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misspippireads's review against another edition
3.0
Themes: Bullying, Imaginary companions, Ice cream parlors, Brooklyn, New York
Characters: Hank Wolowitz, Sasha Chin, Alexander Wainscotting, Bruno Gillicut, Inkling
I would rather read this book without illustration. A couple of the pictures added to the story, but overall I felt they took away from the story.
Reviewed from a library copy.
librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series! Fourth grader Hank stumbles upon and befriends a furry, squash loving invisible creature known as a bandapat. Inkling, as he names Bandapat, becomes a close friend and confidant for young Hank, who is missing his recently moved away best friend and dealing with a bully at school. Hank's family is portrayed as busy and loving, and occasionally wrong about things....aka realistically. I've been reading this aloud with Leo and he and I both love it. Would make a great rec for a family read aloud or a classroom read aloud.
sqeeker's review against another edition
4.0
- My daughter was assigned this book for her school's book club. It only took her a couple days to read it, and she said it was cute and funny. I didn't want to feel left out, so I decided to read it too.
- Gnome was right. The story was cute and funny. I laughed at several things about the story and the characters.
- I want a bandapat friend! He was SO cute!
- I like that Inkling didn't solve all of Hank's problems for him. I liked that Inkling gave him confidence and advice, and Hank gained confidence and learned how to take care of his own problems.
- I wish I could go to book club with Gnome, so I could hear what all the kids thought of the book.
- Gnome was right. The story was cute and funny. I laughed at several things about the story and the characters.
- I want a bandapat friend! He was SO cute!
- I like that Inkling didn't solve all of Hank's problems for him. I liked that Inkling gave him confidence and advice, and Hank gained confidence and learned how to take care of his own problems.
- I wish I could go to book club with Gnome, so I could hear what all the kids thought of the book.
asimilarkite's review against another edition
3.0
Cute book for 1st-3rd graders-ish. I loved that it explored how easy it is to become a bully if you are being bullied, and that Hank really felt bad about how he treats the kid who is treating him badly. I also loved the character of Inkling -- he's sassy and adorable and loooooooves squash. I want my own invisible bandapat! I may book-talk this for younger kids for summer reading.
amalies's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this audiobook with my children. They LOVED it. It is a cute story of a boy who finds an invisible inkling who helps him overcome the challenge of starting a new school year after your best friend has moved away. It discusses the subjects of friendship, bullying, being respectful of children and it is a short and sweet chapter book. Both my 6 and 8 year old loved the book and I am glad I took the time to read it with them.
a_manning11's review against another edition
2.0
The way this book deals with bullying is very concerning to me. The main character is bullied for week and weeks by a kid in his grade, and every single adult the kid turns to is useless and doesn't help. His teacher Ms. Cherry is particularly infuriating, suggesting that if only he shared his lunch treat (sprinkles) willingly they would become friends, because the bully is 'having a hard time'. Also, the way the bullying becomes resolved is nonsensical and completely teaches the wrong lesson.
No amount of invisible cuddliness can make up for these issues.
No amount of invisible cuddliness can make up for these issues.
bethgiven's review against another edition
3.0
Read-aloud with my son for Battle of the Books.
My favorite part of this book was when my eight-year-old finished the book without me because he just couldn't wait to know what happened next. (Then he insisted we finish it together, because it was "really good," he said).
My favorite part of this book was when my eight-year-old finished the book without me because he just couldn't wait to know what happened next. (Then he insisted we finish it together, because it was "really good," he said).
krickster's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tcbueti's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite Jenkins, but an amusing story of Hank, whose best friend has moved away and who is now dealing with a bully. Help arrives in the form of Inkling, an invisible creature who is either from Peru or the Ukraine--he is an very unreliable storyteller. He's a bandapat, nearly extinct--which is why he needs to stay invisible--and he lives on squash, which is why he turns up at Hanks's parent's shop in Brooklyn, "The Big Pumpkin"--but it's an ice cream shop. The quest for squash is big in the plot, as is Hank's desire to see his new friend. **Spoiler: **The bully ends up being afraid of Hank after Inkling invisibly bites him, which I think is a troublesome message.
If the Toys Go Out series weren't SO great, I'd probably like this more.[b:Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic|24686|Toys Go Out Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic|Emily Jenkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1286404211s/24686.jpg|25521]
If the Toys Go Out series weren't SO great, I'd probably like this more.[b:Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic|24686|Toys Go Out Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic|Emily Jenkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1286404211s/24686.jpg|25521]
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
3.0
Cute little book. Good for a third or fourth grader.