• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

Spaceheadz

September 6, 2010 by Dawn

If starting fifth grade in a new school wasn’t bad enough for Michael K., things really go downhill when the two oddballs in the class begin to stick to him like glue. They’re carrying around the class hamster, and product slogans and commercial tag-lines keep popping out of their mouths at random times. Mrs. Halley, their teacher, believes them to already be buddies, so now the whole class must think the same thing. But what’s going on with these strange kids, and why did they tell him that they are aliens?? So begins Jon Sciezska’s new middle-grade novel Spaceheadz, the first in a series that is sure to delight Sciezska devotees as well as those just now being introduced to his unique style of books.

Too funny. That’s all I could think as I read this book, one that was swiped from my shelf by my ten year old son before even one speck of dust had a chance to settle on it. Just start with the cover. Shane Prigmore’s cartoonish illustration style immediately brought a smile to my face, and the cover’s unmistakable resemblance to an as-seen-on-tv product print ad is soon given context in the story of the three aliens who are on a mission to find 3.14 million humans (plus one more, just for the sake of giggles it seems) to pledge to being Spaceheadz, or SPHDZ for short. These aliens have gleaned everything they believe they need to know from the television programming and advertisements that have been beamed from Earth, and they are determined to complete their mission in order to avoid Earth being turned off.

The premise alone is quite clever, but add in one bumbling Anti-Alien Agent on their tracks and a whole lot of familiar slogans and jingles shouted out at inopportune times, and the humor factor is out of this world. (Insert groan here.) Jon Scieszka will hopefully be forever known as the creator of books like no others, with this latest one included. Having heard Scieszka speak at the glorious National Book Festival a few years back, I can definitely attest to the assertion that this man has a sense of humor that just oozes out of him, and his work is universally appealing to fun-loving young readers, with my own son at the front of the pack.

With Internet tie-ins that add to the hilarity, Spaceheadz seems to be following in the footsteps of other notable books (i.e. The 39 Clues) that understand the possibilities that can arise from incorporating technology into the worlds of books. Readers are encouraged to visit sphdz.com to sign up toward the 3.14 million (plus one, don’t forget) pledges to be SPHDZ, and a few other of the websites mentioned in the book are in fact out there in cyberspace. (For the record, I’m SPHDZ #7389, “Chewier Dill Pickle”- I’m official.)

Book trailer videos are out there in abundance, and while I don’t make it a habit of including them in my reviews, I’m making an exception this time. In less than two minutes, you can get a perfect feel for the humorous tone of the book and share in a few laughs.

SPHDZ! The laughs are long-lasting and ultra-strong, and the entertainment just can’t be beat. Jon Scieszka’s Spaceheadz has recruited two readers in this household as giant fans.

We’re happy to be a part of the 7-stop blog tour for Spaceheadz over on 5 Minutes for Mom today. Check it out to enter the giveaway for $50 to buy books, as well as to read Jon Scieszka himself talk about some of his favorite back to school reads. My bet is there is plenty of humor on his list!

Dawn blogs about her wacky kids, who she has often compared to creatures from a different planet, on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

Filed Under: Children's Books, Dawn, Easy Readers, Middle Grade Chapter Books

« Mailbox Monday — September 6
Maybe This Time »

Comments

  1. Julie says

    September 13, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    MY 10-year-old son would snatch this one as well! Heading on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to try to win it for him (otherwise, it will have to go on my never-ending and eternally growing to-buy list!)

    • Dawn says

      September 14, 2010 at 1:34 pm

      I know many 10 year old boys who I think would very much adore this funny book, so I hope your son will be among them! Keep watching for the next book in the series, too, scheduled to be released in December!

  2. Loretta says

    September 14, 2010 at 7:54 pm

    Good to know I won’t have to wait any longer than December. I just picked this up at the library today for my 8 year old (after reading this review). He read the whole book with only a break for supper and then asked “When is the next one?”

    • Dawn says

      September 14, 2010 at 8:24 pm

      YAY! Loretta, it truly made me smile to read your comment. I’m glad your son liked it- my son also read it straight through! If you get a chance, you should read it, too– very funny. My son and I were cracking up talking about the slogans and ads that the aliens kept quoting. Until December!

  3. Cindi says

    September 18, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    Oh My Gosh!!! My nephew would love this book…
    Many thanks to you!
    Cindi

    • Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

      September 18, 2010 at 4:13 pm

      Cindi–Make sure you leave the comment at the post at 5 Minutes for Mom (linked in this post). We’ll be drawing a winner tomorrow!

  4. Ann says

    January 24, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    Awesome book!

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • Gillespie Field Groove
  • If I Had a Hammer
  • Hyphenated Relations
  • The Vanishing at Castle Moreau
  • Tending the Fire that Burns at the Center of the World

Categories

Privacy Policy    |     Disclosure Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2023 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316