Comments on The Picnic Basket: The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook ...

This is a fantastic web site. Good polished user i...

2011-12-18T03:44:40.672-05:00

This is a fantastic web site. Good polished user interface and nice informative articles. I will be coming back in a bit, thanks for the great blog.

Thanks for taking the time to explain this, I feel...

2011-12-08T16:35:46.342-05:00

Thanks for taking the time to explain this, I feel certainly about it and I love to studying much more on this concern. If possible, would you thoughts updating your website with even more details? It’s really valuable for me.

It is unusual for me to find one thing on the onli...

2011-12-03T03:02:31.374-05:00

It is unusual for me to find one thing on the online that’s as entertaining and Intriguing as what you’ve came. Your page is nice, your graphics are outstanding, and what’s a lot of, you use source that are relevant to what you are saying. you're certainly one during a million, good job

This is very interesting. Many looks out for this ...

2011-11-24T12:28:34.536-05:00

This is very interesting. Many looks out for this for sure. Thanks for the effort and the cool idea opened.
best price dw087k

According to your information that is very simple ...

2011-03-18T11:46:17.546-04:00

According to your information that is very simple and clearly understand for students to grip.

Nice post. This post is different from what I read...

2011-03-18T11:45:35.570-04:00

Nice post. This post is different from what I read on most blog. And it have so many valuable things to learn. Thank you for your sharing!

hese kind of post are always inspiring and I prefe...

2011-03-18T11:29:51.077-04:00

hese kind of post are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here in the post, writing is simply great, thank you for the post!

Thanks for sharing information..

2011-03-14T09:22:32.719-04:00

Thanks for sharing information..

This graphic novel tells the story of three very d...

2010-01-28T08:32:42.139-05:00

This graphic novel tells the story of three very different kids: a “jock”, a “tough girl”, and a “dork” who come together based on their love for science, which all three are trying to keep secret at school. Although I was happy to see kids portrayed as science lovers who typically aren’t portrayed that way, I wish the characters would have broken out of their public stereotypical images more. This would be a good suggestion for the reluctant reader as the brightly illustrated graphics and chunked up text make it less threatening. Graphic novels are a bit much for me; I tend to get a headache trying to take everything in, but I do think kids would enjoy it. Although I think both girls and boys would read it, this felt more like a boy book to me, which is a bonus, since it can be tough to pull them into reading. Once I got about ¾ of the way through, I think I honed my reading strategies enough to process it well. I am passing this on to my District’s 4th-7th grade librarian, as I think her kids will enjoy it. I give this a 4/5.

Molly Matchak, Librarian
Hickory High School

The Secret Science Alliance and the CopyCat Crook ...

2009-11-24T17:56:45.557-05:00

The Secret Science Alliance and the CopyCat Crook is a fun graphic novel. It is a must have. The story is engaging and a fast read if you don’t pour over the wonderful illustrations. Julian Calendar is very smart and thus is a nerd to the other kids. When his family moves, he chooses to blend in with the other students. Lucky for us, two of his classmates see him at a speech at the museum. The three become friends because of their interest in science. They have a hideout where they build the inventions that they have drawn in their invention notebook. Both girls and boys will enjoy this book. I give this book a 5.

Reviewed by Mary Lou D.
literacy facilitator
Bella Vista Elementary
Cottonwood Heights, UT

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook ...

2009-11-21T09:45:30.434-05:00

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis is one cool graphic novel! Ever since I read this one and book talked it, I have not seen it on my shelves! My sixth graders are passing this one around like crazy!

Eleven year-old Julian Calendar feels like he never fits in at school. So when his parents announce that they are moving and that means a new school, he is thrilled beyond belief. A new start! He will have a chance to start fresh...to be ‘normal’ like everyone else. Soon, he befriends Greta who always wears her bicycle helmet and Ben who never seems to stop playing basketball. These three end up having a lot in common.

Julian, Greta, and Ben are all interested in science and creating their own wild inventions. They even have a hideout which at first seems like a plain wooden shed. Wait until your eyes feast on their real secret lair! The three of them form The Secret Science Alliance and begin to create their wild inventions.

But then a revered scientist steals their inventions. The Secret Science Alliance must use their smarts and science knowledge to stop the Copycat Crook.

This story is funny, inspiring, and filled with science and wacky inventions. I thoroughly enjoyed the most detailed of the drawings in the book. There were several that were so intricate that I spent several minutes looking and reading and finding the pertinent information located in each one. My students are doing the same.

I think this book will be one that will fall into the hands of readers of all interests. It is one that makes the reader root for the underdog…and don’t we all love an underdog!

This is a solid Picnic Basket rating of 5!

I have shelves of my own books behind my circulati...

2009-11-13T12:34:48.202-05:00

I have shelves of my own books behind my circulation desk. The students at my school enjoy looking through them, and often ask if they can borrow one. The ones they ask for the most are the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Secret Science Alliance! It seems that there is something for everyone in this graphic novel. Many students relate to one of the "outsiders" and revel in their adventures. Struggling readers, looking for a book to match their interest level, will find this book to be a good match.
4/5

Barbara Winterberger
School Librarian
Henry Lomb School #20
Rochester NY

I am not a big fan of graphic novels; however, if ...

