OH NO! (OR HOW MY SCIENCE PROJECT DESTROYED THE WORLD)

Written by Marc Barnett, Illustrated by Dan Santat

Summary: An elementary-aged girl, builds a robot for a science fair project that goes horribly wrong. The book opens with the action already in full swing. A city is in disarray: water shooting up form pipes below ground, abandoned cars, and the street caving in. The little girl is the only sign of life. She reflects on how it all began saying, "I never should have built a robot for the science fair. I probably shouldn't have given it a superclaw, or a laser eye, or the power to control dogs' minds." She tries to stop the robot by talking to it, then sending it a message, and finally by trying to hurt it, but the robot keeps destroying. So the girl comes up with a plan to build a super toad to destroy the robot, which seems to work, but not quite.

Review: Considered to be a real contender for the Caldecott Award (for exceptional illustration in a picture book), OH NO! (OR HOW MY SCIENCE PROJECT DESTROYED THE WORLD) is an action packed picture book presented in a graphic novel (cartoon) style. Readers will enjoy this quick read, for its action, humor, and detailed illustration. This is one of those books that will not only appeal to a large population of elementary-aged students, but most of them will be able to read it, too. Many of the words (and there aren't a lot in the book) are words that kindergartners learn. Even though the official interest levels are set at K-3, the illustrations say far more than the words and I'd recommend this book for 3 years and up. 

Interest Level: 3 - 9 years

Lexile: None

AR: None

Profanity:
None

Inappropriate References:
None

Inappropriate Behavior:
None

Parental Concern Rating:
0 - Nothing to worry about