Hazel Nutt: Mad Scientist

by David Elliot

The title character creates musical monsters.

Genres: Picture Books, Science Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

David Elliot is an award-winning illustrator and author who has achieved international success. After working as a zookeeper (Edinburgh Zoo), dishwasher (the Antarctic), interior designer and art teacher, in 1998 he became a full-time illustrator. David is a graduate of the Christchurch College of Education, and earned a Fine Arts Diploma from the University of Canterbury.

Reviews

[Emma Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely the funniest and most creative science fiction book for children that I have ever read. I am surprised that it is not more popular. I would highly recommend this book to young scientists and musicians alike. Dr. Hazel Nutt loves to create monsters, so much so that she has lots of spare monster parts laying around her laboratory. On Halloween, She decides to make an opera-singing vampire, Dracula-la-la. But Dracula-la-la is lonely, so Hazel Nutt creates a piano monster named Frankensteinway. Together, the two monsters prevent an angry mob from stopping Hazel Nutt's future science experiments by putting on a lovely concert for the angry villagers. This is truly a creative book in all aspects and very original. The pictures by True Kelley make the science lab and the monster parts within it come alive! This is also a great representation of a woman in a STEM field, the field of mad science that is.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me laugh!

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel Nutt - Mad Scientist really enjoys blending things you wouldn't expect. Her latest creation a Dracula-la-la (patent pending) that enjoys singing. The local townsfolk fear what she creates and storm the castle. But when they are presented with a lovely musical performance, they change their tune.

Fun illustrations.

[Linda Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel Nutt is the mad scientist who is mad... because Igor ate her sandwhich. When the villagers storm her lab they question whey they have torches when flashlights were invented years ago. Very entertaining... In the end everyone is happy and Hazel Nutt receives a key to the city.

[Jessica Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a funny book about a scientist who always makes monsters and a town who is sick of it! I would read this book just for fun when there is extra time in the classroom. The children would get a good laugh out of it.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gah! I did not like this ugly little book -- at all. My son and I read about four pages into it and we had to give it up. He found the illustrations scary; I found them ugly. And the author forgot to write a story.

[Meadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than Alien Hunter.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the Frankensteinway was the funniest twist to the story, but I thought the ending was weak.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good for it pictures, but the story line and everything was ok. It was completely a grabbing story but it was completely boring.

[Rommel Sison · Rating 3 out of 5]

6-year-old daughter: 5 stars
5-year-old daughter: 2 stars