About the Author

MATT LOVERIDGE likes to draw subjects that expose the lighter side of life, so he loves illustrating children's books! Looniverse was the first children's book series he illustrated. Matt lives in Utah with his beautiful, supportive wife and their three rambunctious kids (who are a constant source of inspiration!).

David Lubar created a sensation with his debut novel, HIDDEN TALENTS, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. He is the author of over thirty-five books, for readers ranging from first grade through high school and beyond. These include PUNISHED! (A Junior Library Guild Selection), the Weenies short story collections, the popular middle-grade series Nathan Abercrombie: Accidental Zombie, and the Looniverse early chapter-book series. David lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and various felines.

Reviews

Praise for LOONIVERSE #2: MELTDOWN MADNESSLiberally endowed with jokes, twists and comical line drawings, the tale scrambles its way energetically to a chocolaty resolution. -KIRKUS REVIEWSPraise for LOONIVERSE #1: STRANGER THINGSThis is a silly book that will pull kids in with the goofy plot and the fun black-and-white illustrations. -SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALPraise for PUNISHED!This lighthearted fantasy would be an excellent classroom read-aloud. The language concepts are deftly explained and the clever, wordplay-filled dialogue provides numerous examples. There is an emphasis on problem-solving and self-reliance as well . . . [Young readers] will howl at the atrocious puns and repeat them at the earliest opportunity. -SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALWordplay is at the heart of this funny, surreal adventure in which even the title is a pun . . . An appealing mix of magic and silliness. -BOOKLIST

Gr 1-3-Boris is an energetic character who longs for adventure, just like those his parents had before they turned their old bus into a house. One day they take him on an adventure of his own. Disappointed at first that it's only to another part of their town, he soon realizes that adventures can happen anywhere-even in his own backyard. This is a fun easy reader book with great full-color cartoons, brief text in large print, and likable characters. A bonus page gives instructions for making a compass, leading to a great interactive experience. Stranger Things has a bit more text and fewer illustrations. Ed feels that he does not have any interesting traits or talents; he is simply an extremely normal boy. However, he has no idea just what is in store for him when he finds a coin that says "strange, stranger." Soon everything is erupting into chaos, from his sister's food train turning into an actual moving train at the dinner table to a friend being able to turn his head completely around. Are these strange happenings trying to send Ed a message? This is a silly book that will pull kids in with the goofy plot and the fun black-and-white illustrations. The truly strange thing about this book is that it references Albert Camus's The Stranger, an odd choice for this audience. These books should be considered for larger libraries wanting to enhance their easy-reader collections.-Elizabeth Swistock, Orange County Public Library, VA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.