 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Melonhead
- By Katy Kelly
- Genre: Humor
Common Sense Media says
Playful story full of fun, inventions, trouble, and friends.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Melonhead and Sam get into trouble because they don't think about consequences. The boys don't mean any harm, but they don't think about dangers that could come to them or others by their actions. Parents talk with the boys about their behavior, but the effect is minimal. Parents also need to know that the boys capture a wild snake and bring it home. They learn to feed it live mice, which is described. Also, there's lots of sugar in this story, from breakfast cereal to junk food snacks.
What's the story?
Adam "Melonhead" Melon is a budding inventor with a knack for getting into trouble. He and his best friend, Sam, enter a school science project to recycle an older invention into a new one. Their first idea is to make a shallow-water submarine so that they can help FBI agents catch crooks who might be discussing crimes at the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC. When they realize this idea is not going to work, they come up with a series of other ideas, all equally wacky. Along the way, they spend their days like two 10-year-old boys -- doing homework, mud surfing, catching snakes, and roof running. In the end, and with the help of their daily adventures, the boys find a way to make all their wrong ideas become one giant right one.
Is it any good?
MELONHEAD is a delightful romp through the life of a ten-year-old boy, and is filled with positive good energy. There's plenty of boy and girl appeal in this story full of friendships and classmates. The Washington DC backdrop adds color to the boys' adventures, as famous landmarks are part of their neighborhood.
As the boys come up with new ideas for a reinvention, readers also learn about real-life inventions and the people who invented them. This story is good for reading aloud or reading alone, and is a big high-five.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why and how Melonhead gets into trouble. Does he mean to get into trouble? Do you think his parents do a good job of helping him learn about his actions? Families can also talk about the friendship between Melonhead and Sam, as well as Lucy Rose and Jonique. How do you know they are good friends?
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AGE
Fun book for all ages, but especially good if you are looking for boy readers
This is a funny book that most boys and many girls will identify with. I lent it to a coworker's 7 year old son and he was quoting it. This is an extension of the Lucy Rose series and builds on the characters introduced in that series. They are all worth reading. As a DC parent, I really wish Washington could be this fun and free wheeling for kids, but it does connect.
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Kid, 10 years old
February 4, 2012
AGE
Good Book
It's a good book, but it drags on for the first 28 pages.
Boy, age 10.
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AGE
the book { horrible don't read melonhead} of terror [melonhead]
i don' think it's a good book it is so boring it's like watching your teacher read the whole harry potter series in two hours.
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| Author: | Katy Kelly |
| Illustrator: | Gillian Johnson |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Humor |
| Publisher: | Delacorte Press |
| Publication date: | March 10, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 224 |
| Hardcover price: | $12.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 8 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 6 |
| Read alone: | 12 |
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