Adderson, Caroline and
Illustrated by Clanton, Ben Jasper John
Dooley Star of the Week 128 pgs. Kids
Can Press, Ltd, 2012. $11.96. (Language-G
Violence-G; Sexual Content-G).
When it’s Jasper John
Dooley’s turn to be Star of the Week he is beyond excited. But things start go wrong, first off his much loved lint collection
doesn’t go over that well for Show and Tell. Then Jasper is jealous of his friend Ori’s little
sister, and wishes that his family was bigger. When he builds his own brother
out of wood, named Earl, it eventually lands him in the principal’s office. Will
Jasper make the most of his week in the spotlight or make a mess of everything?
This was one of the worst
books that I have reviewed. From an adult perspective (with a psychology
background), I was downright disturbed. When a 7 year old is sniffing his lint
collection (including belly button lint) in a dark basement it raises my alarm
bells. That wasn’t the end of my list of qualms either and you don’t want to
get me started.
While I know that student
readers won’t have my same hang-ups, I do think that they will fail to relate
to this character as he uber weird, acts way younger than his age, and is just
plain pathetic.
EL – NOT RECOMMENDED Reviewer:
Stephanie MLS graduate & Author.