Invisible Inkling

June 1, 2013
A whoopie-pie truck threatens the Wolowitz family ice cream business in this third adventure starring fourth-grader Hank and his invisible bandapat friend, Inkling. While Hank's father desperately tries to compete with the interloper, whose whoopie-pie ice cream filling is not local or organic but whose pumpkin cake is delicious, Hank has his own struggles. His one-time friend Patne now spends more time with Henry Kim. And unlike his neighbor Chin and the two boys he calls his half-friends, he's been relegated to the Neons, the beginner section in swim class. Inkling tries to help him, but it's hard to learn swimming moves from someone invisible. And it's still important to keep Inkling's existence a secret. For readers new to this (mostly) realistic series set in the author's own Brooklyn, Hank and Inkling offer background in the opening chapter. Those who've been with the two since the beginning of the school year will be pleased to see Hank developing focus and to see them both finding friends. The first-person narrative moves along briskly, with plenty of dialogue and Bliss' grayscale illustrations to break up the pages. (Final art not seen.) With humor and sympathy for her appealing protagonist and his secret friend, Jenkins continues a strong series for readers of short chapter books. (Fantasy. 7-10)

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December 1, 2013

Gr 2-4-Hapless fourth-grade Brooklynite Hank Wolowitz and his invisible pet bandapat, Inkling, return in this gently humorous story that incorporates just a touch of fantasy. Although Inkling is an unreliable narrator with a sometimes-distant relationship with the truth, readers will accept that he is invisible, not imaginary. In addition to managing the demands of his often cranky, but always funny invisible friend, Hank also navigates complicated school friendships, swimming lessons in which he copes with the embarrassment of being ranked a "Neon" (the lowest level), and, most importantly, dealing with the mean-tempered food-truck lady whose cheap, nonorganic treats threaten the success of his family's boutique ice-cream shop. Pumpkin is one of Inkling's favorite foods, yet Hank finds himself agreeing to "splat" his hard-won canned pumpkin out the window in order to impress popular kid Joe Patne. Hank also discovers that water renders Inkling visible and is finally able to focus on improving his swimming technique. A diverse cast of characters and a believable middle-class urban setting make this tale about the value of true friendship relatable without being didactic.-Madigan McGillicuddy, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Atlanta, GA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Grades 2-4 As in Invisible Inkling (2011), this third title in the series about Hank Wolfowitz and his small and invisible (but not imaginary) sidekick blends slapstick with wordplay, and readers will enjoy the realistic dialogue as much as the body language in Bliss' wry, black-and-white spot art. Food is the action heremaking ice-cream pies, eating them, selling them, and throwing them to make a mess. When an old lady starts a whoopie-pie business that threatens Hank's dad's ice-cream store, Inkling helps Hank defeat her. The wordplay with Yiddish adds to the fun: Should Dad try a new noodle-kugel flavor?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

April 4, 2011
Hank Wolowitz isn't sure he can face fourth grade now that his best friend has moved away. But in Jenkins's (Toy Dance Party) thoughtfully grounded, gently kooky chapter book, Hank finds surprising new allies that help him deal with the pain of his loss and with a school bully. An ordinary day at Hank's family's Brooklyn ice cream shop becomes an unforgettable one when Hank reaches for a long-lost Lego propeller under the kitchen sink and discovers something soft, furryâand invisible. Turns out the creature is an invisible "bandapat" named Inkling from "the Peruvian Woods of Mystery." Or maybe Ukraine. When Hank saves Inkling from the neighbor's dog, the critter vows to repay the favor. Inkling's presence, along with his large appetite and hankering for squash, puts Hank in some humorous tight spots. Jenkins colors her mostly realistic tale with enough bits of mystery and silliness to hold readers' attention. Even those who don't know what to make of Inkling can appreciate that Hank's sentiments and actions always ring true. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7â10.

July 1, 2013
Hank Wolowitz and his invisible bandipat, Inkling, are back for their third Brooklyn-set adventure, a tale of ice cream, food trucks, and friendship. As Thanksgiving nears, Hank's father is losing his mind trying to make pumpkin-flavored ice cream that doesn't taste like baby food. Meanwhile, a vindictive dessert entrepreneur has set up her food truck right in front of the Wolowitz's ice-cream shop. Leave it to pumpkin-loving Inkling to get involved. Fans of this series will welcome some new revelations about bandipats, especially the fact that a wet bandipat is a visible one. The sibling relationship is mellowing, too, as older sister Nadia is less of a shrill presence and Hank is showing some backbone. The chapters are short and snappy, Bliss's illustrations add energy and help extend the text, and our hero Hank is fun to cheer for. Ice cream + pumpkins + invisible friends = a lot of fun for chapter book readers. robin l. smith

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2014
Hank Wolowitz and his invisible bandapat, Inkling, return for their third Brooklyn-set adventure. For Thanksgiving, Hank's father is desperately working on a pumpkin-flavored ice cream that doesn't taste like baby food. Meanwhile, a vindictive dessert entrepreneur has set up her food truck in front of the Wolowitzes' shop. The chapters are short and snappy, and Bliss's illustrations add energy: fun for chapter book readers.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)