Danny Dunn and the Universal Glue (No. 4) [Paperback]

Jay Williams (Author)

Book Description

Series: No. 4

Danny Dunn goes fishing to try out a new invention and winds up saving a dam.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671438778
• ISBN-13: 978-0671438777
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best adventure stories featuring young people and written for young people, December 7, 2010

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Danny Dunn and the Universal Glue (Danny Dunn, 15) (Library Binding)

If I had known of the "Danny Dunn" series of adolescent adventure books when I was young, I would have devoured them like I did the "Hardy Boys" and "Tom Swift" books. The primary characteristic that makes the Danny Dunn series different is that he is associated with Professor Bullfinch so he doesn't have to invent anything of significance. Unlike the Tom Swift books, where Tom invents so many devices, some of which lead to logical difficulties. Danny doesn't get in danger with the criminals like the Hardy Boys do, Danny and his friends are younger and incapable of physically dealing with criminals. Finally, Irene is a full member of Danny's team, unlike the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift, where the females are secondary characters. Therefore, it is much easier for young people to relate to Danny and his friends because their adventures are more in line with what they may experience.
In this case, Professor Bullfinch invents a type of glue that will stick to anything, making it difficult to work with. Danny's mother has been active in an environmental group and when Danny falls in the stream, he discovers that the water tastes like lemonade. Upon investigation, they learn that a factory is leaking what is claimed to be a harmless chemical into the watershed. After some (mis)adventures, Danny and his friends manage to rescue the town and are heroes. However, unlike most heroes, they are happy with a reward consisting of ice cream sodas.
Danny is a combination of intelligence and compulsiveness and both are demonstrated here. After some foolish actions, he manages to think things through and come up with an action plan that saves the day. The combination of failure and success is something that young readers can relate to.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Children's Classic, December 29, 2006

By 

Michael King "Prophetic Poet" (El Cajon, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Danny Dunn and the Universal Glue (Danny Dunn, 15) (Library Binding)

Danny Dunn, son of Professor Bullfinch's housekeeper, is a headstrong and inquisitive lad whose curiosity never fails to lead him into adventure! In this book, Danny and friend Irene stumble onto a perilous situation that the Professor's latest invention may help to avert!

Even though the technology described in the Danny Dunn books is a bit dated in some cases, the science on which it's based is sound and the kid-oriented adventure found in each story never goes out of style. I fell in love with this series of books when I was a kid in the '60s; I enjoy reading them with my son (now 11) today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best in the series!, December 1, 2004

By 

J. Wingard "The Music Maven" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Danny Dunn and the Universal Glue (Hardcover)

I read this book as a young teen and I absolutely loved it. It is a star in the Danny Dunn series and has a good dose of mystery and some interesting science. I highly recommend this book to parents who have children around ages 8-12 that show interest in chemistry, biology or environmental science. It's one of those fun books that your budding scientist will definitely remember.