If I ever get to go back to homeschooling, I have a new handbook. Among the many delicious asides in the wildly goofy and pulpy Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom by Tim Byrd are many descriptions of the lessons learned by the young explorer siblings Brian and Wren Wilde. Twelve year old Brian gets introduced while translating an ancient Greek text, only to squabble with his younger sister over some vocabulary. They trade insults in four languages from three continents, then thankfully hear the call of another adventure beginning.
Of course they are both martial artists as well as young scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers. They can't help but be modest in the shadow of their superlative father, who is ably assisted by several side kicks. The family chases about a secret South American volcano in battle against the wily and inter-dimensional frogs in an rollicking adventure helped along by cheerful cliffhangers highlighted with bold fonts and text balloons. My seventh grader delighted in the short romp, and my fifth grader wants to try it out as well. As a final spice, I am claiming the book as a South American novel, so it works for a neglected challenge. Another fun selection from my Reading the Library journey.
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