Stink and the World’s Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers
Written by Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Recommended for ages 6-9
Candlewick Press $6
Our latest Mother-Son Book Club choice is a fun tale about a younger brother who discovers that his uncanny ability to sniff things out comes in handy in more ways than one. What starts out as a class field trip to the science museum for James ‘Stink’ Moody, younger brother of Judy, turns into a self-discovery exercise. The Gross-Me-Out exhibit was meant to be just that – a disgusting exhibit that makes second grade children squirm! In fact, what really happens is that Stink finds out he has an extremely keen sense of smell. He is drawn to the giant nose display, which in turn leads him to the “Everybody Stinks” exhibit where he has to match a body odor with the body part from which it came. No one else in the class is brave enough to attempt this! After successfully making all of the matches, it is time for the class to eat lunch. It is while they are eating that Stink’s teacher hands out flyers letting the children know about an upcoming stinky sneaker contest. Stink is sure that with his putrid pair of sneakers at home, he will win the contest hands-down!
A few weeks later, upon arrival at the contest, Stink and his friends are told that the contest may not happen as one of the judges has come down with a cold and is unable to participate. It is then that Stink is asked to throw his hyper-sensitive nose forward and become a judge. Despite his apprehension, Stink foregoes his chance to take home the Golden Clothespin Award and uses his unnatural ability to sniff out the worst and most rank pair of shoes in the contest. What a team-player!
Stink is Judy Moody’s younger brother and has his own series of adventures including Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid, Stink: The Guinea Pig Express and Stink: Solar System Superhero. The recently released movie, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer is based on the Judy Moody series, also written by Megan McDonald.
