# Help me find a kids book

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-kids-book/517653>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 15, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-kids-book/517653 "2009-11-15T13:40:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-kids-book/517653/1 "2009-11-15T13:40:03Z")

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My nephew is turning 9 in a couple of weeks, and I want to get him a book that I enjoyed when I was his age. The book(s?) is a collection of short stories involving a group of smart, if nerdy, kids in a small town, who pull some crazy, and a couple times heroic, stunts. Some of their hijinks include:

-Placing a manikin on top of a tower with speakers inside, and using it to insult various townspeople, then blowing a weather balloon when rescuers come up after it and floating it away.

-Building a ‘loch ness monster’ on top of a boat and convincing the townsfolk the lake by the town has a giant serpent living in it.

-Finding and rescuing a downed pilot from a nearby air force base

-Building a helium balloon and competing in a balloon race.

Hmm. I recall their being more, but sadly I think time has taken its toll, as that is all I remember of it now. Perhaps if one of you can help me with the title, I will have to reread before I give it to him. Please help!

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**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-kids-book/517653/2 "2009-11-15T13:53:55Z")

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[The Mad Scientist’s Club](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mad_Scientists%27_Club)  
Thanks for reminding me of it!

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**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-kids-book/517653/3 "2009-11-15T14:00:51Z")

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Woo! Dope to the rescue! Thank you very much SixSwordS. He’ll(hopefully) enjoy the hell out of this. If nothing else, I can at least do the same. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Polly\_Glot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@Polly\_Glot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polly_Glot)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-kids-book/517653/4 "2009-11-15T14:26:52Z")

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Those books sound like a perfect Christmas gift for my smart, nerdy, and mischievous nine year old! Thanks for the heads up, **CutterJohn**.

I’ve already ordered A Really Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson:

> [@](#):
>
> Enter the world of science as Bill Bryson unmasks the mysteries of the universe.
> 
> Did you know that:
> 
> • Every atom in your body has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way to being you?
> 
> • If you are an average-sized kid, you have enough potential energy inside you to explode with the force of several hydrogen bombs?
> 
> And—What happened to dinosaurs? How big is the universe? Why are oceans salty? Is a meteor going to hit us?
> 
> Tackling everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bill Bryson’s inimitable storytelling skill makes the why, how, and, just as importantly, the who of scientific discovery entertaining and accessible for young readers.

I loved sharing tidbits of the adult version of this book with my son, so I think he’ll enjoy having this children’s version to read. You might wish to check it out, too.