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The Creature Department #1
The Creature Department
A hidden laboratory…
A brilliant invention…
A team of quite unusual creatures…
But can they save the department?
Elliot Von Doppler and his friend Leslie think nothing ever happens in Bickleburgh, except inside the gleaming headquarters of DENKi-3000—the world’s fifth-largest electronics factory.
Beneath the glass towers and glittering skywalks, there's a rambling old mansion from which all the company’s amazing inventions spring forth. And no one except Uncle Archie knows what’s behind the second-to-last door at the end of the hall.
Until Elliot and Leslie are invited to take a glimpse inside.
They find stooped, troll-like creatures with jutting jaws and broken teeth; tiny winged things that sparkle as they fly; and huge, hulking, hairy nonhumans (with horns). It is unlike anything they’ve ever seen!
But when Chuck Brickweather threatens to shut down the DENKi-3000 factory if a new product isn’t presented soon, the creatures know they are in danger. And when Uncle Archie vanishes, it’s up to Elliot, Leslie, and every one of the unusual, er, "employees" to create an invention so astonishing it will save The Creature Department.
A brilliant invention…
A team of quite unusual creatures…
But can they save the department?
Elliot Von Doppler and his friend Leslie think nothing ever happens in Bickleburgh, except inside the gleaming headquarters of DENKi-3000—the world’s fifth-largest electronics factory.
Beneath the glass towers and glittering skywalks, there's a rambling old mansion from which all the company’s amazing inventions spring forth. And no one except Uncle Archie knows what’s behind the second-to-last door at the end of the hall.
Until Elliot and Leslie are invited to take a glimpse inside.
They find stooped, troll-like creatures with jutting jaws and broken teeth; tiny winged things that sparkle as they fly; and huge, hulking, hairy nonhumans (with horns). It is unlike anything they’ve ever seen!
But when Chuck Brickweather threatens to shut down the DENKi-3000 factory if a new product isn’t presented soon, the creatures know they are in danger. And when Uncle Archie vanishes, it’s up to Elliot, Leslie, and every one of the unusual, er, "employees" to create an invention so astonishing it will save The Creature Department.
330 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2013
37 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
About the author
Robert Paul Weston
14 books143 followersAhoy. You've run aground on my small, oblong island in the GoodReads archipelago. You're welcome to surf, swim in the lagoon or stroll along the pier, where they sell prawns, whelks and words by the cupful. If you'd like to keep things topical—as well as tropical—sling yourself in a beach hammock and crack open a good book. One of these perhaps...
My first novel, ZORGAMAZOO, won the 2011 California Young Reader Medal, the 2010 Silver Birch Award, and the 2009 Children’s Choice Award. If you've had too much sun and crave something darker, try my hardboiled fairy tale, DUST CITY. It was shortlisted for the 2011 Edgar Alan Poe Award and the 2011 Sunburst Award. Then there's my second novel-in-verse, PRINCE PUGGLY OF SPUD AND THE KINGDOM OF SPIFF and THE CREATURE DEPARTMENT, a collaboration with the British special effects firm, Framestore.
My latest is SAKURA'S CHERRY BLOSSOMS, my first picture book, illustrated by the Japanese-American artist, Misa Saburi, and perfect for springtime.
I live in England (also on an island), where I'm a full-time lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Lincoln.
~
You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram.
My first novel, ZORGAMAZOO, won the 2011 California Young Reader Medal, the 2010 Silver Birch Award, and the 2009 Children’s Choice Award. If you've had too much sun and crave something darker, try my hardboiled fairy tale, DUST CITY. It was shortlisted for the 2011 Edgar Alan Poe Award and the 2011 Sunburst Award. Then there's my second novel-in-verse, PRINCE PUGGLY OF SPUD AND THE KINGDOM OF SPIFF and THE CREATURE DEPARTMENT, a collaboration with the British special effects firm, Framestore.
