Zoey and Sassafras: Grumplets and Pests; Book 7

Zoey and Sassafras: Grumplets and Pests---Book 7 by Asia Citro; illustrations by Marion Lindsay  96 pages

The latest Zoey and Sassafras (and I hope not the last) story brings back most of the characters that we have seen in the previous six books. 

The story opens with Zoey and her cat, Sassafras, “desperately hoping we’ll hear our barn doorbell.”  That doorbell isn’t a regular doorbell!  It means that a magical creature need help, and Zoey and Sassafras love to use science to help their old and new friends.

Bugs have invaded Zoey’s mom’s kale garden. They are everywhere and there are so many of them that Zoey fears they will never be able to get rid of them. Their old friend, Pip, is hanging out near the garden, but he’s rather grumpy today. He isn’t much help, but Zoey’s mom helps figure out what kinds of pests have moved in.

As Zoey and Sassafras make their way through the woods, encountering all their old friends---the merhourses, Gorp and friends, Tiny and friends--- everyone is grumpy. Zoey realizes that  something else is happening in the forest. Using her scientific background, and help from Pip, she discovers that Grumplets are behind the bad moods. And together they make a plan to banish the grumpiness.

Another fun story for the team of Citro and Lindsay that makes science fun for kids!  “Zoey and Sassafras: Grumplets and Pests---Book 7” receives  5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Zoey and Sassafras: Unicorns and Germs (Zoey and Sassafras Book #6)

Zoey and Sassafras: Unicorns and Germs (Zoey and Sassafras Book #6) by Asia Citro, Illustrations by Marion Lindsay  96 pages

In this episode, Zoey and her best friend, her cat, Sassafras, learn about bacteria. The story opens with Zoey and her mom making homemade yogurt. The look on Sassafras’s face when Zoey stirs some store-bought yogurt into some warm milk is s cute. She may like yogurt, but there’s no way that stuff is touching her tongue.

Suddenly, the science project they are working on is interrupted by an earthquake!  A big one! The shaking got worse before it eased. Then the magic doorbell rings. Mom stays behind to clean up the mess while Zoey and Sassafras run to the barn. As she opens the barn door, Zoey encounters a huge, rainbow hoof.  Her eyes travel up, up, up and up until she sees a rainbow mane and a shiny golden head, all attached to a ginormous horse.

The horse, a magic horse don’t forget, says to Zoey, “HELLO. I HAVE OW. GIRL HELP? The unicorn, whose name is Tiny because it’s a baby unicorn, is hurt. To help him, Zoey and her mom must figure which bacteria is causing the infection on Tiny’s leg. They conduct experiments in to determine what the best course of action should be.

Unfortunately, it seems to take forever for the bacteria to grow, leaving poor Tiny in pain.  That’s the part I didn’t like and why  why “Zoey and Sassafras: Unicorns and Germs” receivs 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.