What do you send your alien pen pal Clunk to make it clear you do not want an alien pen pal? You send him your big sister. That'll teach Clunk to have a pen pal from Earth-or so our intrepid narrator thinks. But then Clunk sends him a Zoid, an exasperating Zoid that follows him everywhere. After swapping dirty socks, three Forps, some old lasagna, a weird glob, and a string of Christmas lights, our hero seems to be having . . . could it be . . . fun? But then: Clunk stops sending stuff. Oh no! Earth to Clunk . . . ? Is he too busy being bossed around by our hero's big sister? Will her ever send another package again? Maybe-or maybe not. More hilarious surprises await!
Deadpan comedy, vibrant artwork (a bit Calvin & Hobbes, a bit Eloise), a warm friendship theme, and an extraordinary surprise ending will have kids laughing all the way back to the first page of this sweet-in-spite-of-itself story.
“Berger’s artwork , with its Southern California–bungalow cheeriness, has a wonderful way of . . . stirring the ingredients into broad, spirited humor. Rarely have school letter-writing exercises been so much fun.” — Kirkus
“Smallcomb expertly channels a sarcastic kid who’s secretly a softie.” — Publishers Weekly
“Friendships can blossom in the most unexpected ways and places. This is science fiction with a homey touch for the youngest readers.” — School Library Journal
“Tongue-in-cheek text from a Maryland author is a lively match with Joe Berger’s hysterical illustrations.” — Baltimore’s Child
What do you send your alien pen pal Clunk to make it clear you do not want an alien pen pal? You send him your big sister. That'll teach Clunk to have a pen pal from Earth-or so our intrepid narrator thinks. But then Clunk sends him a Zoid, an exasperating Zoid that follows him everywhere. After swapping dirty socks, three Forps, some old lasagna, a weird glob, and a string of Christmas lights, our hero seems to be having . . . could it be . . . fun? But then: Clunk stops sending stuff. Oh no! Earth to Clunk . . . ? Is he too busy being bossed around by our hero's big sister? Will her ever send another package again? Maybe-or maybe not. More hilarious surprises await!
Deadpan comedy, vibrant artwork (a bit Calvin & Hobbes, a bit Eloise), a warm friendship theme, and an extraordinary surprise ending will have kids laughing all the way back to the first page of this sweet-in-spite-of-itself story.
Reviews
“Berger’s artwork , with its Southern California–bungalow cheeriness, has a wonderful way of . . . stirring the ingredients into broad, spirited humor. Rarely have school letter-writing exercises been so much fun.” — Kirkus
“Smallcomb expertly channels a sarcastic kid who’s secretly a softie.” — Publishers Weekly
“Friendships can blossom in the most unexpected ways and places. This is science fiction with a homey touch for the youngest readers.” — School Library Journal
“Tongue-in-cheek text from a Maryland author is a lively match with Joe Berger’s hysterical illustrations.” — Baltimore’s Child