My latest is SAKURA'S CHERRY BLOSSOMS, my first picture book, illustrated by the Japanese-American artist, Misa Saburi, and perfect for springtime.
I live in England (also on an island), where I'm a full-time lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Lincoln.
~
You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
October 17, 2013
Though this delightful novel is intended for kids in the third through seventh grades, anybody with a heart will enjoy it. Elliott von Doppler, a young, nerdy kid just waking up to who he is, finds himself infatuated with his Uncle Archie’s job as head of R&D at the DENKi-3000 electronics factory. He’s thrilled when Archie invites him to tour the joint along with Leslie, a classmate Elliott barely knows. Soon after entering the mysterious, Wonka-esque factory, Elliott and Leslie meet “the Creatures,” an eclectic band of helpful, friendly monster types who help Archie develop new products. “Stooped, troll-like creatures with jutting jaws and broken teeth. Tiny winged things, part insect, part pixie, that sparkled as they flew. Huge, hulking, hairy unhumans (with horns). Creatures with too many heads, too many arms, too many tails, or just the right number of tentacles.” Special “Creature Technology” helps the team create products, but while R&D has some gizmos in the pipeline, like six-legged roller skates that allow one to skate down stairs, they haven’t produced a huge seller like the Electric Pencil with Retractable Telescopic Lens in quite some time. Thus, corporate nasties move in to shutter the factory unless they can extract a profit. When Uncle Archie goes missing, Elliott and Leslie have to rally the troops to save the company. VERDICT Read this book to your kids. Your typical eight to 12-year-old doesn’t care too terribly much for character development or navel gazing, so this presents mega-whirlwind action and uncomplicated characters—plus you get major Dad points.
Find this review and others at Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal: see http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/cat.... Copyright Library Journal.
Find this review and others at Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal: see http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/cat.... Copyright Library Journal.
November 12, 2013
Huh, well, okay. Sometimes I love middle grade, and sometimes it misses the mark with me, though it would likely be utterly delightful for the intended audience of children. Basically, I think some authors write children’s books imagining that the whole family could enjoy them together, and others write books for young readers to absorb on their own. The Creature Department strikes me as one of these, so it was cute but didn’t do anything special for me.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
January 27, 2023
Mit den Söhnen gelesen und es hat uns super gefallen
Read
November 17, 2017this book is about monsters in a world and theirs this one kid hes the only boy and he meets a girl and the girl bully's him because he not a monster and later on he gets adopted and he sees these family of monsters so he screams he tells them to back up and the monsters were the only good people but he didn't know that so then he gets used to them and but the king sent other monsters to get him but the good monsters help him and when they kill the king the boy becomes the king and that's the end
a theme for this book is never judge someone by their looks because the boy he's a human and everybody treats him horrible because he not a monster like the others. another reason is just because someone doesn't look like you doesn't mean you could bully him.
i enjoy this book because the drawings and it makes you learn about bullying.
a theme for this book is never judge someone by their looks because the boy he's a human and everybody treats him horrible because he not a monster like the others. another reason is just because someone doesn't look like you doesn't mean you could bully him.
i enjoy this book because the drawings and it makes you learn about bullying.
February 11, 2016
Tengo que admitir que este libro lo compre por la portada que me encanto luego luego, cuando abrí el libro para ojearlo me enamore de las ilustraciones, las cuales están hermosas y te ayudan mucho a imaginarte toda la situación de la historia. Hablando de la trama no es la gran cosa, pero teniendo en cuenta que es un libro para niños creo que esta mas que genial para estos, ya que la historia no tiene mucha dificultad de entender, los personajes te atrapan a lo largo de los capítulos y sin lugar a dudas echa a volar tu imaginación al 100 por ciento. Un libro muy recomendado para esos pequeños lectores que se están adentrando apenas al mundo de la lectura, pero también lo recomiendo para cualquier persona de cualquier edad que disfrute de las lecturas infantiles y más a los jóvenes que en su momento estén pasando por una "Resaca literaria" este libro les ayudara mucho para mantener su mente ocupada y relajar la para después poder retomar sus lectoras normales.
