Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000

Review by Booklist Review

Wright's arch and accessible mixed-format stories of Frankie continue to be a treat for early chapter-book readers. Here, Frankie, who always tries too hard and has an imagination that far outstrips his abilities, fails to make the next Possum Scout level when his knot tying goes awry. But he can earn those needed badge points if he places well in an upcoming kit-built-car race. Slightly retro cartoons reminiscent of late 1950s cool are interspersed with the text throughout as Frankie's latest adventure unfolds with enough twists on and off the racetrack to satisfy his reading peers.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Frankie is really down on his luck in this second installment of the Frankie Pickle series. He's convinced he'll remain a Pygmy instead of advancing to Shrew in Possum Scouts as everyone else in his scout pack has advanced except for him. When his dad reminds him of the Pine Run 3000, a special race where scouts can compete regionally using hand-crafted model cars, Frankie believe his luck just might change. Through trial and error in designing the perfect car and using his imaginative day dreaming-shown in short easy chapters mixed with comics-Frankie realizes he may not have what it takes to produce the perfect race car. Simple black and white line art keeps the momentum of adventure moving forward and readers entertained. Ages 4-8. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-4-Frankie Pickle is back in the series that began with Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom (S & S, 2009). He wants to become a Shrew Scout with the rest of his Possum Troop but can't because he lacks the points. However, an opportunity arises with the Pine Run 3000, the "greatest game ever invented." If Frankie's model car wins, he can advance up the scouting ladder. This meld of graphic novel and chapter book is a sure bet for reluctant readers. The black-and-white illustrations make the text "woooosh" along just like the fast-paced race scenes toward the end of the book. Readers get glimpses of the protagonist's inner thoughts; once he even pictures himself working on a David-like sculpture as he creates his model car. Despite obstacles to winning, Frankie stays wide-eyed and optimistic until the end.-Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

Frankie, a Possum Scout, tries to earn merit points by entering a model car contest. Frankie's imagination is robust; his construction skills less so. Black-and-white illustrations appear on every page; interspersed throughout the main text are humorous cartoon-panel spreads in which readers experience Frankie's grandiose heroic fantasies. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Gentlemen, start your engines. Frankie Pickle, fresh off his incarnation as Indiana Jones, returns in another imaginative, over-the-top fantasy. This time, Frankie, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Speed Racer, attempts to overcome his merit-point deficit to move on to the next level in his Possum Scout troop. Long on good intention but short on careful execution, Frankie attempts to catch up with his peers by entering the Pine Run 30003,000 inches of curved racetrack. Competing against berPossum Scout Carter, Frankie independently prepares for the big day, turning his back on any written direction or advice from his fatherwith distressing results. After gulping down a bit of humble pie, our hero regains his stride and rolls across the finish line the best way he can. High-energy graphic illustrations keep this race on course and provide the perfect dose of humor for new readers, especially boys, who will identify with Frankie and admire his patient father. (Fiction. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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CHAPTER ONE Tangled in twine, Frankie flopped onto his living room floor. He was too busy wiggling around to notice the stares of the other Possum Scouts. "How did you get so twisted up?" said Frankie's mom, who was also the troop's Marsupial Mother. "You were only supposed to tie a basic sailor's loop." Frankie tried to shrug, but his arms were pinned to his chest. He glanced over at the other scouts. They had all tied their knots correctly. "That one looked too easy," said Frankie. "I wanted to come up with a super-duper knot." "Why didn't you just ask for help?" said Mom. She tugged at the rope. "This is way too tight to undo by hand." "I get extra points for that, right?" said Frankie. "Not when it's the wrong kind of knot." The other scouts started to snicker. They'd probably be laughing their lungs out if Frankie's mom wasn't there. Even his best friend Kenny had a hard time keeping a straight face. Frankie had to do something to impress them. "I know how to get free without any help." He sucked in as much air as he could, then tried with all of his strength to snap the ropes, like a superhero. That only made the knots tighter. The ropes burned his skin. "Stop that before you pop something!" said Mom. "I need to cut you loose." "Would you like to borrow my safety scissors?" said Carter Hawkins. "I always keep a pair in my emergency utility pouch." "This . . . isn't . . . an emergency . . . ," said Frankie, turning an odd shade of bluish-purple. "Why, thank you, Carter," said Mom. "That's very handy of you." "A Possum Scout is prepared for anything," said Carter. And Carter always was. Like the time when Kevin twisted his ankle and Carter made a splint out of Popsicle sticks. Or when Oliver got stung by a bee, Carter knew to put mud on the bee sting. And when Lucas got woozy from being hungry, Carter had an extra snack pack. He was such a scout superstar that some of the other kids were convinced he actually was part possum. Carter unzipped the pouch around his waist and fetched the scissors for Frankie's mom. Then she went to work snipping Frankie's ropes--and pride--into little pieces. © 2010 Eric Wight CHAPTER TWO After Frankie was finally untangled, it was time to hand out the merit badges. Everyone gathered on the living room floor around a fake campfire Mom had made from toilet paper tubes and orange tissue paper. Argyle, the troop's mascot, wore a yellow scarf for the occasion. "This is a very special ceremony," said Mom. "Today marks the last meeting of the fall session. All of you who have completed the knot-tying badge have earned enough Possum Points to move up in rank from Pygmy to Shrew." The boys all cheered. Moving up in rank was a big deal. It meant you now got to do stuff that was too dangerous for Pygmies, like shoot a bow and arrow, make fire, and go camping in the woods. It was like being inducted into the League of Awesome. There had to be some kind of mistake. How could Frankie not become a Shrew Scout with the rest of his Possum Troop? "I'm sorry, Frankie," said Mom. "You didn't complete the knot assignment, so I can't award you the badge." "But I'm your son," said Frankie. "You have to earn it the same as everyone else," said Mom. Frankie could hear the other scouts whispering. Now was not the time for him to plead his case. "That's cool," he said. "I'll catch up with you guys at the next rank." But truthfully, it was ANYTHING but cool. © 2010 Eric Wight Excerpted from Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000 by Eric Wight 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.

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