Attack of the Stuff

Gr 3-5—Existence is bleak for Bill Waddler, a lonely anthropomorphic duck who can communicate with objects. His lamp, his armchair, and his salt and pepper shakers heckle him for being a friendless loser; his blanket has a later bedtime than he does, which means a cold, blanket-less night; and forget about using the toilet—"Latoyat Toiletstein," as it wants to be called, has aspirations of greatness, like becoming a movie star, or maybe a kitchen sink. Overwhelmed, Bill runs away to the forest. But when the internet unexpectedly shuts down, Bill's curse turns out to be a blessing, as only he can communicate with the internet and find out how to get it (or, rather, her) running again. That is, if he is willing to leave his new life as king of the snakes. The best-selling author of "Dear Dumb Diary" and "Franny K. Stein" has penned an inventive, absurdist, fast-paced story. Benton's dry humor is a winning mix of the surreal (Bill's diva-like toilet; the internet requesting a big pink hat that says "Foxy Lady") and the mundane (the frustration of a public-facing job). The simple, bright line drawings are caricature-like; Bill is depicted as a human-like figure with a protruding mouth. Despite the laughs, a note of pathos creeps in as Bill despairs of his solitary life and eventually manages to forge connections. VERDICT This bizarre yet sweet tale is recommended for most collections, especially where Benton is popular.—Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

"Jim Benton is a comic genius and a brilliant cartoonist."
- Dav Pilkey (Dog Man, Captain Underpants)
"Jim Benton has my number. Page after page made me laugh out loud. It's all twisted and hilarious. What more could you possibly want from a book?"
-R.L.Stine (Goosebumps)
"Humor in print has many forms, what is amazing is that Jim Benton excels in all of them!"
- Sergio Aragones (MAD Magazine)
"Mr. Benton's intellectual properties...have made him stand out in an industry dominated by big entertainment companies."
- The Wall Street Journal
Jim Benton is the creator of thousands of original characters appearing in books, magazines, television, online — and has been hailed as "the most visible cartoonist in America"
- People Magazine
"Who could resist [Jim Benton]?"
- Publishers Weekly
" This bizarre yet sweet tale is recommended for most collections, especially where Benton is popular. "
- School Library Journal
"Suffused with ample humor—both general silliness and slapstick—this will resonate with those who like their humor in abundance alongside a hearty dose of weirdness......As fizzy and zippy as a Saturday-morning cartoon. "
-Kirkus