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Dinkin Dings #1
André Cabelo-em-pé: A Companhia dos Medos
O André Cabelo-em-pé tem medo de tudo… excepto dos monstros que vivem debaixo da cama! No dia em que conhece os seus novos vizinhos, o André fica com a certeza de que a rapariguinha da casa ao lado é uma Zombie E.T. Carnívora do Outro Lado do Terror! Mas, como é habitual, os seus pais pensam que ele está a ser verdadeiramente pateta.
Será que o André e os seus amigos Artur (o fantasma), Edgar (o esqueleto) e Herberto (o monstro) - a Companhia dos Medos - conseguirão salvar o mundo da malvada zombie, antes que ela transforme todos os humanos em escravos carnívoros sem cérebro?
Uma aventura com perigos permanentes, que tem como protagonistas um fantasma chorão, um esqueleto que mal se tem nas pernas e um monstro faminto.
Será que o André e os seus amigos Artur (o fantasma), Edgar (o esqueleto) e Herberto (o monstro) - a Companhia dos Medos - conseguirão salvar o mundo da malvada zombie, antes que ela transforme todos os humanos em escravos carnívoros sem cérebro?
Uma aventura com perigos permanentes, que tem como protagonistas um fantasma chorão, um esqueleto que mal se tem nas pernas e um monstro faminto.
128 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2009
6 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Guy Bass
72 books48 followersGuy is an award-winning author whose children's books series include Stitch Head, Skeleton Keys, Dinkin Dings, Spynosaur, The Legend of Frog and Atomic! In 2010 Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things won the Blue Peter Award for Most Fun Book with Pictures.
Guy's has also written plays for both adults and children. He has previously been a theatre producer, illustrator, temp, gerbil whisperer and has acted his way out of several paper bags.
Guy spent his childhood reading comics and hoping one day to become a superhero. He spends his adulthood in more or less the same way.
Guy lives in London with his wife and no dog - yet.
Guy's has also written plays for both adults and children. He has previously been a theatre producer, illustrator, temp, gerbil whisperer and has acted his way out of several paper bags.
Guy spent his childhood reading comics and hoping one day to become a superhero. He spends his adulthood in more or less the same way.
Guy lives in London with his wife and no dog - yet.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 10, 2013
Finding a series to hook third grade boys with the thrill of reading is not always an easy endeavor. While Dav Pilkey's 'Captain Underpants' and Jon Scieszka's 'Time Warp Trio' series have had decent success, I still find myself conducting an annual search of books for boys in my third grade classroom. Meet a previously unknown (to me) character- Dinkin Dings. Spawned from the whacky imagination of author Guy Bass, this story is actually the first in a series of 4 books written with this paranoid, perturbing, yet ultimately likeable, protagonist.
Bass infuses the first installment of his 'Dinkin Dings' series with just the right amount of humor, macho distaste for all things girlie, and pictures to amplify his vision of the understated and the unusual. The book is also peppered with lists throughout- usually right at the point where a new reader to chapter books might be thinking that all this hoopla about reading is simply too much work. The lists propel the story forward, and offer a brief respite from the cognitive demands of assimilating the story elements to bring the plot into focus toward a cohesive whole. Also present intermittently are the obligatory chortles and guffaws young boys (especially) seem to share at the mention of anything related to a human bodily function.
This book caught my eye on the 'Recommended Reading' shelf for boys aged 7-9 at my local library. While it is not literature worthy of exploring for its examples of author's craft, there is enough here to get (mostly) boys interested in following a character through different settings, storylines, and resolving the most stultifying of situations. The elements of fantasy add to the humor as well as the hope that making the logical leaps of faith necessary when reading more complex and sophisticated works in this genre will be that much easier to make in the future.
Bass infuses the first installment of his 'Dinkin Dings' series with just the right amount of humor, macho distaste for all things girlie, and pictures to amplify his vision of the understated and the unusual. The book is also peppered with lists throughout- usually right at the point where a new reader to chapter books might be thinking that all this hoopla about reading is simply too much work. The lists propel the story forward, and offer a brief respite from the cognitive demands of assimilating the story elements to bring the plot into focus toward a cohesive whole. Also present intermittently are the obligatory chortles and guffaws young boys (especially) seem to share at the mention of anything related to a human bodily function.
This book caught my eye on the 'Recommended Reading' shelf for boys aged 7-9 at my local library. While it is not literature worthy of exploring for its examples of author's craft, there is enough here to get (mostly) boys interested in following a character through different settings, storylines, and resolving the most stultifying of situations. The elements of fantasy add to the humor as well as the hope that making the logical leaps of faith necessary when reading more complex and sophisticated works in this genre will be that much easier to make in the future.