December 7, 2014
This is a very sweet book with all-manner of creatures hidden in an underground lab. The children in this book are an unlikely duo but they both share the bond of having ineffective parents. Lots of humour and zany characters,
wishlist
February 26, 2013THAT COVER!!!! RAWRRRRRRRRRRRRR SO ADORABLE. I'd get it just for the cover. I don't even know what this one is really about. :P
January 19, 2015
What a fun read with the whimsy of wonka and the absurdity of Seuss... I liked this a lot!
January 13, 2020
Ever wonder where some of those out-of-this-world inventions come from? Well, they’re not from aliens. But they’re not from humans either.
Elliot is uber jazzed when he goes down to breakfast one morning – not because of the burnt toast, but because his mom hands him a letter from his Uncle Archie. His uncle who happens to be an inventor at the coolest (and only cool) place in Bickleburgh: DENKi-3000 headquarters.
Asked to invite his friend Leslie along, who he only knew because they tied at the science fair, Elliot is stoked to see what goes inside the glittering glass towers and is confused that it happens to be a decrepit old mansion lurking on the insides… but that’s not the only secret his uncle, Archimedes Von Doppler, is hiding…
Elliot and Leslie quickly learn that they’ve been asked to join the team of inventors at the R&D department to put their heads together so that they come up with an invention that will save the company from a hostile take-over by their rival, Quazicom, but they’re team is nothing like they were expecting.
They are all creatures. Big ones, little ones, slimy ones, and French-speaking ones, and they need the sort of thinking that a couple of equally matched kids might be able to conjure.
Packed full of awesome illustrations by the team at Framestore (designer’s of Harry Potter films’ Dobby, and opening sequence of Gravity), it’s also a light-hearted, but comical tale full of shenanigans and some surprisingly charming life lessons that can make people of all ages take a moment to think.
Elliot is uber jazzed when he goes down to breakfast one morning – not because of the burnt toast, but because his mom hands him a letter from his Uncle Archie. His uncle who happens to be an inventor at the coolest (and only cool) place in Bickleburgh: DENKi-3000 headquarters.
Asked to invite his friend Leslie along, who he only knew because they tied at the science fair, Elliot is stoked to see what goes inside the glittering glass towers and is confused that it happens to be a decrepit old mansion lurking on the insides… but that’s not the only secret his uncle, Archimedes Von Doppler, is hiding…
Elliot and Leslie quickly learn that they’ve been asked to join the team of inventors at the R&D department to put their heads together so that they come up with an invention that will save the company from a hostile take-over by their rival, Quazicom, but they’re team is nothing like they were expecting.
They are all creatures. Big ones, little ones, slimy ones, and French-speaking ones, and they need the sort of thinking that a couple of equally matched kids might be able to conjure.
Packed full of awesome illustrations by the team at Framestore (designer’s of Harry Potter films’ Dobby, and opening sequence of Gravity), it’s also a light-hearted, but comical tale full of shenanigans and some surprisingly charming life lessons that can make people of all ages take a moment to think.
June 2, 2019
I love being able to truly take something meaningful away from a book, even a book chock full of creatures. Without a doubt, the character that I simply could not get enough of is Jean-Remy, a French fairy-bat, half fairy, half vampire. On page 103, he says, “Zere are some who say...that to be as young as yourselves is to be free of trouble. But of course...it is not true at all. All of us, no matter who we are—or how old we may be—we all have a bit of ze troubles from time to time. But please, you should not worry! Ze troubles, zey come and zey go, but among ze creatures of creaturedom, I tell you zis: We believe the troubles, more than anything else, zey make you who you are. It is true, non?” Getting to know Jean-Remy makes this book worth the read, but there are many other characters to meet, as well!
