Freak Street Bumper Super-Freaky Activity Book by Knife and Packer

Scholastic, 2011. ISBN: 987 1 74169 557 1.
Containing puzzles, word searches and crosswords, step-by-step 'how to draw' instructions, cartoon strips, Freak Street facts, spot the difference pages and a sheet of stickers; this would make the perfect title for children who love the previous books in the series. With full colour illustrations and comics, this would suit the children who are independent readers yet still enjoy graphic novels and the concept of creating their own characters and stories using this as scaffolding. As they test their knowledge of the novels from the series, this would provide them with some engaging activities.
This is not a book which I would be quick to purchase for a school library as I know it would (eventually) be returned filled with writing or colouring and minus the sheet of stickers! Students would not be able to refrain from 'filling in the gaps'. I would encourage the parents of children who love the series to purchase this, however. With more and more students creating their own comics and publishing their work electronically to the internet, this could provide some additional ideas.
Jo Schenkel