Judy Moody and Friends: Stink Moody in Master of Disaster

Judy Moody & Friends #5

by Megan McDonald, Erwin Madrid (Illustrator)

Stink takes a star turn—and helps stave off cosmic calamity—in a Judy Moody & Friends adventure just right for newly independent readers.

Look up! Look out! A comet is coming, a comet is coming! Stink is camped out in the backyard with his sister, Judy, and he can’t wait to lay eyes on P/2015 OZ4, also known as the Sherman-Holm Comet. But then news of an asteroid hitting Russia reaches Stink, and suddenly he’s feeling squeamish (and squash-ish) about close encounters of the outer-space kind. Will donning an aluminum-foil cape and building a bunker in the basement help keep him safe? Can this fearless Asteroid Boy save Earth from disaster?

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Chapter Books, Juvenile

64 pages, Hardcover

First published March 10, 2015

About the author

"Sometimes I think I am Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, and THE SISTERS CLUB. "I'm certainly moody, like she is. Judy has a strong voice and always speaks up for herself. I like that."

For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."


Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."


More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.


Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.

Reviews

[Reagan Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved that Stink wasn’t really a master of disaster. It was kind of funny that it was called that.

[Annie Risher · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a book. Stink acts funny for no reason. I like the part when Stink gets to name a star. At that part, Judy acts funny, cracking up at her own jokes to him. I thought it was funny too.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this easier to read charming title from the "Judy Moody and Friends" series, Stink and Judy have a camp out, hoping to view the Sherman-Holm comet. Stink is fully equipped for the adventure with his astronomer gear, a star book, star map, star finder, flashlight, and a toilet paper roll tube telescope. When Stink intent on playing with his astronomy equipment, misses the Sherlock Holmes comet streaking by, Judy makes an interactive surprise for him that is delightful and imaginative. More adventures follow as Stink receives his fat mail order package from Name-That-Star kit. Picking a name for the star proves harder than he thinks. This full color Judy and Stink story will surely lead readers right to the astronomy section of the library to learn more about the solar system, AND back to the fiction area for more Judy Moody and Friends titles. The full color illustrations are delightful showing expressive Stink and Judy with an animated almost three dimensional quality.

[Reece · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why am I writing a review for a book that was a disgrace to all mankind? Don't get me wrong, I loved the story, and it could've been a full book like any other Stink or Judy Moody books, but it WAS JUST SO SHORT! In fact, I could write the whole book here! 5 TIMES!! I just felt like writing something.

Heroes : There's not really a villain or adventure or anything, but I guess Stink and Judy are main characters. It starts when they are star-gazing and Stink starts worrying that a meteorite will kill them all. Simply joyful. When he learns a space rock actually does hit Russia, he turns into Meteor-Boy! Protecting all innocent citizens from falling space debris! At the end, he names his own comet, blah blah blah the end.

(Why do I waste my time?)

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

Another fun adventure with Judy Moody and Friends. This one is space-themed and centers around Judy and Stink. The two of them do some star gazing, prepare for an asteroid strike, and name a star. It was fun to see them interacting in a more heartfelt way rather than their normal bickering. Judy takes on a more supportive sisterly role in helping Stink throughout the stories. Still with fun antics, puns, and such.

This is a beginner chapter book with each story as its own short chapter. The illustrations are great and pair well with the events of the story. I especially loved the beautiful space-themed artwork of stars and the night sky.

A nice stepping stone to the full Judy Moody books. The Judy Moody and Friends series are short, simple, picture-heavy, and very entertaining. I loved reading Judy Moody as a kid and it is nice to see more of her stories in a short format.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

While star gazing in their back yard Judy and Stink were waiting to see The Sherman-Holm comet P/2025OZ4, but were unsuccessful. The next day, news of meteorite hitting Russia, causes Stink to build a bunker in the basement, later he receives a package in the mail from the Name-That Star Co., and attempts to try his hand at it. Several constellations are discussed in this story.

[Maggie Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. It was manly about Judy's little brother who is very interested in the star. This book has three different storys in it. Chapter 1 was Judy and Sink are looking for Sherlock-Holmes comet chapter 2 was Stink thinking a asteroid was going to crash on earth. Chapter 3 was were Stink named a star. This book was over all not the best book but still good.

[NWH · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great books series for younger kids that enjoy silly books with neat pictures.

