[LM_NET] HIT: Sir Fartsalot

["Clark, Molly" <mclark@CSSD.ORG>]

Hello all!

Last night I posted a request for your thoughts on the book "Sir Fartsalot Hunt the 
Booger," which is on our list for next year's Battle of the Books.  I received many 
replies, which follow.  The majority of you agreed that it wasn't Battle of the 
Books material, although there are some strong supporters of the book as well.  
I've ordered myself a copy because my 14-year-old reluctant reader is excited to 
read it, but I'll withhold further judgement until I read it myself.  Thanks to all 
who took the time to reply at this busy time of year!  Your responses follow:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I admit I haven't read it, but I do have it (picked it up for free at
ALA).  Several teachers have banned it from the classroom because it
engenders a lot of "potty mouth" talk among 1st to 3 rd year boys.
After all the hero ? does kill the dragon by farting at him. LOL  It
ranks in the same genre as Captain Underpants.  Kids that age like being
silly about those kinds of words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wrote a review of it... it is on my web site listed below.  The book
could actually be compared to Don Quixote with middle school pottie
humor.  http://www.mullersreviews.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have the book in my K-6 library and read it before putting it on the
shelf. I'm also on the Kansas Reading Circle for KNEA that recommends books
and this made our recommended list. It would be great for those reluctant
readers. I don't remember that it even has the word fart in the book. It
always refers to it as the foul west wind!
Our 5th and 6th grade boys have check it out a lot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I read Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger earlier this school year because three 
library workers read it with their children and said it wasn't horrible and that I 
should try it. So try it I did. And they're right, it wasn't horrible. But it so 
wasn't good.
Some of the humor was actually mildly funny, in a Henny Youngman sort of way, but 
many of the jokes and puns were  just too...dorky. I'm sure little boys would 
probably think it's hilarious. I wouldn't say it's too bad to read. Better than 
Walter, the Farting Dog, in my book (which, I realize, is like saying that getting 
the measles isn't quite as bad as getting the mumps, but still). At the same time, 
it's not a terribly well-written book, by any means. I chose not to spend budget 
bucks on copies for my library.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have not read the book but will so I can give an informed opinion, but I
HATE all this fart and booger stuff. I don't plan on buying anything for my
school library with those words. Funds are too limited to justify a fart and
booger book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I have run Book Battle in our school for 15 years for grades 3-5. Each grade had 
their own list and I would not consider using this title. I have always felt that 
after passing thru this experience the fifth-graders have a wonderful core of 
common literature as background. There are many other books of more quality to lure 
reluctant readers. I always purchase some books on tape and cd for these lists as 
well as playaways. There is something for everyone, including picture books so that 
everyone can feel part of a team. I have noticed through the years that peer 
pressure exerts a wonderful positive influence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't understand why this would be even considered, not because of the title but 
because of the quality. this is the only review i could find. I am not saying I 
wouldn't buy it for my library but I just don't think it is Battle of the Books 
material.
Horn Book
Prince Harry, an accomplished practical joker, joins the legendary Sir Fartsalot on 
his quest to track down an awful monster known as the Booger. The book's target 
audience may forgive the static characters and predictable plot in order to giggle 
at the ridiculous names and gross humor. Cartoony black-and-white sketches 
illustrate the forced hilarity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just have a real problem with any book with that "F" word in the title.  But I 
will read it at a local B&N 1st before passing final judgement.  As far as being on 
BOTB-that's just dumb!  Especially when there are so many fabulous books available.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Molly Clark, LMS
Hastings-Mallory Elementary School
Central Square, NY
MClark@cssd.org
http://bubblylibrarian.edublogs.org/

"In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with floaties 
and teach us how to swim."
 Linton Weeks  (Washington Post article, 13 January 2001, p. C01)

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