Punished!

Children's Literature

What a fantastic way to teach language arts! Early readers will find that the story is strong and that they can learn "school stuff" in a fun way. The tale is simple and understandable. In it, Logan encounters Professor Robert Wordsworth and learns about "word" magic when he and his busy friend Benedict are racing around the inside of the library. The professor blows magic dust from the cover of a book into Logan's face. From there on out, Logan is being "punished." Ridiculously entertaining puns spill out of his mouth whenever he tries to comment and ask questions. Grown-ups and kids moan and groan in answer to his puns. Wordsworth agrees to cure Logan only if he finds some oxymorons and anagrams in his everyday life. Logan sets out to find the words and in so doing, he presents the reader with perfect examples of the word forms. The author has the ability to make the characters real, thereby allowing children this age to identify with Logan and even Benedict. This unique tale is sure to encourage even the most reluctant reader and to make teaching language arts much easier for teachers. It is best for a reader to read the book instead of having it read to them. It helps to see the words in sentences packed with a pun. Add several copies to a classroom or library so many students can read them for language arts. 2006, Darby Creek Publishing, Ages 9 to 12.
—Nancy Garhan Attebury

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-Logan knows he shouldn't have been playing tag in the library reference stacks and he's sorry that he crashed into Professor Wordsworth. But what did the strange old man mean when he said that Logan should be "punished?" Suddenly, the boy starts speaking in puns-really awful puns-and he can't stop. His family and friends think he's just smarting off, but Logan quickly realizes that he is under a curse. According to the professor, there is only one way to break the spell. Logan has three days to collect seven oxymorons, seven anagrams, and seven palindromes-or the "pun"-ishment will continue forever. This lighthearted fantasy would be an excellent classroom read-aloud. The language concepts are deftly explained and the clever, wordplay-filled dialogue provides numerous examples. There is an emphasis on problem-solving and self-reliance as well. Logan uses the dictionary and experiments with Scrabble tiles as he races against the clock to find the required answers. The short text and lively cover art will attract young readers, who will howl at the atrocious puns-and repeat them at the earliest opportunity. Be prepared for an epidemic of juvenile punsters.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.