  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 03/01/2015 Gr 2–4—Boy genius Frank Einstein is back and is studying different types of energy. With Grandpa Al's electricity bill skyrocketing, Frank wants to find an alternate way to run all his gadgets. Meanwhile, Frank's archenemy, T. Edison, has purchased the local town power plant and is destroying all his competition. With no alternate source of energy, everyone will have to pay his ridiculous prices. Can Frank stop his nemesis from destroying the town's energy sources? The two-color cartoon illustrations are detailed and engaging. Although a little one-dimensional, the characters are fairly likable and it is easy to root for them. Although the facts are educational and presented in an interesting way, they tend to sideline the story. The plot is straightforward and draws readers into the book with its boy-friendly hijinks, but tends to feel a little forced. VERDICT This book teaches kids a lot in an accessible, easy-to-read format, but may disappoint some of Scieszka's longtime fans.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 04/01/2015 Frank Einstein is back, with his trusted companion Watson, his dutiful robots Klink (the smart one) and Klank (the affectionate one), and this time the experimental team is joined by their baseball-playing behaviorist friend, Janegoodall. Back, too, are dastardly evildoer T. Edison and his sign language–speaking chimp, Mr. Chimp. Can Frank and his crew foil Edison’s plans to monopolize Midville’s power plant? Can they successfully deliver wireless energy (that is, static cling) via their Electro-Finger? How long has Police Chief Jacob been going to Poetry Club? Scieszka’s furious narrative, full of goofball humor and shenanigans, flies along, accelerated by Biggs’ spot illustrations, diagrams, and scientific figures. And there’s plenty of real science here, too, from meaningful descriptions of simple machines to blueprints for the Perfect Peashooter. Back matter (“Frank Einstein’s Energy Notes”) includes scientific definitions, instructions for a homemade Electro-Finger, a poem from Police Chief Jacobs, and Mr. Chimp’s recipe for Ants on a Log. Good stuff. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Loading...
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