Derek Dool Supercool: Going Viral

 Derek Dool Supercool: Going Viral written by Adrian Beck and illustrated by Scott Edgar (Penguin Random House) PB $14.99 ISBN 978 1 760 892968

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Adrian Beck has brought back Derek Cool 2 with more laughs and antics. Derek accidentally goes viral and becomes a super hit. Now he’s on a mission to go viral deliberately. Big Denise, Booger and the rest of Grade 5, along with Mr Mustard and annoying Vice Principal Vernie are all back in fine form. A Garlic Festival, with a tearaway jumping castle that flips onto a river and heads towards a raging waterfall, ensures the reader is never bored.

 

The text is well paced and each character’s voice speaks clearly. The text creates vivid imagery that brings the story to life, and the action builds so you want to keep on reading. The slapstick humour and antics keep you hooked.

 

Scott Edgar’s black and white illustrations create cartoon-like humour that adds extra meaning to the text. The characters facial expressions are both true to form and comical. The illustration on page 4, at the funeral home, sets the tone and setting for the story brilliantly. It’s lots of fun checking out the different illustrations that are often in the page corners.

 

The back of the book feature biographies and a photo of both the author and illustrator at eight years old.  Children love these features in books.

 

Derek Super Cool Going Viral is a middle grade read that has the humour that children love. This book can easily be read on its own or after the first book Derek Super Cool Busts a Move.