The Graves family has just moved to Union City, and they definitely don’t fit in. With giant spiders in the living room, a voracious Venus flytrap named Phoebe in the kitchen, and a secret laboratory in the basement, the neighbors are afraid to visit! Except for Seth and Sara Miller, the kids next door, who decide to help them make friends. Maybe if Mr. Graves gives all the bald men in town his amazing hair-growing tonic, which he developed from the follicles of house cats? It seems like a great idea-until the tonic-dosed town council starts chasing birds and running up trees! And then Phoebe nearly devours the Ladies’ Auxiliary Garden Club-will the Graves family ever find a way to fit in?
This picture book is one of Polacco’s funniest ever, with wild, colorful illustrations filled with creepy details that kids will love. And it has a beautiful message as well: differences should be celebrated, not feared! – FROM THE AUTHOR SITE
FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…When I asked the librarian to help me find the perfect book to read to 4th graders, she could not have found a more perfect book in length, detail, and creativeness. Polacco created a hilariously imaginative story with great illustrations to go along with it. The Graves Family was just the right book for 8-10 year olds to either read or listen to. Last week I got the awesome opportunity to read this book as a Mystery Reader for my daughter’s 4th grade class and the kids had a great time laughing and “eewing” as I read the book which at times made it difficult to keep reading without bursting my gut. They were actually engaged the entire timeI read which was about 20 minutes. Definitely a suggested fun read and one to help open the topic of being different.
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