The Terrible Two - Mac Barnett & Jory John

I recently had the privilege of meeting Mac and Jory at the American Library Association in Chicago this year (2015), and was inducted into the International Order of Disorder (so cool!!). I can only assume they were their own inspiration(s) for the two pranksters in The Terrible Two. It would make a lot of sense! In any case, before I get too far off track about Mac and Jory's shenanigans, here's my review of The Terrible Two! (Oooh, that rhymed!)

Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town that’s famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the town’s best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game. It’s prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud.

Talk about a fun romp!!! From page one John and Barnett crack jokes and showcase some ridiculously funny pranks, and also introduce readers to the absurdly amusing Principal Barkin, the shell of authority at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy. Also, there are cows. Lots and lots of cows, illustrated by Kevin Cornell.

They style of humour crosses reading age borders, with the text featuring a mix of sharp, witty dialogue and a quick, quirky plot featuring a wide array of silly pranks, including, but not limited to,

Fish in the Bed
Raisins Everywhere
Operation: Sandy Shorts
Lemonade Without Any Sugar
And many more!

I really don't know what to say other than, "Pick up this book!!!" and then "Read it!!" (because just picking it up wouldn't be very useful if you want to see what's inside.) 

Highly Recommended

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