BURTON AND THE GIGGLE MACHINE

Professor Savvy has barely finished writing his promise—not to take anyone's invention ever again—100 times (Burton's Zoom Zoom Va-ROOM Machine, 1990) when he's back spying on Burton and his rocket-propelled skateboard. But though Burton can create clever gadgets to protect his family's inventions, he watches helplessly as friends Tish, Jonathan, and Kevin get bogged down in troubles arising from their own amusing pranks. Finally, the giggle machine emerges to cheer up the trio; but, meanwhile, the professor enrolls wily Merrill Frobusher in yet another plan. In the end, the giggle machine works brilliantly, both on Burton's friends and, to his humiliation, on Professor Savvy. At the end, Burton drifts off to sleep wondering what ideas a new day will bring, a welcome hint of further episodes. Haas's witty wordplay and robust sense of fun mingle with wise observations in this lighthearted adventure. The impressively industrious characters pursue ideas and feel the thrill of discovery, sending a powerful message that problem solving is hard work that can be both liberating and gratifying. (Fiction. 10-13)