NoveList Plus Info:
Genre: Early Chapter books, Realistic Fiction
Tone: Amusing
Subjects: Comets, Fear in Boys, Backyard Camping, Fear, Brothers and Sisters

[First Grade · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This book was three stars because of their pet hamster, frog, and cat. Also the shooting star that Stink saw. I didn't give it five stars because Stink was too crazy. I would recommend this book if you like funny stories, crazy stories, hidden things, and space"- A first grade student

[XIS Grade 3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that Stink made a box. (Hugo)

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for M.

[Paisley Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review written by my 7 year old:

I think you should read this book because it’s funny!

[Doug]

Cutsie.

[Maca_DVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me dio mucha risa porque Stink es todo lo que un hermano menor representa y Judy por otro lado siempre siendo la hermana mayor

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hockessin Library 5&6 Year Old Book Group - November 2023

[Shannon Rickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cool learning about some of the stars and all!! The pictures are the best.

[AMY · Rating 3 out of 5]

from Judy Moody and Friends series; 60 pages. Many different adventures in a short chapter book. Cute color illustrations. Fun story. Recommended Gr. 1-2.

[Alif Nopianti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series a week in a row and I noticed that the illustrations are getting better and better, they are so, sooo good.
I also wished I could name a star and got a certificate under mine, loved it!

[American Mensa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named Stink and his sister Judy. Stink and Judy are stargazing when Judy sees the Sherlock-Holmes comet. Stink doesn't see it because he is messing around with his field guide stuff, but Judy shows him what it looked like using a flashlight in their tent. Then Stink gets scared and starts to think that the sky is falling.
This book is funny but I didn't think it was very funny. It is a shorter chapter book and I like longer chapter books, or more serious books. Stink was silly but I liked the Judy character a lot more. She was more confident. This wasn't really my type of book. I think this book is more for boys who like silly books.
Most of the book was very easy to read, but there were a few words that were more difficult to sound out.
Review by Aubrey L. Age 6 Greater New York Mensa

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast paced book for the beginning reader. It is 60 pages long, sprinkled with brightly colored illustrations, and has nice size well-spaced print. In this story Stink together with his sister, Judy, is looking forward to seeing the Sherman-Holm comet, an event that happens about every 100 years. While viewing and exploring the galaxy Stink fears an asteroid is headed toward earth and decides to become Asteroid Boy and build a safety bunker in his basement. Accurate information about the galaxy is given in this story as Stink plods through his adventures. As usual Stink is entertaining and will not disappoint his readers.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This summer, Adam wanted me to keep track of his books, so I'm going to do so here. We just read this one together, and he liked it a lot (he's read all the other Stink Moody books and loved them). I personally think the other books have been better, but Adam really liked this one because the illustrations were all in color, whereas most of the Stink books are black and white and don't have illustrations on each page. So from Adam, "Really liked it, four stars!"

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judy Moody and her brother Stink are up to their eyeballs in stargazing. They sleep outside under the stars just to see a comet zoom past… of course Stink misses it because he’s too busy looking at his star maps. Later, he is worried about an astroid shower and builds a bunker down in the basement. And finally, he gets an application to name his own star in the mail. http://julianaleewriter.com/the-cybil...

[Julie Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a story, it is what it is, but this is a great bridge book for 2nd and 3rd grade kiddos who want to move on from picture books to chapter books. It's really just three short stories with the same characters, but it helps with those first steps toward gaining the stamina and persistence it takes to read a novel independently.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was, in my opinion, the weakest of the Judy Moody and Friends series. My kids usually really like Stink and/or Judy Moody books. This was ok, but a little too broken up with 3 separate stories in such a short book.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judy and Stink are a fun brother/sister team. In this book they search the stars. Stink prepares for an asteroid disaster and receives something special in the mail. Young readers who are ready for beginner chapter books will really enjoy this series and this book is a good place to start.

[Earline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the 3 outer space related stories in this book. I am more and more impressed with Megan McDonald's the more I read it. It's so refreshing to read intelligent children's books. You really can mix educational with humor.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Stink and Judy camp out under the stars they find constellations and shooting stars and Stink gets really excited about space. What will he name the star he discovers? This book is an excellent choice for children who are just starting to read chapter books.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome to have a "boy" book as my four year old son calls it to the Judy Moody world. Both of my children, four year old son and seven year old daughter, love the book. Very easy read for my daughter.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. It incorporates all the characters from the older kid chapter books, but it's great for young readers just starting early chapter books. Plenty of funny Stink moments in this installment!

[Jaymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! Fun space/constellation focus.