Editorial Content for Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk

Stink's school is working hard to reach one million reading minutes --- and what better way to contribute to that total than reading the latest Nightmare on Zombie Street book? Stink and Webster are thrilled about the upcoming book release party for Creature with the Cootie Brain. They love the series that makes them laugh and also shudder in fear. There is just one tiny problem --- you have to be able to buy the book to attend the Midnight Zombie Walk at the bookstore, and the boys do not have $12.99 each.

"STINK AND THE MIDNIGHT ZOMBIE WALK is pure fun, filled with goodhearted, not-so-scary humor. As always, author Megan McDonald presents us with true-to-life characters and a lively, interesting plot complete with an unforeseen twist or two."

Luckily, Stink has a plan. He and Webster will have a fantastic yard sale. They'll get plenty of money for their old toys, like the action figures they no longer enjoy. But Stink over-estimates their ability to discard their belongings. Each of them has only a few measly toys for the sale. That's when Stink comes up with a Plan B to earn money. His plan lives up to his name --- they concoct "smell cups," loaded with pleasant odors such as peppermint, cinnamon, gum, dirt, dish soap, and pinecones. Each customer is to pay 50 cents a sniff. The plan seems like a winner, but there are no customers. All passersby decline the offer, and one boy even says he can smell things at home without paying a penny.

A discouraged Webster is ready to throw in the towel, but Stink comes up with another creative brainstorm. He decides to turn their little business into a "Smellatorium." After all, who could resist taking a whiff of Zombie Toe Jam or Zombie B.O.? Well, things don't go exactly as Stink predicts, but the boys do manage to rake in four dollars, a cough drop, and a purple paper clip.

Back at school, the students are anticipating the costumes they will wear to the Midnight Zombie Walk. There is exciting news from Ms. Tuxedo, the principal, who announces they've attained 967,433 minutes of reading time. This is thrilling enough, but the cafeteria goes wild when she makes her next announcement. The following Friday will be "Read to a Zombie Day." Second and third-grade students will read to the younger grades, which will speed the school toward their one million reading minutes goal. Then they can celebrate their victory during the Midnight Zombie Walk. Ms. Tuxedo adds another terrific incentive: If the school reaches their objective, she will have the mysterious B.O.B. ("Big Orange Box") that stands outside the front office brought to the bookstore, where it will be opened during the Midnight Zombie Walk. This proclamation inspires Stink and his friends to guess at what B.O.B. holds. Could it be "a big overstuffed bear" or a "big oversized brain?”

Meanwhile, Stink has more exciting zombie adventures ahead of him, such as an encounter with a zombie ventriloquist's dummy and (ooooOOOOoooo!) one with a zombie lunch lady dishing out brains (sometimes known as "spaghetti") and Sloppy Toes (or "Sloppy Joes").

STINK AND THE MIDNIGHT ZOMBIE WALK is pure fun, filled with goodhearted, not-so-scary humor. As always, author Megan McDonald presents us with true-to-life characters and a lively, interesting plot complete with an unforeseen twist or two. As fans have come to expect, the tale is augmented by the consistently wonderful illustrations of Peter H. Reynolds. In a word: zombielicious!