Frank Einstein & the antimatter motor / by Jon Scieszka ; illustrated by Brian Biggs.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

New York Times Bestseller

"I never thought science could be funny . . . until I read Frank Einstein. It will have kids laughing."
- Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid

"Huge laughs and great science - the kind of smart, funny stuff that makes Jon Scieszka a legend."
- Mac Barnett, author of Battle Bunny and The Terrible Two

Clever science experiments, funny jokes, and robot hijinks await readers in the first of six books in the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein chapter book series from the mad scientist team of Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs. The perfect combination to engage and entertain readers, the series features real science facts with adventure and humor, making these books ideal for STEM education. This first installment examines the science of "matter."
Kid-genius and inventor Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. In the series opener, an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm, and a flash of electricity bring Frank's inventions - the robots Klink and Klank - to life! Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions.. . . until Frank's archnemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan!

Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers. The Frank Einstein series encourages middle-grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews raves, "This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to'keep asking questions and finding your own answers' fires on all cylinders," while Publishers Weekly says that the series "proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful."
Read all the books in the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein series: Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Book 1), Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger (Book 2), Frank Einstein and the BrainTurbo (Book 3), and Frank Einstein and the EvoBlaster Belt (Book 4). Visit frankeinsteinbooks.com for more information.


STARRED REVIEW
"In the final analysis, this buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to'keep asking questions and finding your own answers' fires on all cylinders."
--Booklist, starred review

"Scieszka mixes science and silliness again to great effect."
- Kirkus Reviews

"In refusing to take itself too seriously, it proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful."
- Publishers Weekly

"With humor, straightforward writing, tons of illustrations, and a touch of action at the end, this book is accessible and easy to read, making it an appealing choice for reluctant readers. A solid start to the series."
--School Library Journal

"Kids will love Frank Einstein because even though he is a new character he will be instantly recognizable to the readers...Jon Scieszka is one of the best writers around, and I can't wait to see what he does with these fun and exciting characters."
- Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl

"Jon Scieszka's new series has the winning ingredients that link his clever brilliance in story telling with his knowledge of real science, while at the same time the content combination of fiction and non fiction appeals to the full range of the market."
- Jack Gantos, Dead End in Norvelt

