About the Author

Dan Gutman hated to read when he was a kid. Then he grew up. Now he writes cool books like The Kid Who Ran for President; Honus & Me; The Million Dollar Shot; Race for the Sky; and The Edison Mystery: Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time. If you want to learn more about Dan or his books, stop by his website at DanGutman.com.

Dan Santat is the Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, as well as the illustrator of many other picture books, including Crankenstein by Samantha Berger. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and various pets.

Reviews

Gr 4-6-When fifth-grade computer genius Brenton invents a machine that can do homework, it seems like a great idea to three other youngsters in his class. However, things quickly spiral out of control as "Belch" changes from a useful tool to a menacing threat. Told through short first-person excerpts from police interviews, the engaging story captures the personalities of each student-talented Judy, lackadaisical Kelsey, wisecracking Sam, and "nerdy" Brenton-as they struggle with how to resolve a lark that's turned into a serious problem. The fully-voiced narration of Dan Gutman's novel (S & S, 2006) makes it easy to identify each character, making the constant repetition of each character's name and grade level annoying. This thought-provoking story about honesty and friendship is leavened with touches of humor.-Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.