At first, Calvin and his friends can barely believe it when their old friend Benny Obi tells them that his uncle is making a zombie movie and they can all have a chance to be in it. They soon find out this is true, however, and the next thing they know, everyone is in on the fun, even Stella, the teen girl who lives at Calvin’s house. Calvin and his buddies have the chance to wear creepy make-up, practice their zombie staggering, and even make some money in the process. Not only do the kids learn about filmmaking, they also have the chance to get to know Benny better, and to grow closer to each other and to their families.
If there is a series in my library that I suggest to kids more than any other, it’s definitely the Calvin Coconut series. In my opinion, they are the best written transitional chapter books out there, and Graham Salisbury is probably the most talented chapter book author. Time and again, his storytelling style and descriptive writing, impress me and surpass my expectations. The stories he tells about Calvin’s life in Kailua Beach are equal parts touching and funny, suspenseful and exciting, and I just never get tired of them.
In this book, what I appreciate so much is the way Salisbury incorporates the latest craze - zombie movies - into an age-appropriate and edifying story. Rather than trying to incorporate silly fantasy elements into his very realistic world, he finds a perfectly believable way for Calvin and his friends to get into the zombie fun, and then uses this opportunity to teach kids about film-making, family, and friendship, all in one shot. Calvin’s inherent goodness comes through loud and clear in this story, in his acceptance of Benny even though he doesn’t always tell the truth, in his respect for Stella’s acting chops, and in an unexpected gesture of kindness after he receives his pay for his work on the film.
Obviously, I won’t tell kids this is a book about how to be good, because really, the zombies are probably the only selling point I’ll need to send this book out of the library with an eager reader, but I do think Calvin is an excellent role model, and that kids will want to become better people after reading about his good deeds and fair treatment of those around him. I think kids will be similarly comforted by the presence of so many great adult role models in this book.
This is the ninth Calvin Coconut book so far. Learn more about the rest of the series on Graham Salisbury’s website, where you can also meet the full cast of characters in the series and find some great curriculum connections for the books.
I borrowed Calvin Coconut: Extra Famous from my local public library.
For more about this book, visit Goodreads and Worldcat.
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