Horace Splattly #3: Terror of the Pink Dodo (Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader) [Paperback]

Lawrence David (Author), Barry Gott (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2003 | Series: Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader (Book 3)

Everyone's favorite pint-sized pastry-loving superhero is back, ready to save Blootinville from nefarious villains and win the heart of fair Sara Willow! But unfortunately for Horace Splattly (a.k.a. the Cupcaked Crusader), his brilliant little sister Melody has other plans for him: the annual Blootinville Celernip Prince Pageant for Boys. Not even Horace's superpowers can save him from Melody's mortifying plans . . . or can they?

Illustrated by Barry Gott.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-This book aspires to be a comical playground-hero saga in the mode of "Captain Underpants" (Scholastic), but there is none of Dav Pilkey's inspired anarchy here. Horace Splattly is transformed into a superhero by eating cakes baked by his domineering younger sister, Melody. While the citizens of Blootinville are preparing for the annual Celernip Festival, giant dodo-shaped balloons suddenly release swarms of "pink butterfly hair clips" that devour the hair of anyone they touch. The resulting epidemic of baldness threatens to affect the event, and everyone blames the Crusader for the disaster. Meanwhile, Melody blackmails her brother into performing a humiliating stage routine in the Celernip Prince Pageant. Horace must save the town from hair loss, uncover the individual behind the balloon attacks, and avoid being unmasked. The episodic plot piles one bizarre event on top of another but never makes the absurd seem believable. Adult characters are cruel, sarcastic, and selfish, and the teacher is particularly unpleasant. Children don't fare especially well either. Horace's peers tease and bully him unmercifully and even his two best friends are quick to accept his guilt. Young superhero fans deserve better.
Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Lawrence David is the author of several picture books and two long, long grown-up books (without pictures). He has never eaten any cupcakes that gave him superpowers, but he hopes to one day. He lives in New York City, where he is always on the lookout for villains, monsters, school bullies, and licorice.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (February 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142500011
• ISBN-13: 978-0142500019
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,417,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story of the 'cupcaked crusader', April 20, 2003

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horace Splattly, the Cupcake Crusader: The Terror of the Pink Dodo Ballo: The Terror of the Pink Dodo Balloons (Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader) (Hardcover)

Barry Gott provides the fun cartoon cover and black and white occasional drawings to spice Horace Splattly: Terror Of Pink Dodo Balloons, a story of the 'cupcaked crusader', who finds himself in trouble when pink flamingo balloons overtake the town. Horace eats his sister super-power cupcakes to turn himself into a Cupcaked Crusader but now he's in trouble with the police in this whimsical, zany adventure.