Mr. Smarty Pants: Awww Nuts! by Charity Reid

What worked:

Historical facts are worked into the story as Benjamin, Mr. Smarty Pants, is related to George Washington Carver. Carver has 300 patents related to peanuts, while ironically, Benjamin has a severe allergy to them. Benjamin also has a creative mind like his distant uncle and he’s come up with various inventions related to his peanut allergy his family’s nut processing factory. One of his creations is a security device he uses to protect his Top Secret Carver Nut Factory Book from theft. One feature requires a thief to answer three questions correctly to stop an alarm from going off. Readers learn that one of George Washington Carver’s discoveries was not peanut butter!

The listing indicates this book is for ages nine and up but the graphic novel format makes it accessible to younger readers. The dialogue is appropriate for emerging readers or students on the lower end of middle grades. The large pages and colorful illustrations are eye-catching and the author “artfully” displays the characters’ emotions through facial expressions. All of the pages contain multiple graphic panels with short text bubbles sharing a fast-paced plot. The conflict involves an ongoing feud between Mr. Smarty Pants and his nemesis Deon, also called Dark Midnight. The clash is a curious contrast between young classmates and a more “serious” competition between entrepreneurs. The problem never gets too severe and it’s easy to follow. Bennie’s friend Jemma is the voice of reason and her input is valuable in defusing the situation. The rivalry is sure to continue in a sequel based on the book’s resolution.

What didn’t work as well:

More experienced middle-grade readers may not appreciate some comical aspects of the story. A few of Bennie’s inventions are the Smash-O-Matic 5000, the Nut’Uh detector clip, the PB Slayer 2.0, and the Smell-O-Meter. An invitation to a pizza party is a large part of a rescue. However, the descriptions are appropriate for the target audience and help with the book’s entertainment value.

The final verdict:

The book is a light-hearted tale for young emerging readers interested in science and technology. The plot is easy to follow and the graphic novel format can be read quickly. I recommend you give it a shot.