'Knucklehead'

By Jon Scieszka, $16.99, ages 8 to 12

Jon Scieszka is a master at making reading fun for kids, as he proves once again in his latest book, "Knucklehead"

In 38 short, photo-filled chapters, Scieszka vividly details what it was like to grow up with five brothers (he was the second-oldest) who were always getting into some sort of trouble.

There was the time Scieszka and his older brother Jim charged friends 10 cents each to watch their baby brother chew (and spit out) cigarette butts. Another time, Jon and Jim tied a plastic dry-cleaning bag into knots and then set it on fire, causing the bag to drip melted plastic — the perfect "bombs" for their game of war — until a cloud of black smoke began to gather under the ceiling of the basement where they were playing.

Other chapters involve adventures with cat vomit and dog poop, among other things. Several chapters end with a "Knucklehead" warning to readers against trying to replicate the stunts that were pulled.

Meanwhile, the book's cover is designed to look like a comic book and features an illustration showing Scieszka in a tank amid a sea of explosions while military aircraft overhead drop bombs.

Clearly, "Knucklehead" isn't for the faint-hearted. But it is the perfect book for boys, reluctant readers and any young reader looking for a fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining autobiography.

In a recent telephone interview, Scieszka said he hopes kids have as much fun reading "Knucklehead" as he did writing it.

"I owed my editor a book for years and years. So one day she just told me to write down the stories I was always telling her about when I was a kid," Scieszka said.

—Scripps Howard News Service