The Case of the Giggling Geeks (Secret Agent Dingledorf Series #1)
Reviewed with Bill Myers'The Case of the Chewable Worms.Gr. 2-4. These slim titles borrow the Captain Underpants formula of nonsense, gross-out humor, nonstop action, and kid heroics. Elementary-schooler Bernie, aka Secret Agent Dingledorf, has been chosen by a secret organization to fight crimes. InChewable Worms, villains have convinced the world that worms are irresistibly tasty, and suddenly the planet is overrun with crawly creatures. InGiggling Geeks,evil Dr. Chuckles tries to sap the planet's most intelligent population by letting loose a virus of unstoppable giggles that afflicts people with high IQs. The flimsy, silly plots are backed up with even sillier details (Bernie receives messages from his beeping underwear and meets with his agency supervisor in toilet bowls), and there's a less-than-evolved approach to gender (inWorms,"Dad always grunts. With three daughters yakking away all the time, that's the only sound he can squeeze in"). But kids will like the action and wild laughs, and they'll likely forgive the heavy messages to respect individuality and to help others. Lively black-and-white drawings add to the humor and appeal.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved