Bumpfizzle the Best on Planet Earth

Gr 3-7–A story generated from the imagination of a middle child named Daniel. Ten-year-old Daniel imagines that he is a vicious alien warrior named Bumpfizzle the Best, and this is his diary. It is made up as official field reports to the Great Master Hornswoggle of Planet Plonk. Daily happenings turn into misadventures, especially as he struggles with Sam, his new baby brother, and the ongoing wishes of his parents. He remembers life before the baby. He thinks that even Sooty, the pet cat, is very much like baby Sam. There is some disturbing content regarding their treatment: Daniel throws Sooty into the trash, and is disappointed the cat survives; he later takes his baby brother outside in the dark near a busy road but thankfully, his mother comes to the rescue. Mishaps abound and, when interpreted though the eyes of a warrior, turn incredible. Readers will wonder about Daniel, who madly scribbles his annoyances and sings self-aggrandizing praise songs. Daniel concludes that humans are very strange. Big changes and the torment that comes with them are given new life on these pages. The accompanying black-and-white illustrations by Braslina are engaging and serve to convey Daniel’s frustrations.