Who Shrunk Daniel Funk Book 1: Attack of the Growling Eyeballs by Lin Oliver

Okay, so I know this title is a little crazy. When I first saw it I didn't know what to expect. Seeing Lin Oliver's name on the cover immediatley drew me to the book because I love her work with Henry Winkler's Hank Zipper books, so I decided to pick up the book and read. I have not regretted my decision at all. Daniel Funk at first seems to be a normal boy. He's involved in sports, annoys his 3 sisters and plays video games. Very typical right down to his incredibly messy room (of which he includes a diagram). After letting out a goulash smelling burp, Daniel does something atypical for a boy. He shrinks Suddenly his sock mountain seems to be as tall as Mount Everest, and the Creature Condo with the familiy pets looks like a danger zone.

I am quickly falling in love with this story and eagerly am anticipating the next book in the series which comes out in September. Lin Oliver has shown once again that she can capture the voice of the young male and make us want to read more.

Sport Stacking @ Your Library

I have become a huge fan of sport stacking and have recently (April) introduced it to the tweens at my library. The first time I did the program, I had 48 kids show up to learn how to stack. The numbers are dwindling a little, but the group who keeps coming is learning to be great stackers.

I tried something new with them Monday. Instead of doing our normal watch the video and stack, we did relay races and I was able to watch them individually. I am getting a core group of stacking champions already. Hopefully, we will be up to competition shape by next summer.

Scavenger hunt

What do you get when you add 8 tweens and 16 crazy riddles about the library? A crazy, chaotic scavenger hunt with humerous results. Okay, I broke the 8 kids into two teams (boys + 1 girl and girls). Then I sent them to the children's department with a clue that led to one of my co-workers. From there the kids went on their hunt. Here are the clues I used for each team.

Boy's team:

1. Your adventure begins where your books are found
Becareful for many dangers abound
Your quest will begin with the one with dark hair
If you're nice to her maybe she'll share

2. A hero is in the eye of the beholder
a villain is usually someone much bolder
Here these two foes will forever remain
Go find them and their claim to fame. (Graphic Novel Rack)

3. Your next clue lies
where the nocturnal cow flies (Cow jumping over the moon)

4. Look to the land of eggs and pumpkins
You'll find a small man with a very long name (Rumplestiltskin book)

5. In search of clues-- you cannot get hotter
And your very next clue rides with Potter

6. The Settler of Old traveled in a wagon
And your very next clue will be found near the dragon (bulletin board)

7. A pop fly is what a catcher catches
but your clue lies hidden among the patches (Summer quilts)

8. Your adventures not finished this last clue remains
Go to the place where we began our game (meeting room)


Girl's clues

1. Your adventure begins where your books are found
Becareful for many dangers abound
Your quest will begin with the one with red hair
If you're nice to her maybe she'll share

2. A search through Reference will be a good duty
when you look through and find the flag of Djibouti

3. A Vampire wedding, a President's Daughter
These are the books that made summer much hotter
If you haven't read them you don't have to believe me
Just stand around and watch "As seen on T.V." (YA display case)

4. A glance near the mirror may give you a fright
When you look find Spiderwick's
Care and Feeding of Sprites

5. A black light that flashes is called a strobe
And your very next clue lies around the globe

6. If you're looking in a spot where you can't find a cable
Your next clue may be found under a table

7. This game is so long you may want to spit
You'll find your last clue in the life of Anthony Horowitz

8. Your adventures not finished this last clue remains
Go to the place where we began our game (meeting room)


It was a ton of fun and if I get brave, we may do it again.

Prince of Underwhere by Bruce Hale and Shane Hillman

Bruce Hale and Shane Hillman are potty humor geniouses! This book is about Zeke, his twin sister Stephanie, their neighbor Hector and Hector's TALKING cat. While the kids are running from two "spies" the go through a portal to the land of Underwhere. Zeke is discovered to be the Price of Underwhere and a zany adventure begins.

I loved this book. When I finished reading I was desperate to read more. Bruce Hale and Shane Hillman have begun a hilarious new series that tween boys are going to love to devour. Even some of the tomboyish girls will enjoy the bathroom humor that is literally on every page of this book. I give Prince of Underwear to big thumbs up (which equals 5 flushes on the flush scale.)

Welcome to my Tween World

Hello. I am a library associate working with the young and exciting Tween crowd. In this blog, I hope to bring fun information and programing ideas. I also will try to provide my reviews of new and classic Tween reads.