Showing results by author "Jim Benton" in All Categories

Franny K. Stein isn't a good baker. But when she sees that the fundraisers for the art and music departments at her school aren't making enough money, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Using her genius mind and kitchen, which is really just another type of laboratory, she sets out to create the most delicious muffin on earth! Sales, of course, go through the roof. But bad things can happen when people become exposed to the best thing they've ever tasted. They can become...overenthusiastic.

There's nothing Jake likes more than some good trash-picking, so when his elderly neighbors move out and leave an especially promising-looking pile of household refuse on the curb, he goes right for it. He only has the chance to grab one box before his mom catches him and orders him in for dinner, though. When mysterious goings-on begin to occur in the neighborhood, the trio investigates the hidden box from Jack's garage. In it, they find the Secret Parent's Handbook.

Victor Shmud has been many things: knuckle doctor, a hunter of ghost bears, a tattoo artist, the guy at the restaurant who puts the sugar in those little envelopes, a computer scientist, an octopus wrestler, and a wedding planner. In fact he's been nearly everything (definitely not a guy who cleans up bedrooms yet). But his newest gig is beautifuller (yes, that's a word. He's also a licensed wordmaker). He can make anyone gorgeous with a gob of his beauty treatment (complete with mustard molecules).

Franny K. Stein isn't a fan of glamour. She doesn't style her hair, the thought of wearing makeup makes her want to gag, and she couldn't care less about wearing dressy dresses when she'd much prefer her lab coat. But sometimes Franny wonders if her mom wishes she were different. Which gives Franny an idea...for an experiment! What if she can turn the beauty products her mom loves into something more exciting? Every experiment has its experimental error, and when Franny's hair takes on a life of its own, Franny must save the day (and her hair).