Grafton Public Library

Review: Oh No! Series written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Dan Santat

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oh, no

Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) Written by Mac Barnett and Illustrated by Dan Santat

The story begins when the young heroine creates a failed science fair project and her newly created robot science fair entry goes rogue. The robot begins to cause destruction and mayhem in the city with everyone wondering “how can it be stopped?” The young scientist tries to get the machine’s attention, but it is no use. She can’t yell, the robot has no ears. She can’t hold up a sign, she never taught the robot to read. She can’t use force, the robot can’t feel. And on top of that, all of the features that once seemed so useful (superclaw, laser eye, power to control dogs’ minds) have all proven to make the robot more difficult to control and capture. Suddenly, she has an idea and sets off to create another science project to bring the robot back under control. She makes a giant toad and programs it to destroy her robot. With the robot defeated and blue ribbon in hand, she realizes she has another big problem as her super toad bursts through the school wall and begins to attempt to catch planes like they are giant flies.

oh, no 2

Oh No! Not Again!: (Or How I Built a Time Machine to save History) (Or at Least My History Grade) Written by Mac Barnett and Illustrated by Dan Santat

Our young friend is at it again in the time travelling sequel to Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World). It all started when she took a history quiz, only to find she got one question wrong. The first cave paintings were in fact located in France not Belgium as she had originally thought. The young scientist still receives an A, but she cannot let that one point off stand. She decides the best course of action is to build a time machine and go back in time, with art supplies in hand, to change history and make sure she gets the full credit she feels she needs and deserves. First she goes too far back in time, then, not far enough. Eventually, she times her journey correctly ready to paint some cave art. The locals are resistant to her request so she is forced take matters into her own hands… again. Unfortunately, while she was busy with her cave paintings the locals took her time machine and changed a bit of history themselves, and when she makes it back to present time, her grade went from an A to an F.

Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) and Oh No! Not Again!: (Or How I Built a Time Machine to save History) (Or at Least My History Grade) are both fun lighthearted reads that are sure to give some laughs and smiles. Check them out this summer and Fizz Boom READ!

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