When a beloved teacher is replaced by a substitute for the week, Martin lives out every homework excuse in the book.
On Monday, his dog eats the peanut butter and jelly off his homework…and his homework, too. He has to redo it and miss recess. On Tuesday, it goes through the wash. He writes lines and misses recess. By this time, readers will be wondering what other tragedy will befall the unlucky Martin. On Thursday, he grabs the wrong backpack and has a dolly instead of his homework. That night, his dad suggests that the morose Martin think of something interesting to research on the computer as a cure for the boring homework blues. But on Friday, his homework woes continue when a gust of wind snatches his definitions. The following Monday, Martin drags himself into the classroom prepared for something to have happened to his homework once again. But to his surprise, his teacher is back with a homework assignment that is right up Martin’s alley. Davis’ toothy cartoon characters are wonderfully expressive, especially the hapless Martin. The bright colors and humorous situations are certain to keep readers’ attention as they try to guess what could possibly happen to Martin next.
A funny riff on the ever-popular dog-ate-my-homework theme; would that every child’s homework excuses were as legitimate as Martin’s. (Picture book. 5-8)
