The Problim Children (Problim Children #1)

Gr 3-6--Lloyd (A Snicker of Magic and Key to Extraordinary) pens a new series. The Problims are a perfect seven: one child for each day of the week. From the infantile Toot (his lack of vocabulary does not prevent him from communicating in the most amusing and odiferous manner) to the nearly grown Sundae, the Problims have found themselves in need of new lodging. Chasing a riddle from their peculiar grandfather, the Problims reclaim his home in town, though the neighbors aren't particularly thrilled to see the Problims return. With rumors of treasure, exceptionally nosy neighbors, and the twins Thea and Wendell's birthdays to plan, the siblings have their work cut out for them. This first installment introduces the family while focusing deeply on the twins' relationship and their individual identities. Lloyd's warm and playful writing shines here. While the large, quirky family story feels familiar, the Problims' problems are their own. Readers will enjoy unravelling this first bit of familial mystery with them. When the tale is done, readers may feel gently let down, as not much is resolved in this first outing. However, future Problim adventures will likely be requested and devoured. VERDICT A general purchase and a must where Lloyd's previous works are popular.--Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

Seven gifted Problim siblings, each born on a different day of the week, offer an irreverent and delightful twist on the "Monday's Child" nursery rhyme in this series launch from Lloyd (The Key to Extraordinary). Among them are 13-year-old gardener Sal, a hardworking "Saturday's child" who grows everything from people-trapping "Wrangling Ivy" to seeping fog; rambunctious "Friday's child" Friday, who wears a fox costume and speaks in rhyme; and baby Toot, who communicates via different types of flatulence (defined in footnotes). After the children's home in the Swampy Woods unexpectedly explodes--"Explosions are nature's way of telling us to start over," says ever-cheerful 16-year-old Sundae Problim--the siblings relocate to their grandfather's mansion in the town of Lost Grove, where they become embroiled in a longstanding feud with the villainous Desdemona O'pinion. Family secrets and a fear of the other drive Lloyd's plot, and the children's varied talents and humorous antics will leave readers eager to dive into their future exploits. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. Illustrator's agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Feb.)