2009-11-13T10:31:43.816-05:00

I am not a big fan of graphic novels; however, if more graphic novels were well written as "The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook" I would change my mind about them. The story is interesting and will keep students entertained. I give this book 5 out of 5.

4 out of 5 I enjoyed this book a lot. The only re...

2009-11-11T14:22:43.774-05:00

4 out of 5

I enjoyed this book a lot. The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 out of 5 is that I felt the illustrations were sometimes so cluttered as to be confusing, but I enjoyed the storyline and the characters.

I think all readers can find something to relate to in each of the protagonists, from Julian the nerd to Greta the "troublemaker" to Ben the "dumb jock." Completely aside from the fun storyline that encourages creativity and originality, the protagonists are drawn with enough depth to keep them from being stereotypes.

6-8 librarian
Oklahoma

I thought this was a great book. Kids will enjoy ...

2009-11-10T12:25:38.339-05:00

I thought this was a great book. Kids will enjoy the brilliant colors and images.

Hopefully the author will continue writing stories because the characters because I think it's a great way to get kids interested in reading.

I love graphic novels, my nephew loves graphic nov...

2009-11-09T22:40:59.756-05:00

I love graphic novels, my nephew loves graphic novels and my class loves graphic novels. With that being said my "Secret Science Alliance" book will soon be in tatters! This was a fun read with great characters and a lot more substance than most graphic novels. We too are hoping for more books in the series.

A big thumbs up; 5 out 5
juli
5th grade teacher

"The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat ...

2009-11-09T16:25:36.620-05:00

"The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook" is a funny, fast-moving graphic novel with wonderful graphics. Each time a student reads it, they will find more detail in the graphics that add to the story. Characters are also likable and interesting. Students will want more of this series. Can't wait to see what the Secret Science Alliance gets into next!

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Heather Hill, Reading Specialist
Enterprise Elementary
Woodbridge, VA

5/5 If it has taken me awhile to review this book...

2009-11-09T12:42:51.594-05:00

5/5
If it has taken me awhile to review this book it is because it kept disappearing. First I found it in my 9-year old daughter's room and then I would find it in my 7-year old son's room.

The first few pages I thought it seemed too crowded at that children would give up on it easily finding it too chaotic. I cannot speak for all children but my own certainly were not bothered. In fact, they loved going over each section again and again as there seemed to be new things they found.

This graphic novel encourages vocabulary expansion- the kids WANT to know what the words mean and they remember because it is tied into the story line.

Others mentioned wanting to find more in this series- I agree! The characters were interesting and quirky. They take turns getting down in the dumps but there friends pull them out- there is always a positive side to everything. Lessons learned without being preachy and a good balance of good guy/bad guys. The lack of whiny sarcasm is noted as well, very positive vibe.

Loved it! Want more! I recommend for 2nd grade and up!

I thought that this book was a great read and a pe...

2009-11-08T19:42:46.039-05:00

I thought that this book was a great read and a perfect book to share with those readers that have a hard time finding a book they "love". The illustrations we awesome and really allowed for better understanding. I can't wait to share it with a student and see their reaction to this book. I would give the book a 5.

6th Grade Teacher
Kimberly Middle School, Idaho

I am not normally a fan of graphic novels but I th...

2009-11-08T15:18:14.766-05:00

I am not normally a fan of graphic novels but I thought this was very well done.

To get a more fair opinion I gave this to one of my students who constantly reads graphic novels and he loved it. He said it had a good storyline that kept his interest. Following these three friends on their adventures was entertaining and he said he particularly liked the illustrations.

Based on his feedback, my Picnic Basket rating would be a 5/5.

Lindsay Horne
New Kent Middle School
New Kent, VA

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook ...

2009-11-05T07:30:58.751-05:00

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook hit its mark. It will get many things accomplished...get reluctant readers in, open to more reading and create paths for book communications. I give this a 5!

I'm not usually a big graphic novel fan, but I...

2009-11-04T15:16:25.696-05:00

I'm not usually a big graphic novel fan, but I really liked this one. The author busts some stereotypes showing that the "bad girl" and the "jock" can be science nerds too. The kids use their brains to invent cool gadgets (the author includes plans so kids can build their own) and work together to solve problems. The kids will love the intricate drawings--I looked at many of them several times to get all the details, and the fast pased adventure story.

This graphic novel is very witty and fun to read. ...

2009-11-04T08:11:24.017-05:00

This graphic novel is very witty and fun to read. I think that the boys in my class will really enjoy this book. The illustrations are very detailed and filled with comical text. I can't wait to get my students hooked on this story!

Great graphic novel! Many of my students saw it on...

2009-10-28T21:48:09.468-04:00

Great graphic novel! Many of my students saw it on my desk and can't wait for it to get into circulation. I love the way the female character was placed into a scientific situation. Great timing to get book in circulation before science fair time. This will be a fun and easy read for boys and girls - 4th grade and up. I hope there are more to follow.

4.5 out of 5
K-5 Library Media Specialists
MS

This was my first attempt at reading a graphic nov...

2009-10-27T20:58:45.206-04:00

This was my first attempt at reading a graphic novel and I enjoyed reading the first 1/4 of it. The details in the illustraions and text were amazing and I was surprised that I kept noticing more and more. I passed this along to our school librarian who was thrilled to recommend this to a few students she had in mind. We both feel it will be well-read!