Elliot’s parents are food critics, and they hope he will follow in their footsteps one day. So, they insist upon Elliot critiquing their horrendous breakfasts each morning. Elliot does as asked when he critiques, “As for the porridge? An exquisitely perfect bowl of disappointment.” His parents are THRILLED!
The Creature Department is a fun read.
Elliot’s parents are food critics, and they hope he will follow in their footsteps one day. So, they insist upon Elliot critiquing their horrendous breakfasts each morning. Elliot does as asked when he critiques, “As for the porridge? An exquisitely perfect bowl of disappointment.” His parents are THRILLED!
The Creature Department is a fun read.
January 9, 2021
The Creature Department is a very creative, unique story full of fun and quirky characters, and is really great for kids in the upper elementary grades. This book is packed with vocabulary words and a fun adventure, and is also full of silly new words that are a part of this world of “creaturedom.”
This book sort of missed the mark for me overall as a story, but I know that I’m not in the target age range and I definitely think that younger readers would enjoy this a lot more than I did. I will say that I laughed out loud a few times while reading, so I can imagine younger readers would love this funny adventure.
(Book 3 of 4 from my mystery bag of upper elementary books from my library)
This book sort of missed the mark for me overall as a story, but I know that I’m not in the target age range and I definitely think that younger readers would enjoy this a lot more than I did. I will say that I laughed out loud a few times while reading, so I can imagine younger readers would love this funny adventure.
(Book 3 of 4 from my mystery bag of upper elementary books from my library)
October 5, 2024
Más como un 2.5
El conflicto es simple y, aunque no es suficiente para mantener al borde del asiento, sí genera expectación por saber qué pasará con las criaturas en un departamento de investigación donde casi todo es posible. El problema se encuentra en que muchas veces no hay elementos ni diálogos lo suficientemente atrapantes para querer seguir leyendo, y eso ya es decir algo, porque es un libro corto y, en teoría, escrito para niños. Se siente como si nada fuera a pasar y entonces te das cuenta que ya acabó. Tal vez es porque no soy el público objetivo pero, ¿no se supone que los libros para niños deben generar interés? Casi me quedo a mitad de lectura de no ser por la mera curiosidad acerca del final (no el qué, sino el cómo).
El conflicto es simple y, aunque no es suficiente para mantener al borde del asiento, sí genera expectación por saber qué pasará con las criaturas en un departamento de investigación donde casi todo es posible. El problema se encuentra en que muchas veces no hay elementos ni diálogos lo suficientemente atrapantes para querer seguir leyendo, y eso ya es decir algo, porque es un libro corto y, en teoría, escrito para niños. Se siente como si nada fuera a pasar y entonces te das cuenta que ya acabó. Tal vez es porque no soy el público objetivo pero, ¿no se supone que los libros para niños deben generar interés? Casi me quedo a mitad de lectura de no ser por la mera curiosidad acerca del final (no el qué, sino el cómo).
July 8, 2017
The Creature Department, while being a great premise executed well, was missing the special something that would push it from a good book to a great book. I never felt driven or compelled to keep reading.
That said, the characters were all quirky and unique and the twists were inventive (as were the inventions). A fine book that didn't quite live up to my expectations after reading Zorgomazoo.
That said, the characters were all quirky and unique and the twists were inventive (as were the inventions). A fine book that didn't quite live up to my expectations after reading Zorgomazoo.
April 12, 2022
My kid loved it. LOVED it. Demanded we read several chapters every night at book time. I wasn't personally much of a fan, though. Started strong with interesting characters, but there's only so many shareholder meetings to read about (no, I'm not kidding) before interest wanes. The snot wads from the giant nose monster were also a rather unpleasant chore to read aloud about, ya know? Not my cup of tea, but my 5 year old went crazy for it.
September 8, 2024
Bien, es un libro escrito para niños.
