The Experiments of Dr. Vermin by Tim Egan

by Tim Egan

On a dark and scary Halloween night, Sheldon the short-order pig is out looking for work when his car breaks down. Gathering up his courage, he approaches an ominous-looking mansion and enters the twisted world of Dr. Edmund Vermin! Will poor Sheldon escape or be forever trapped in Dr. Vermin’s laboratory? Things aren’t what they seem in Tim Egan’s latest zany tale of ravishing wolves, giant pigs and . . . horseradish!

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Holiday

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Egan's books are completely insane but in a really fun, satisfying way. This one is like a mashup between a picture book about being brave and a B horror/scifi movie from the 1950s. What's not to love?

[Wilhelmina Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good Halloween read-aloud for my grandson's 3rd grade class. Egan's use of animals characters allows the mad doctor story to be much less frightening and much more fun.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange story that combines aspects of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, along with some anthropomorphized animals.

Very odd, indeed, but entertaining and not too scary for younger children. Our oldest read this book to us tonight; it's a good book for Halloween.

[Emma Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the more interesting children's books I have read. I don't think I have ever been exposed to science fiction like this, and I am not sure how well it would sit with young kids. However, with a child's imagination I might have liked it better. Overall though, I found it quite weird. Sheldon, the short-order cook, was looking for work on Halloween night when his car broke down by a forest. He decided to ask for help at a giant mansion. He falls down into Doctor Vermin's mad science lab. He was strapped to a table and shocked with electricity. He then grew four times his size. But when the doctor couldn't control Sheldon's mind, he threw him out. Sheldon finds a couple that were also experimented on by Doctor Vermin at a different mansion. They go back to Doctor Vermin's Mansion and discover him and his lab. Doctor Vermin is captured and arrested again and taken back to an insane asylum. Sheldon and the couple find a test tube to drink from that changes them back into their normal sized selves. Tim Egan, author and illustrator, sure can cook up an interesting story.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sheldon a short order cook was put looking for work. His car broke down near a scary house, no one answered, but he found himself on a ride to a laboratory and onto a table and was strapped in. An evil Doctor Vermin threw a switch and Sheldon was 4 times bigger. The Dr, kicked Sheldon out because the experiment went wrong. Sheldon found another house and a lady and man had been one of the Dr's. experiments also. They went together to find the Dr. and read the book to find out what happens to them. This was a different funny Halloween book and I liked it.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't say Egan is one of my favorite authors, but he's always fun. This is a fable about what it means to be brave, and a funny take on Frankenstein/Island of Dr. Moreau. (Not Jekyll and Hyde as another reviewer typed.)

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bizarre, random story combining mad scientist/Frankenstein elements with a pig chef and wolves. My kid loved it though.

[Andi_banandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a cute, quirky, and well thought-out story. As short as it was, it had some unexpected plot twists that added well to the story.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nat thought it was so-so; she didn’t like when Dr Vermin did an experiment on the pig

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy fun!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sheldon the pig is a short order cook who's looking for work. His car breaks down in front of a mysterious mansion on a stormy Halloween night. Sounds like just the right setting for a spooky and wacky Halloween tale.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timid pig who is a short order cook turns out to be a big hero. A fun read.

[Cari ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all had fun listening to my dad read this book to us!

[Meadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing better than a shifty pig.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all had fun listening to David read this book to us:o)