Booktalk: Isn't it true that when you're caught doing something wrong, grown-ups are always telling you what you should be doing? For instance, if you're running in the house, what do your parents say? When Sukie is caught running in the house, her father asks "if all your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump off a bridge too?" Say what?? What if you're not eating your peas at dinner? Sukie's mom tells her "Lying is not acceptable in this house, young lady!" Say what?? And if you're touching the walls with dirty hands? When Sukie's younger brother Reed is caught touching the walls, his father says "Eat your vegetables." Say what??? What's wrong with Sukie and Reed's parents? Did something go wrong in their brains? Were they kidnapped by aliens? Were they replaced by robots?....

Sukie is concerned. Lately every time she does something wrong, her parents don't respond as they normally would. They are acting so strange that she finally goes to her oldest brother, Brian, to call an all kids meeting. With the help of Reed, the youngest brother, the three siblings gather all the weird things their parents say in response to their bad behavior. When Reed, the "invisible spy", finds the experiment their parents are performing as a parenting technique, the three decide to do battle, by responding the wrong way too. ( )

This book had me cracking up! It's a good one for younger kids, or to read aloud as a family. ( )

Lighthearted and humorous, this easy chapter book is good family read and a manageable introduction to chapter books. It may even help children see that parental discipline is all about love and concern. ( )

Reaction: Children will relate well to this humorous easy read about family disputes and kids-parent relationships. A number of illustrations are included in this short chapter book, not only helping students visualize what is happening in the text but helping them retain attention while reading the story. I personally found this book fun and cheerful. ( )