February 12, 2013
I bought this on a whim because the cover was absolutely adorable. And I really just can't resist adorably horrifying things. Plus it was on sale.
So, anyway, I read this one while away from my main book, and... it was OK. Just OK. I thought that this would be better, honestly. A story about a boy who is scared of everything except The Frightening Things (a monster-under-the-bed, a ghost, and a skeleton) sounded really cute... but it just kind of fell flat.
I know that it's a children's story, but there was just something missing. There was a lot of "and then this happened", and not enough actual story. And I found the writing really repetitive. Lots of lists of things that Dinkin is frightened of, lots of probability statistics, and lots and lots and lots of extremely specific time stats, like "36 seconds later, Dinkin stopped doing ____" or whatever.
The illustrations were cute, but I don't really think that's enough. I wanted more from this. *shrug*
So, anyway, I read this one while away from my main book, and... it was OK. Just OK. I thought that this would be better, honestly. A story about a boy who is scared of everything except The Frightening Things (a monster-under-the-bed, a ghost, and a skeleton) sounded really cute... but it just kind of fell flat.
I know that it's a children's story, but there was just something missing. There was a lot of "and then this happened", and not enough actual story. And I found the writing really repetitive. Lots of lists of things that Dinkin is frightened of, lots of probability statistics, and lots and lots and lots of extremely specific time stats, like "36 seconds later, Dinkin stopped doing ____" or whatever.
The illustrations were cute, but I don't really think that's enough. I wanted more from this. *shrug*
November 25, 2014
Dinkin is afraid of everything, because when filtered through Dinkin's wildly creative imagination everything has some potential to cause harm. And then there are all of the imaginary things that have even more harmful potential. The underlying joke is that Dinkin's three best friends are the three things that kids might actually be afraid of - a ghostly visitor, a monster under his bed, and a skeleton in his closet. That's clever, but you worry early on that that might not be enough to carry an entire book, much less a series. (So I guess that's what I was afraid of.)
A very cute book and gave my son a good laugh. In a good way. Keep the child guessing and wanting to read more. Even tho I am more a fan of his "Stitch Head" series. This has the same ghostly, scary factor. Yet 100% kid friendly.
A very cute book and gave my son a good laugh. In a good way. Keep the child guessing and wanting to read more. Even tho I am more a fan of his "Stitch Head" series. This has the same ghostly, scary factor. Yet 100% kid friendly.
October 12, 2011
A typical beginning chapter book that really does scary well. Kids will love the humor and all the illustrations. A great book for kids that adults may find boring or annoying.
March 14, 2012
Dinkin is really weird because he is not scared of scary things but he is scared of things that are not scary.
October 24, 2021
I think this book are fun and interested to how Dinkins are afraid of something, but from my subjectivity, it is like repetition, and I will get bored at sometimes, but the story are very fun, so if I'm going to rate this book, it will be around 3.5.
And I don't like a place, the place is that his eyes are like popping out, and it is creepy and scary, and his imagination are scary and it is like horror, and I'm little fine, but if someone that doesn't like horror and read this book, then the person won't like his book.
So I can't give the rate above 3.5.
And I don't like a place, the place is that his eyes are like popping out, and it is creepy and scary, and his imagination are scary and it is like horror, and I'm little fine, but if someone that doesn't like horror and read this book, then the person won't like his book.
So I can't give the rate above 3.5.
August 6, 2016
More Than Just One Note
Dinkin is afraid of everything, because when filtered through Dinkin's wildly creative imagination everything has some potential to cause harm. And then there are all of the imaginary things that have even more harmful potential. The underlying joke is that Dinkin's three best friends are the three things that kids might actually be afraid of - a ghostly visitor, a monster under his bed, and a skeleton in his closet. That's clever, but you worry early on that that might not be enough to carry an entire book, much less a series. (So I guess that's what I was afraid of.)
Well, the author does a lot with the premise. Mom and Dad are pretty patient, but still a bit befuddled by Dinkin's fears. Dinkin makes lists of all kinds of things - what he's afraid of, how to protect himself, what to do if there's a zombie apocalypse, and that sort of thing. The lists are funny and add variety to the narrative. The three scary friends have fairly distinct personalities and there is a lot of jokey byplay among and between those characters. Dinkin is the leader of this pack, so he isn't a totally lame and exasperating character.
