Tuesday, March 15, 2016

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Big Nate Blasts Off

Big Nate Blasts Off by Lincoln Peirce book coverBig Nate Blasts Off
by Lincoln Peirce
Balzer + Bray (Feb. 16, 2016)
Chapter Book

Summary:

Nate has a crush on Ruby. But after his scrap with Randy Betancourt makes headlines in the Weekly Bugle, he's got a problem WAY worse than detention! Can Nate bounce back? And will the annual Mud Bowl be a blast . . . or a bust?

Why You'll Love It:
  • It's an entertaining addition to the popular Big Nate series and a sure-fire circulator.
  • Quick pacing, frequent jokes, and an appealing graphic-novel format make this a crowd pleaser. The plentiful illustrations include several comics penned by Nate. His believable middle-school perspective covers topics such as his dream job (Cheez Doodles taste consultant), and the horrors of running into Principal Nichols (in “casual” clothes) on the weekend.
  • Lincoln Pierce is adept at including humor without diminishing serious situations. For instance, when Nate is worrying in school that bully Randy has it in for him, Nate’s art teacher is pictured scratching his head over Nate’s latest painting—an angry-looking portrait of Randy.
  • Randy, who has appeared in other Big Nate books, is further developed here. While Randy’s bullying behavior hasn’t earned him any friends, Nate’s insensitive treatment of him in a published comic may have readers feeling sympathetic. As the story progresses, Nate’s growing compassion toward Randy is heartwarming.

Who Should Read It:

 Great for 3rd-6th grades.

Big Nate humorous chapter book spread

What Else You Should Read:

2 comments:

Cheriee Weichel said...

Hi Amanda, I have never read a Big Nate book. They are so popular without my encouragement!

GatheringBooks said...

My daughter loved Nate when she was around 9 years old or so - she had an entire collection and really enjoyed them.

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