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Scieszka (the Spaceheadz series) pulls in an array of scientific, cultural, and historical allusions and references-Einstein and Frankenstein, sure, but also James Bond, Edison vs. Tesla, the CERN particle collider, and more-in this first book in the Frank Einstein series, loosely based around the subject of matter. Not unlike Shelley's Frankenstein, science whiz Frank is trying to animate a robot he's built in his garage lab. Frank doesn't succeed, but in one of the happy accidents that pepper scientific history (ahem, penicillin), Frank inadvertently lays the groundwork for the creation of two "self-assembled artificial-life" entities named Klink and Klank, fashioned from Shop-Vacs, Casio keyboards, and other mechanical detritus. The antimatter motor Frank whips up next for the science fair leads to a confrontation with his nemesis. Biggs's (the Everything Goes books) two-color cartoons and diagrams run the gamut from silly to scientific, and the same holds true of Scieszka's story. In refusing to take itself too seriously, it proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful. Ages 8-12. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-5-Scieszka's latest novel centers on kid genius and inventor Frank Einstein and his two self-assembled robots, Klink and Klank. When Frank designs an antimatter motor flying bike to submit for Midville's Science Prize, his idea is stolen-along with Klink and Klank-by his rival, T. Edison, and Edison's sidekick, Mr. Chimp, an actual chimp who communicates through sign language. But, with a bit of ingenuity, and a little help from his Grampa Al and his friend Watson, Frank is able to thwart Edison's plans and rescue the two robots. Sciezka writes in the present tense, creating a fast-paced read, and offers plenty of science facts for children. Biggs's cartoon drawings cleverly add to the story, particularly his illustrations of Mr. Chimp's sign language, which are seamlessly interspersed as dialogue throughout the text. Although not entirely original as a character, Frank is likable and resourceful, while Edison makes for a diabolical but predictable villain. However, children will enjoy the matter-of-fact Klink, affable Klank, and droll Mr. Chimp, all of whom provide the majority of the laughs in the book and inject some novelty into an otherwise standard story. With humor, straightforward writing, tons of illustrations, and a touch of action at the end, this book is accessible and easy to read, making it an appealing choice for reluctant readers.  A solid start to the series.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* In this start to a new series, young Frank Einstein and his trusted pal Watson foil the dastardly plans of archnemesis T. Edison and his financial advisor, Mr. Chimp. Along the way, they rely on the material assistance of Frank's genius robot Klink and not-so-genius-but-affectionate robot Klank and the abiding support of Frank's Grampa Al. The high jinks begin at a school science prize competition and continue after Edison steals Frank's antimatter technology, ultimately leaving the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Scieszka soaks the narrative in real science, from a narrative structure built on the principles of scientific inquiry to throwaway jokes about apes and teeth. Literary allusions abound, including a principled invocation of Isaac Asimov's three laws of robotics as articulated in I, Robot. The busy book design features imagery on almost every spread; Biggs' full-page comic illustrations alternate with spot drawings, numbered scientific figures, diagrams, and blueprints. The clever use of typefaces adds to the visual appeal, with distinctive fonts for the two robots' dialogue and pictographic ASL hand letters for Mr. Chimp (with a key in the back). In the final analysis, this buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to keep asking questions and finding your own answers fires on all cylinders.--Barthelmess, Thom Copyright 2014 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Frank Einstein is confident he will win the Midville Science Prize. Sure, his own attempt at building a robot may have fallen flat, but Frank wakes up after a freak electrical storm to find in his lab Klink (a "self-assembled artificial-intelligence entity") and Klank (a "mostly self-assembled artificial almost [intelligent]" being). With two robots on his side, the boy genius can't be beat. But the stakes are raised when the villainous T. Edison shows up and drops a bombshell: Frank's grandfather has signed away the deed to his repair shop, so it's up to Frank to win the science prize money and save Grampa Al's business. Scieszka's text works on a number of levels. There's kid-friendly humor in spades, of course, and an impressive amount of scientific know-how. Scieszka also incorporates real details from the lives of Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein, along with intertextual references to Frankenstein's monster, The Iron Giant, and Sherlock Holmes to create an amalgamation all his own. Biggs's cartoonish illustrations, including a number of science-y diagrams featuring subjects ranging from pizza toppings to the inner workings of a flatulent cow, complement the text perfectly. With a second book already in the works, this definitely smells like a hit series. sam bloom (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Scieszka mixes science and silliness again to great effect.Frank Einstein, kid genius and inventor, is staying with his grandfather while his parents travel to Antarctica. Thats just fine with Frank; he and his sidekick, Watson, have inventing to do, and Grampa Als fix-it shop is the perfect place to do science. Frank is hoping to win the Midville Science Prize because Grampa won when he was a kidand because the prize money will let Frank save Grampas shop from the bill collectors. Franks attempt to build a SmartBot fails, but overnight, a spark ignites the brain hes created for the bot, and the next morning he finds two very different robots in his workshop. Now hes got Klink, a smart, self-assembled robot who can learn, and Klank, whos really into hugging. Frank doesnt feel right entering Klink and Klank in the contest since they assembled themselves, but together with Watson, the four of them can surely some up with something great. Only evil, rival child genius T. Edison stands in their way, and hell stop at nothing. Scieszka launches a six-book series with a likable protagonist and a good supporting cast. Science facts are slipped into the story on nearly every page, and Biggs two-color drawings are the C12H22O11 on the cookie.Less wacky (and more instructive) than Scieszkas Spaceheadz seriesbut just as much fun. (Science fiction/humor. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.