toes had to hold on.
He edged his feet into them. Perfect. Flying Feet!
Ramon frowned. "Are you sure you can do this?"
Charlie wasn't so sure. He had to do it, though.
The whole Afternoon Center was watching.
"Stand back." He made swimming motions with his arms. "I need room."
Mitchell's sister, Angel, shook her head. "We're going to need an ambulance," she told Ramon.
"I'm right here," Ramon said. "Don't worry."
Charlie wanted to tell Angel to be quiet. But she remembered his last invention.
The Breathe-Underwater Box.
He'd nearly drowned.
Charlie wiggled his toes in the Flying Feet. Larry's sneakers were a lot bigger than his feet.
He hoped they'd stay on.
"Go, go, go, go," Mitchell and Habib yelled.
"Stop, stop," Angel said.
Charlie took a look at the handball wall.
He took five steps back. Then he began to run.
He could see Angel. Her hands covered her eyes.
The wall was in front of him.
He took a giant step. Up. The sneaker stuck to the wall.
It was going to work!
Charlie, the greatest inventor in the Center.
His foot slipped out of the sneaker.
"Bonk!" he heard Mitchell yell.
Charlie hit the ground.
"I knew it," Angel said. "Call the ambulance."
Ramon helped him up. "He's all right. I have him."
What Charlie had was ten sore toes.
Larry's WISHBONE shirt was ripped.
Worse than all that, his invention had failed.
Again!
Excerpted from Flying Feet by Patricia Reilly Giff
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
When Charlie hears that special buzz in his head, he knows it means one thing: an idea for a new invention. But Charlie's ideas tend to backfire—such as the flying feet that don't really fly. If only Charlie could make his inventions work, people might think he's as special as his older brother, Larry. Then the Zigzag afternoon center organizes a Come as a Character Day, and Charlie gets his chance to shine.