The Big Ideas of Buster Bickles

PreS-Gr 2—Buster imagines flesh-eating robots and laundry monsters in his goofy imaginative games at home, but gets ridiculed at school when he shares them for show-and-tell. Fortunately, his uncle has just invented a "What-if Machine," which can make each of Buster's crazy ideas come true. His first wishes are silly, but mostly harmless, involving giant mustaches, rocket-powered cows, and other oddities. When they expand to unfriendly robot dinosaurs and other dangers, Buster has to think fast to save the day. Digital illustrations depict each of Buster's ideas with wacky cartoon gusto. The shift from silliness to danger come through visually as colors darken and panels expand into spreads. In a satisfying final scene, Buster brings the What-if Machine to school for the best show-and-tell-ever. With his extra big head and exaggerated single-toothed smile, Buster makes an appropriately goofy young hero, though at times he looks more like a baby than a school-aged kid.