But once you get through all of that you still need some kind of plot to move you through the story. In this one a new neighbor girl has arrived in the neighborhood, and while she looks O.K. Dinkin is pretty darn convinced she's a zombie in disguise. NO SPOILERS, but that ends up being developed enough to get us through to a satisfying ending.
When you realize that this book is aimed at a third grade or so crowd, it all makes sense. You have an engaging hero, in a sort of manic/nutsy style. You have monsters. You have some gross stuff. You have enough of a plot. You have some funny lines, and some subtle jokes for slightly more advanced readers. (This also isn't all farts/boogers. The setup is actually pretty sophisticated, and skewed in a way kids can appreciate.)
I can see where this book would fit in between early chapter books and more advanced fantasy/horror/adventure. It's not really scary and the story's not complicated, but the vocabulary, the sentence structure, and even the type of humor seem a bit beyond what I think of as chapter books. It seems to me you can't have too many choices for this range of readers, and this series certainly offers itself as one more good option.
Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
Dinkin is afraid of everything, because when filtered through Dinkin's wildly creative imagination everything has some potential to cause harm. And then there are all of the imaginary things that have even more harmful potential. The underlying joke is that Dinkin's three best friends are the three things that kids might actually be afraid of - a ghostly visitor, a monster under his bed, and a skeleton in his closet. That's clever, but you worry early on that that might not be enough to carry an entire book, much less a series. (So I guess that's what I was afraid of.)
Well, the author does a lot with the premise. Mom and Dad are pretty patient, but still a bit befuddled by Dinkin's fears. Dinkin makes lists of all kinds of things - what he's afraid of, how to protect himself, what to do if there's a zombie apocalypse, and that sort of thing. The lists are funny and add variety to the narrative. The three scary friends have fairly distinct personalities and there is a lot of jokey byplay among and between those characters. Dinkin is the leader of this pack, so he isn't a totally lame and exasperating character.
But once you get through all of that you still need some kind of plot to move you through the story. In this one a new neighbor girl has arrived in the neighborhood, and while she looks O.K. Dinkin is pretty darn convinced she's a zombie in disguise. NO SPOILERS, but that ends up being developed enough to get us through to a satisfying ending.
When you realize that this book is aimed at a third grade or so crowd, it all makes sense. You have an engaging hero, in a sort of manic/nutsy style. You have monsters. You have some gross stuff. You have enough of a plot. You have some funny lines, and some subtle jokes for slightly more advanced readers. (This also isn't all farts/boogers. The setup is actually pretty sophisticated, and skewed in a way kids can appreciate.)
I can see where this book would fit in between early chapter books and more advanced fantasy/horror/adventure. It's not really scary and the story's not complicated, but the vocabulary, the sentence structure, and even the type of humor seem a bit beyond what I think of as chapter books. It seems to me you can't have too many choices for this range of readers, and this series certainly offers itself as one more good option.
Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
October 12, 2012
Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things is great fun! My children and I read it as a bedtime story (actually, my 8-year-old read it to the rest of us) and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Dinkin Dings is afraid of everything...socks, toast, storms...everything that is, except the 3 "Frightening Things" who are his friends--a skeleton, a ghost and a monster. Dinkin's new neighbors look suspicious to him. He is convinced they are zombies from outer space: zombaliens. His parents dismiss his fears and are more concerned with being embarrassed by the measures Dinkin takes to protect himself from the new neighbors. (We find out that the previous neighbors moved away because Dinkin was convinced they were a family a bears in disguise and continually plagued them with investigative techniques designed to force them into revealing their true identities.)
The ending has a nice twist--one that our family literally screeched over--and the journey to get there is worth it!
The Frightening Things are funny and loveable--as is Dinkin, himself. The book is a fast, easy read, rife with imagination, silliness and plenty of laughs. It's a delightful spooky read that isn't TOO spooky. It's a great independent, bedtime or classroom choice--especially in October!
Dinkin Dings is afraid of everything...socks, toast, storms...everything that is, except the 3 "Frightening Things" who are his friends--a skeleton, a ghost and a monster. Dinkin's new neighbors look suspicious to him. He is convinced they are zombies from outer space: zombaliens. His parents dismiss his fears and are more concerned with being embarrassed by the measures Dinkin takes to protect himself from the new neighbors. (We find out that the previous neighbors moved away because Dinkin was convinced they were a family a bears in disguise and continually plagued them with investigative techniques designed to force them into revealing their true identities.)
The ending has a nice twist--one that our family literally screeched over--and the journey to get there is worth it!
