Invasion of the IQ Snatchers.

Deborah Dowson is a Canaadian children’s librarian in North Wales,
Pennsylvania.

Plates of Nanaimo’s famous bars are appearing all over town, and someone with extremely hairy arms and big feet appears to be stealing them. In addition, the Nanaimo bars are brainwashing the people who eat them. The moms have started to wear aprons and curlers while they dust, vacuum, and watch “Coronation Street.” The dads have started to slick back their hair and watch “Front Page Challenge.” The two smartest kids in town, Gordon and Sophia, must solve the case or their parents and everyone else will remain as “robotofied zombies.” The kids make friends with a very knowledgeable and hospitable sasquatch named Cheryl, and also get help from a very capable librarian who has access to some amazing technology. Gordon’s talking African grey parrot, Archie, is also instrumental in saving the townspeople from completely and literally losing their minds.

There is far more hilarity than horror in this imaginative tale, which sets a far-fetched plot complete with aliens, robots, and monsters in the real life city of Nanaimo. The author informs the reader of significant geographical and historical information and landmarks while entertaining them with an outrageous and hilarious story. There is lots of action, chases, and suspense as the mystery is uncovered and the story resolves happily for all concerned. The situations are hilarious, the description is great, and the dialogue and characters are amusing. This is an imaginative, informative, and entertaining chapter book for young readers. Recommended.