Shermy is taking out the trash when he hears a robotic voice say, "Gree-tings, Earth-ling." But when the invisible stranger demands a blueberry Toaster Tart, Shermy gets tough, demanding, "Show yourself . . . or no Toaster Tart." Shake, Shermy's next-door neighbor's grandson, jumps down from a tree and introduces himself as Falzar, from Jupiter. While his mother and stepfather are away on their honeymoon, Shake is spending the summer with his grandmother. A high-energy kid who sees no reason to share when he can shove both the remaining Toaster Tarts into his mouth, Shake tries Shermy's patience repeatedly throughout the summer, but he can also be lively, fun, and even emotionally honest with a friend he trusts. Readers can decide for themselves whether Shermy will miss Shake when he goes home. Children new to chapter books will appreciate the book's wide-spaced lines and its many attractive black-and-white illustrations. Larson, whose Hattie Big Sky (2006) was a Newbery Honor Book, builds a strong foundation for the Shermy and Shake series in this appealing early chapter book.

A new neighbor upends Shermy's plans for a quiet summer.Shermy's looking forward to an entire summer of his favorite activities-reading, doing puzzles, and collecting small treasures-but he hadn't counted on the arrival of Shake, who's spending the summer with his grandmother, Shermy's next-door neighbor, while his mom and stepfather are on their honeymoon. And from the start, Shake disrupts Shermy's routine. Shake hogs snacks, interrupts Shermy's reading, accidentally knocks his puzzle pieces to the floor, loses Shermy's favorite Frisbee, and nabs the last rocket pop from the ice cream truck. Shermy attempts to hide out in his room, but his mom keeps inviting Shake over to play. Almost imperceptibly, however, Shermy's attitude begins to change. By August, Shermy even misses Shake when no one comes to interrupt his reading. So he goes looking for him and finds Shake wiping away tears, homesick for his mom. Without realizing it, the two have become fast friends. Divided into three sections, each titled by month, this fast-moving tale features short chapters and black-and-white illustrations throughout. Those looking to transition into longer chapter books will find this one accessible, and the storyline will resonate-readers will be eager to read more in this series. In the artwork, Shermy presents as Asian, while Shake reads White.A relatable scenario sets up future books for more summer fun. (Fiction. 6-9)