Extra Famous

April 1, 2013
Grades 3-5 A lot of boys can easily identify with Calvin Coconut, a low-key kid with divorced parents, a younger sister, and a posse of neighborhood friends to hang with. His neighborhood, though, happens to be in Hawaii, and one of his friends has a movie director uncle who is looking for undead extras to appear in the zombie movie he is filming on a local beach. Lots of fun ensues, but in the end, though Hollywood has come briefly calling, Calvin is just a regular boy who spends the money he has earned on a new bike. Dependable and clearly written, the series gains great appeal from Rogers' charming and expressive spot illustrations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
In his ninth book, fourth grader Calvin and his friends get hired as extras in a zombie movie being filmed on the beach. Salisbury's message about figuring out one's role in one's family and among friends is neatly tucked into this humorous story. The Hawaiian setting of this illustrated series is vividly described, and the characters are nicely individualized.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)