Super cute funny kids read. I can't wait to read more! ( )

This is a book about a super hero named Melvin Beederman. he has recently graduated the superhero academy, with his best freinds superhero James and Margret, Melvin is sent to to protect the city of Los Angeles. Than two villans came the stink brothers they escaped and Melvin's cape got dirty according to the superhero handbook you could not have a dirty cape. He got it cleaned but it shrank or so he thought. and by coincidence a girl named Candace Brinkwater got a cape to big and started to fly. What has happened read the book to find out. the theme of this book is superheros. ( )

Melvin Beederman has just graduated from superhero school and been assigned to cover the bad guys in Los Angeles. He's maybe not the strongest superhero to come out of the academy. And maybe it takes him five tries to actually take off into the air. And he does have a weakness for bologna. But what Melvin lacks in strength, he makes up for in smarts, and that just might be enough to save the day.

This is a funny beginning chapter book that will appeal to fans of Captain Underpants with its slapstick humor. ( )

Melvin Beederman has just graduated from superhero school and assigned to Los Angeles where he finds a partner in uncrime and captures the McNasty brothers. Roughly half text and half illustration. I may be ranking this compared to Captain Underpants, because there were a lot of moments I found myself saying, oh, how witty, clever, better then that one with the misspellings... The plot is predictable, but the author and illustrator have managed to do the superhero thing in a whole new way. Lots of references to old superheros, which I found funny, but may not be as amusing to kids. I'd recommend this to libraries where Captain Underpants might not be as appreciated and keep it on the shelves for 1-4th graders. ( )

The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich is the first book in the Melvin Beederman: Superhero series by Greg Trine and it is quite the amusing kickoff! As the story begins we meet Melvin, recently graduated from the Superhero Academy where he has been studying for practically his whole life, having been dropped off on the Academy’s steps as a baby. Upon Graduation, Melvin is assigned Los Angeles by the Superintendent and away he goes (after 5 tries to get off the ground, naturally)…having no family to bunk down with, Melvin sets up shop in an abandoned tree house and immediately begins fighting crime.

In his pursuit of the evil, no good McNasty Brothers, Melvin’s cape is lost, found, he acquires a new partner, discovers an “unofficial” website (where his secret weakness is being advertised to every bad guy who has internet access), and has his limits tested. Throughout his trials and tribulations are given an amusing spin by a voice over narrator who puts his own spin on things. Will Melvin be able to defeat the McNasty brothers…who is his secret nemesis? You’ll have to read to find out…you know you want to!

Overall, this is an amusing, entertaining start to a super new series! The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich is sure to be a favorite among boys (6-10), but I also found that my 9 year old daughter thought it was a hoot, so it will appeal to a mixed audience. It would also be a wonderful read aloud for younger kids (especially if you can pull off the narrator effect)! Trine manages to touch on important topics like doing homework before having fun (and fighting crime), self-esteem, persevering through difficulty, creative problem solving, the importance of the perfect evil laugh (if you’re an evil villain) and more…all the while making it hilariously funny! This is a great beginning reader book, for those making the transition to chapter books and the illustrations help to bring the story to life for readers still struggling to make the transition to books without pictures. I give it 4 stars and two thumbs up, we all loved it! ( )