Stink and the Shark Sleepover
Children's Literature – Claudia Mills
When Stink’s parents win a family sleepover at the aquarium at a fancy “fundraiser thingy,†Stink is all ready with his shark sleeping bag, stuffed tiger shark, and shark-tooth necklace. But he does not know that irritating Riley Rottenberger will be in attendance, too … or that his friend Sophie’s new pet hermit crab, Mr. Crab Cakes, is going to escape … or that a bedtime story about Bloody Mary the vampire squid will prove to be quite so terrifying. Adventures here are gentle; problems are easily solved; family dynamics are amiable. The fun of this latest installment in the popular “Stink†series centers chiefly on its treasure trove of fascinating facts about marine life (e.g., “A sperm whale’s brain is the size of 5 human brains. A guppy’s brain is the size of half a grain of riceâ€) and abundant word play (e.g., a blue spot on a jelly fish is not its belly button, but its “jelly buttonâ€). Fans of the series should want to stay awake for this sleepover, and the teamwork of McDonald and Reynolds should boost ticket sales at aquariums everywhere. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D.; Ages 6 to 9.