  | Creepy cafetorium | |
| Price: $16.79 | ||
Summary:
Welcome to the Cafetorium! It's a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and possibly a portal to the world where cube-shaped mashed potatoes are plotting against the almost-definitely-robotic lunch staff. Join Liz Dawson, Declan, Remy, and the rest of Newville Elementary as they learn that when you have plans in the Cafetorium, the Cafetorium has plans for you, too! Each offbeat tale focuses on a different Newville Elementary student, giving readers a chance to walk in another kid's slightly wacky shoes.
| Illustrator: | Jung, Anna-Maria |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/01/21)
School Library Journal (09/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 09/01/2021 Gr 2–4—Set in an ever-shifting Cafetorium (part cafeteria, auditorium, and gymnasium), these illustrated vignettes mix over-the-top wackiness with expressive illustrations. Gertie, the elderly custodian, tells stories about Newville Elementary, each set in the Cafetorium and focusing on a different student. Each of the six entries is edited by Venable and written by a different author, which keeps the overall tone consistent yet fresh. Though the book is described as "serving up spooky thrills and plenty of laughs," the spookiness component is debatable. The plots are too ridiculous and the humor too broad for the tales to seem genuinely eerie—in one story, Jell-O transforms into people, but no one notices except one shocked girl. In another, a boy gets an "excuse notepad," from a book fair and his new prize makes all his excuses come true. Still, the odd happenings and quirky characters give off a zany "Wayside School" vibe that kids will likely find funny. VERDICT Large font and evocative illustrations make this an inviting option for early readers ready to try chapter books.—Rachel Rosenberg, North Vancouver District Lib., BC - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
