Description:
"They came from outer space. They landed in Minnesota. They were... Tomatoes from Mars"! While earthlings sleep, giant tomatoes swoop down to shmear the country with their hallmark red stain. No one can stop this diabolical red plague... until scientist Dr. Shtickle shows up with a plan. Given 12 hours by a panicking president, Shtickle (who bears a mysteriously striking resemblance to a certain other nutty scientist named Einstein) and his faithful niece scheme. "If only we could communicate with the tomatoes," Shtickle says, "I know we could end this madness." And at last, with the help of a shpritzer bottle, a little extra virgin olive oil, and some red wine vinegar, Shtickle's saucy solution succeeds. What a team! Caldecott medal recipient Arthur Yorinks's utterly nonsensical tall tale pairs perfectly with the melodramatic caricatures of Mad magazine's Mort Drucker. Both Yorinks and Drucker obviously enjoy poking fun at paranoid politicians, unstrung citizens, and pretty much anyone else who gets in their way. This red scare is sure to be a hit with any reader with a fiendish sense of humor and a passion for Mad. Hungry for more from these two? Try Whitefish Will Rides Again!. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
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