Ask Hercules Quick

by Ursula Dubosarsky

"Hercules Quick longs to buy a box of magic tricks he has seen in a toy shop window. The box costs a lot of money.
'How much money do I have in my piggy bank?' he asks.
'Actually,' says Aunt Alligator, 'you don't have money or a piggy bank, Hercules.'
Hercules Quick needs a job. Luckily, he has plenty of neighbours who might need help. From babysitting to singing, no task is too small. A hilarious story about an ordinary boy and some very real magic from the highly acclaimed creators of The Terrible Plop."

Genres: Picture Books

Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Ursula Dubosarsky is an award-winning author of numerous books for children and young adults. About The Golden Day, her first book with Candlewick Press, she says, "The little girls watch, wonder, respond, change, and grow — and then their childhood is gone, forever. This element of the story, I suppose, is at least partly autobiographical. But, as I say — all of our teachers come home safe and sound in the end." Ursula Dubosarsky lives in Australia.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hardcover offering from duo Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew Joyner is really the whole package. It is a beautifully presented collection of 6 chapters for early readers and provides a wonderful transition from a picture book to a chapter book. Hercules Quick lives with his Aunt Alligator in an apartment block with a very interesting group of tenants comprising of a hairy family of card playing elks, a pancake-eating radio-loving octopus called Professor Calamari, turtle brothers and a spider called Queen Claude. When Hercules wants to buy a box of magic tricks he needs a job. Want something done? Ask Hercules Quick. His neighbours soon come to his assistance to help him achieve his goal.

Suitable 5+ - humour, animals, family, work, pocket money, community, hobbies
Teacher Notes:
https://www.allenandunwin.com/documen...

[AD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book, with engaging colour illustrations on every page to support the story of Hercules. Desperate to buy a Magic box, Hercules starts doing all sorts of jobs for his neighbours. With this in mind, he never complains, and it leads him to all sorts of strange tasks. I loved the funny moments in this story, but also think it could be a good one to complement lessons with young students about financial literacy.

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read chapter book with colourful illustrations.Hercules decides to earn money so that he can buy a magic box and does odd jobs for his neighbours living in the apartment block. Hercules is human but the neighbours and the Aunt he lives with are all animals.

Would suit young independent readers around 7 to 9 years. Kids would no doubt enjoy the quirky neighbours and unusual jobs that Hercules undertakes.

[Penny Waring · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an early reader about Hercules Quick, who needs a job so that he can buy a box of magic tricks. Hercules lives with his aunt Alligator on the middle floor of a big red house. Also living in the house are an octopus, a family of elk, two turtle brothers and a spider called Queen Claude. This is a story about pocket money, jobs, neighbors and some real magic.

[Debbie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a little boy who sees a box of magic tricks in a shop, and how he sets about trying to earn enough money to buy it. A quirky story with great illustrations to match.

[Sharlene Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book for beginner chapter book readers. A great intro to the idea of pocket money for chores!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, because I think just a teensy bit more at the would've been perfect. A fab, quirky read for those new to chapter books.