74. Stink and the Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown by Megan McDonald

Stink and the Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown by Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Canada) - (US)
Stink Moody (Book 6)

Pages: 128
Ages: 6+
Finished: Mar. 21, 2011
First Published: Mar. 8, 2011
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Genre: children, humour, sports
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Stink stared at the stack of super-secret sealed envelopes on Mrs. D.'s desk.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series. (not that I'm reading them in order :-)

Report Card Day and Stink is so excited. He just knows his will be full of O's for Outstanding, especially after peeking at it through the light of the school bus window. So he basks in the glow of his parents as they open it up and congratulate him on his good marks but slowly their smiles start to turn around into U's. U?? What is a U doing on Stink's report card? What subject? Phys Ed? Whose Ed? otherwise known as gym. Ooooo. Hmmm. Maybe Stink isn't that athletic.

His parents command him to pick up a sport so Stink turns on the sports station and goes through various sports suggested there but has many reasons not participate in any of the regular ones and just as many reasons not participate in the more outlandish ones. Then a commercial comes on for thumb-wrestling and Stink is hooked, not only is he hooked, he's obsessed. See how thumb-wrestling takes Stink into the wide world of sports, creates a classroom havoc and gets him turned onto a "real" centuries old sport that he finally finds is suited perfectly for him.

Loved the story! (as usual). Very fun with a good message of "there is something out there for everyone" The reparte between Stink and Judy is as fun as usual but this time Stink is too engrossed in his activities to pay her much attention and Judy ends up feeling proud of her little bro. at the end. At the back of the book are two punch out cardboard thumb-wrestling masks just like those used by Stink and his friend Winston so if you feel like a game yourself you won't have to go out for competition naked :-) My son is going to enjoy this one as he has just taken up the sport that Stink ultimately chooses himself. Stink Moody Rules!