La portada 100/10 esta ¡HERMOSA! y las ilustraciones son espectaculares de ayudan a darle una cara a todos los personajes de la historia.
Como adulto hay partes que tal vez se puedan volver un poco aburridas o muy infantiles ya que los protagonistas son niños, pero para un infante el libro es muy agradable y les estimula la imaginación cosa que ayudo mucho a mi hija, aparte de que como padre al final del libro te deja un buen aprendizaje.
La portada 100/10 esta ¡HERMOSA! y las ilustraciones son espectaculares de ayudan a darle una cara a todos los personajes de la historia.
Como adulto hay partes que tal vez se puedan volver un poco aburridas o muy infantiles ya que los protagonistas son niños, pero para un infante el libro es muy agradable y les estimula la imaginación cosa que ayudo mucho a mi hija, aparte de que como padre al final del libro te deja un buen aprendizaje.
December 30, 2019
Twelve year old Elliot von Doppler and Leslie Fang receive an invitation from Uncle Archie to a tour of DENKi 3000.
The black and white illustrations have the same light, comedic tone.
Another novel with a similar theme:
Charlie and the Chocolate factory
The black and white illustrations have the same light, comedic tone.
Another novel with a similar theme:
Charlie and the Chocolate factory
December 25, 2020
Un libro con personajes muy tiernos y trama entretenida que volverá a crear en ti un gusto por la fantasía y la amistad. Lo único malo que le encontré fue el final, ya que te deja con ansias de saber que le va a pasar a algunos personajes
November 7, 2017
4.5 stars - a lot of fun
February 12, 2018
Read with my son and he really enjoyed it. Loved Jean-Remy. Started reading the sequel: Gobbled by Ghorks.
April 17, 2018
Family bedtime book for Ozzy.
He absolutely loved it!
Robert Paul Weston is a treasure:-)
He absolutely loved it!
Robert Paul Weston is a treasure:-)
January 25, 2019
My son really enjoyed this one
April 14, 2019
3.5 stars
November 4, 2019
I wish the last sentence was a little better because I love those cliffhangers at the end of a book.
February 25, 2020
Some of those twists I did not see coming! Great story!!
September 8, 2020
Not what I was looking for. Maybe a different time
September 10, 2022
So I filled out this review because I have a school book project and I don't know if I should read the book. My teacher said that it can't be a movie. My question is that, is this a movie?
September 19, 2023
2.75? Idk what I feel about this it was weird and like meant for children but that doesn't mean it wasn't BAD per se. Just not my style.
November 7, 2013
One of the in-person events in my almost-entirely-virtual book blogging life is Book Expo America. It’s a conference/book fair hosted in New York City each year, and the attendees and exhibitors are booksellers, librarians, publishers, educators, authors and others with a professional interest in the business of books. When I went this past June, I met a virtual Creature from the imagination of Robert Paul Weston. And when I say ‘met,’ I mean a digital creation named Gügor was on a large screen, greeting visitors to the Penguin booth and having short conversations with them. But what IS Gügor anyway? He’s a Creature, from The Creature Department, an adventurous and monster-filled middle grade book!
Elliot von Doppler is a science-obsessed twelve year-old. Leslie Fang could be described the same way. But while Elliott grew up in Bickleburgh, Leslie just moved to town with her mother, and the two children only know each other because they tied for 3rd place in a science competition. When Elliot finally gets the chance to tour the famous DENKi-3000 electronics factory (and really the only exciting thing about the entire city of Bickleburgh!), Leslie is invited too. There they discover that Elliot’s uncle Archimedes has been in charge of a most interesting research and development department – one run by and devoted to Creatures! Elliot and Leslie will need to race against time to help the Creatures invent one more new product and prevent the shutdown of DENKi-3000.
