The Invisible Fran (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #3)

Gr 2-5 -Hobby Day provides the perfect opportunity for Franny to share her passion for science with her classmates, but they only seem interested in mundane pastimes such as Irish step-dancing, accordion playing, stamp collecting, and baking cookies. She decides to capture their imaginations with an unfinished two-headed robot. Though the students are initially unimpressed, Franny concocts an invisibility formula and uses the power of suggestion to coax three of the children to work on it. Frantically correcting their misguided efforts, she convinces the clueless amateurs that they are indeed mad scientists. The plan backfires when the trio secretly returns to school to finish the job. By morning, their creation has wrecked the building. Misspelled graffiti and giant spit wads lead the horrified heroine to the library where she struggles to stop the reckless robot. Ironically, her friends save the day with their boring hobbies. As a final touch, Franny transforms the flattened robot into a pastry oven and bakes pretty cookies. Every page of the 19 short chapters features cartoons rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor. The pigtailed protagonist looks suitably "mad" with her demonic grin and narrowed eyes. Children will particularly enjoy the image of the cafeteria ladies secretly sculpting a life-size model from lunch meat. Beginning readers and fans of the popular cartoon "Dexter's Laboratory" will enjoy this offering." -Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools" Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.