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While it’s generally not advisable to judge a book by its cover, tweens will find that the illustration on the front of Galactic Hot Dogs: The Wiener Strikes Back ($13.99) properly depicts an entertaining graphic novel that makes the perfect summer read. Following the success of the first book, Galactic Hot Dogs: Cosmoe’s Wiener Getaway, published last May, The Wiener Strikes Back is the second space adventure featuring 13 year old Cosmoe, a boy from Earth. Cosmoe is the captain of The Neon Weiner Flying Food Truck and together with his intergalactic friends, they’re always on an adventure to save the galaxy while trying to sell more hot dogs.
If Galactic Hot Dogs sounds familiar, your kids may know it from Funbrain where it started as a digital adventure in 2012. Since then, it has attracted and engaged reluctant readers across the nation with all kinds of fun digital activities but if you’re new to Galactic Hot Dogs, here are 4 reasons why you’ll love The Wiener Strikes Back.
4 Reasons Tweens Will Love Galactic Hot Dogs: The Wiener Strikes Back
1. Classic Plot Involving Good Versus Evil with the Addition of Hot Dogs in Space
Hot dogs are a pretty standard fare at circus which is why Cosmoe’s space buddy, Humphree, is convinced that Galactic Hot Dogs should be the official food of Crostini’s Cosmic Carnival and Wonder Circus train. Cosmoe is skeptical but thanks to his incredible ability to tame monsters, his hot dog stand, the Neon Wiener, becomes an official part of the circus. But like all good stories, things aren’t quite what they seem and there’s the classic plot involving good versus evil that put Cosmoe and his friends in more danger than ever before. To figure out what’s going on, Cosmoe and his friends take a trip that gives them a glimpse of Cosmoe’s past and how he ended up selling hot dogs on the Neon Weiner in the first place.
2. Strong Friendships Among Imaginative Characters
Cosmoe (easily distinguishable by his dashing hair), his best friend Humphree (an alien with super strength), and Princess Dagger (a princess born into an evil family who wants to abandon her family’s evil ways) form a space triumvirate who are always up for an adventure. Together they battled mutant worm monsters, zombie space pirates, and grumpy robots in the first book and their second adventure tests their friendship but also makes them realize that they have to stick together, even if it may be terrifying.
“I sigh. Dagger’s right. She’s my friend. And for friends, sometimes you do stuff that makes you uncomfy. Sometimes you even face your deepest, darkest fears…”
3. Graphic Novel Format
According to Thomas (age 9), fans of Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Dav Pilkey series like Captain Underpants and Super Diaper Baby will love Galactic Hot Dogs. With text by Max Brallier, the author of more than twenty books for children and adults and illustrations by Rachel Maguire (award winning-illustrator and animator) and Nichole Kelley, graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art & Design who has worked as an animator, illustrator, and designer, Galactic Hot Dogs: The Wiener Strikes Back comes together as a fun graphic novel that engages even the most reluctant readers.
4. Engages with Characters Beyond the Book Through Poptropica
The book plus the digital experience found on Funbrain.com and Poptropica are a great way to get kids 8-14 excited about reading, especially during the summer when it can be hard to motivate kids to keep up their skills. This highly entertaining, out-of-this-world adventure provides plenty of interactive online elements that go along with the book to really appeal to today’s digital natives. Fans of the can find fun extras online like a Who’s Who of characters, blog, free downloadable activities, videos, and more fun on Poptropica. Within the world of Poptropica there are islands. These themed islands include Galactic Hot Dogs Island!
Want to know more about Galactic Hot Dogs Island on Poptropica?
Poptropica is StoryArc Media’s signature property that involves over 10 million players from around the world playing in a multiplayer online game. StoryArc’s roots go back to Funbrain, a go-to destination for kids, teachers, librarians, and parents. For almost 20 years, Funbrain has offered engaging interactive games that develop skills in math, reading, and literacy in a safe online environment. In addition, StoryArc has published several books on the tween must-read list, including recently named New York Times bestseller Poptropica: Mystery of the Map.
Enter to Win a Set ofGalactic Hot Dogs Books & 6 Months of Poptropica!
Just in time to re-ignite a love of reading this summer, Galactic Hot Dogs and StoryArc Media are providing a set of books that includes Galactic Hot Dogs: The Wiener Strikes Back, Galactic Hot Dogs: Cosmoe’s Wiener Getaway, plus 6 months of membership to Poptropica to play on Galactic Hot Dogs Island!
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For more information about the series, follow Galactic Hot Dogs on:
I received copies of the Galactic Hot Dogs series for review and was compensated for this review and hosting a giveaway. All opinions are my own. Amazon Affiliate links included in this post.
He’d love it because of the illustrations!
My tweeen would love this because it seems funny and it is illustrated!
This looks like it has the kind of humor that my son enjoys!