In The Creature Department, Robert Paul Weston introduces a laboratory full of inventive monsters who work with Creature physics (entirely different from human science!) to create new, exciting and original inventions. They invent things like TransMints, which combine elements of technology, freshness, and the best memories of winter to produce some of the finest candies ever. The trouble is that the Creatures (all uniquely terrifying/interesting/wondrous in their own ways) haven’t invented anything in a long while, and the company’s shareholders are getting restless. They are even considering selling to Quazicom Holdings, run by the mysterious Chief, a shadowy figure with less-than-honorable intentions. Into this world of deadlines and science wander Elliot and Leslie, two curious kids who might possess the Knack needed to come up with something truly special to save the day.
The Creature Department is an appealing tale of non-humans of all shapes, sizes, and strengths, and the power of friendship to bring any group together. Weston writes convincingly of Creature attributes that may make the reader grimace, squirm, or crow with delight, and possibly all at the same time. It’s full of middle grade appeal, with a glow-in-the-dark cover, gorgeous illustrations throughout by Framestore artists, gobs of snot and goo, and enough journeys above and below ground to please most readers’ expectations for adventure.
That said, the characters were simply that – characters. With one or two exceptions, they remained static. In addition, there were a few scenes that tried to make something of the fact that Elliot is a boy and Leslie is a girl and they’re working together *wink, wink*, which seemed out of place in the narrative. Creature science also bears no relation to human science (duh). If you let your imagination run wild it’s a lot of FUN, and a quick, simple, fantastical trip into a weird and astonishing secret world.
Recommended for: fans of the Disney/Pixar Monsters, Inc. films, young readers who enjoy off-the-wall adventure and stories about kids saving the day, and people of all ages who daydream about impossible inventions.
Elliot von Doppler is a science-obsessed twelve year-old. Leslie Fang could be described the same way. But while Elliott grew up in Bickleburgh, Leslie just moved to town with her mother, and the two children only know each other because they tied for 3rd place in a science competition. When Elliot finally gets the chance to tour the famous DENKi-3000 electronics factory (and really the only exciting thing about the entire city of Bickleburgh!), Leslie is invited too. There they discover that Elliot’s uncle Archimedes has been in charge of a most interesting research and development department – one run by and devoted to Creatures! Elliot and Leslie will need to race against time to help the Creatures invent one more new product and prevent the shutdown of DENKi-3000.
In The Creature Department, Robert Paul Weston introduces a laboratory full of inventive monsters who work with Creature physics (entirely different from human science!) to create new, exciting and original inventions. They invent things like TransMints, which combine elements of technology, freshness, and the best memories of winter to produce some of the finest candies ever. The trouble is that the Creatures (all uniquely terrifying/interesting/wondrous in their own ways) haven’t invented anything in a long while, and the company’s shareholders are getting restless. They are even considering selling to Quazicom Holdings, run by the mysterious Chief, a shadowy figure with less-than-honorable intentions. Into this world of deadlines and science wander Elliot and Leslie, two curious kids who might possess the Knack needed to come up with something truly special to save the day.
The Creature Department is an appealing tale of non-humans of all shapes, sizes, and strengths, and the power of friendship to bring any group together. Weston writes convincingly of Creature attributes that may make the reader grimace, squirm, or crow with delight, and possibly all at the same time. It’s full of middle grade appeal, with a glow-in-the-dark cover, gorgeous illustrations throughout by Framestore artists, gobs of snot and goo, and enough journeys above and below ground to please most readers’ expectations for adventure.
That said, the characters were simply that – characters. With one or two exceptions, they remained static. In addition, there were a few scenes that tried to make something of the fact that Elliot is a boy and Leslie is a girl and they’re working together *wink, wink*, which seemed out of place in the narrative. Creature science also bears no relation to human science (duh). If you let your imagination run wild it’s a lot of FUN, and a quick, simple, fantastical trip into a weird and astonishing secret world.
Recommended for: fans of the Disney/Pixar Monsters, Inc. films, young readers who enjoy off-the-wall adventure and stories about kids saving the day, and people of all ages who daydream about impossible inventions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews