The Top 10 Ways To Ruin The First Day Of 5th Grade

The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade

Anthony Madison, a.k.a. Tony Baloney, can't get enough of the Late Show with David Letterman. He loves the Late Show and will stop at nothing to get himself on the program. But to get from Kansas City to New York City, he'll have to pull out all the stops. With his own brand of Top Ten lists, and stunts that range from photocopying his hinder to taking to the field in a bear suit at a professional football game, Tony takes the NFL, MTV, New York City, the Hells Angels, his teacher, friends, family, and readers on an uproarious ride to remember.From School Library JournalGrade 3-5 - Fifth-grader Tony Madison is a magnet for trouble. Irrepressible, unstoppable, and outrageous, he is constantly thinking up ways to make it on to David Letterman's show. He has his own collection of stupid human and pet tricks that he is sure will be his ticket to New York. After trying each new prank, he writes to the talk-show host and includes a top-10 list detailing his stunts. Unfortunately, most of these exploits end up with Tony in the principal's office and his teacher, Mr. Gore, going home to change his clothes. One of his feats finally earns him the sought-after invitation (he makes the national news when he runs onto the field dressed as a bear during a professional football game). Tony, two of his friends, and Mr. Gore travel to New York City where Tony proceeds to wreak his own brand of havoc on the Big Apple. It all culminates with his arrival onLate Night escorted by Hell's Angels on motorcycles. Humorous and lighthearted with a feisty and zany main character, this book will be enjoyed by readers who like offbeat plots and nonstop wacky action. - Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CACopyright ?Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.From BooklistGr. 4-6. Fifth-grader Anthony Madison is enamored of David Letterman'sLate Show--especially the jokes, the Top 10 Lists, and Stupid Human Tricks. Determined to appear on the show as a guest, he attempts outrageous acts, including getting his foot stuck in a toilet, starting a food fight in the cafeteria, and photocopying his bare bottom in the teachers' workroom. After he creates a disturbance at a professional football game (he steals the ball and runs for a touchdown in a bear costume), Letterman invites him on the show, and the trip to New York, accompanied by two friends and his teacher, proves to be just as over-the-top as Tony's life back home. Derby's characters are long on high jinks and short on introspection; indeed, Tony's lack of growth will probably grate on most adults. Kids, however, are likely to admire Tony's audacity, even as they realize that no real kid could ever pull off the stunts. A quick, fun read that will appeal to would-be show-offs everywhere.Kay WeismanCopyright ?American Library Association. All rights reservedReview"Nonstop wacky action." -School Library Journal"A quick, fun read that will appeal to would be show-offs everywhere." -Booklist"This very funny, very silly book is filled with kids, teachers and parents who will make you laugh - when you're not chuckling about Tony's latest antics." -The Washington PostFrom the AuthorOver 122,000 copies in print!Originally published as The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade, but now it has a new cover and a new title, The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School. It is the same book with the same story that kids love!An International Reading Association and Children's Book Council "Children's Choices" Honor BookAn Alabama "Children's Choice Book Award Program" WinnerAbout the AuthorKen Derby is a slightly famous author, monkey trainer, twelve-minute rock star, five-minute TV star, two-minute movie star, fisherman, and former CIA operative (okay . . . not really). When he isn't teaching or writing, he might be found reading, working out, biking, or rooting for the Denver Broncos. Ken lives