The Frightening Things are funny and loveable--as is Dinkin, himself. The book is a fast, easy read, rife with imagination, silliness and plenty of laughs. It's a delightful spooky read that isn't TOO spooky. It's a great independent, bedtime or classroom choice--especially in October!
October 28, 2019
Every group I read this with adore this book. We're super pumped for the next in series (in Grey B).
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Summer 2019 update:
Upped it to 5*. My entire class were obsessed with this book in the last academic year... Honestly, the majority of them have read the rest of the series. I do adore them all too. It developed a love for reading in my class - in such a boy-heavy class. When I realised I was in Year 4 again, I was like yessss!!!! Dinkin Dings again. EVERYONE loved this and I mean EVERYONE. Will definitely be reading this with my new class.
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I actually had a 'no way' moment - 4*
Pretty cool and I know my class will enjoy this. I can think of some children specifically who will really enjoy that twist. I actually got a little scared. I'm going to enjoy reading this in guided reading.
____________________________________
Summer 2019 update:
Upped it to 5*. My entire class were obsessed with this book in the last academic year... Honestly, the majority of them have read the rest of the series. I do adore them all too. It developed a love for reading in my class - in such a boy-heavy class. When I realised I was in Year 4 again, I was like yessss!!!! Dinkin Dings again. EVERYONE loved this and I mean EVERYONE. Will definitely be reading this with my new class.
______________________________
I actually had a 'no way' moment - 4*
Pretty cool and I know my class will enjoy this. I can think of some children specifically who will really enjoy that twist. I actually got a little scared. I'm going to enjoy reading this in guided reading.
September 24, 2011
I thought the beginning was funny and promising, but it didn't live up to what I hoped it would be. Dinkin is afraid of everything, except for his friends who are a monster, ghost, and skeleton. The irony here, as well as some of the descriptions are fun. The book felt very heavy on the "look at Dinkin being ridiculous" and not very strong on plot.
There is definitely humor here, and I think that for some kids, this book will hit the spot. It felt like a good longer transitional chapter book - pretty solid third grade, but some second and even first graders might like it. However, when looking for fun, silly, transitional books that have a little horror, I'd opt for the Franny K. Stein series.
There is definitely humor here, and I think that for some kids, this book will hit the spot. It felt like a good longer transitional chapter book - pretty solid third grade, but some second and even first graders might like it. However, when looking for fun, silly, transitional books that have a little horror, I'd opt for the Franny K. Stein series.
March 28, 2011
Dinkin is afraid of everything (for example, the supermarket: "vegetables covered in dirt and dirty pesticides; jars of pasta sauce just waiting to leap off the shelf and shatter...") except for his three best friends, the Frightening Things who live under the bed and in the closet. Life is scary enough for Dinkin, and then…new neighbors move in. Oh, Molly might look like an innocent little pony-obsessed girl...but luckily for his family, the neighborhood, and the world, Dinkin knows better. Lovely, detailed black and white illustrations add to the humor (and horror). This is a great, just scary enough read for early-elementary age kids.
November 4, 2013
Another exciting installment from Guy Bass! This story featuring the hilariously paranoid Dinkin Dings left my boys begging for another chapter. Dinkin has discovered a zombalien living next door... his bravery to save himself, his family and THE WHOLE WORLD are aided by his friends The Frightening Things. I would highly recommend this book for a great adventure filled read!
May 29, 2016
Grades 2-4. RL 720. A boy is scared of everything except for the monsters under his bed. My son and I started this and couldn't finish. I can't pinpoint any reasons but the text was choppy and pretty silly. Boys will still like this.
March 28, 2014
Chronicles of Han Storm Book Club Read (Children's Horror)
A really funny, enjoyable read of a boy with phobias and how his fear served him well in the end.
The children really enjoyed this book.
July 3, 2011
A little overboard with the imagination stuff making it an okay read. At first I was excited by Dinkin's craziness and then it was a little annoying and too over-the-top. Kids might like it though.
July 22, 2011
It was a good book. Dinkin is afraid of non scary things.he makes things to protect himself from scary things and has monster friends.
November 3, 2011
I think this one will be very popular w/3rd grade boys...
November 11, 2011
Very over-the-top, and with a few entertaining surprises. Boys transitioning to chapter books or reluctant readers will probably be amused by this silly story and its fabulous illustrations.
February 1, 2012
Dinkin is afraid of everything except The Frightening Things. Over the top silliness will amuse younger chapter book readers.
December 8, 2012
i met this author, thats how i found out about the book
Read
May 1, 2013so funny!
August 4, 2013
Some clever stuff here. 2nd graders will enjoy it.
August 5, 2011
grades 2-4
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews