Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars (Ricky Ricotta Series #4)

by Dav Pilkey, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

Overview

From Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants, and acclaimed artist Dan Santat, an out-of-this-world friendship adventure with all-new full-color illustrations!

Best friends always stick together — especially when they are in trouble!Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot always watch out for each other — that's what friends are for! This time, they've managed to mangle the Ricotta family's minivan. Somehow they have to find a way to make up for their mistake.When a mean little Martian named Major Monkey invades Earth, Ricky and his Robot race to save the day once more. But Major Monkey has a plan to get rid of Ricky's Robot so that no one will be able to stop him! Now it's up to Ricky to rescue his friend and keep Major Monkey from menacing mousekind!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545630122
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	06/24/2014
Series:	Ricky Ricotta Series , #4
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	40,107
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

When Dav Pilkey was a kid, he was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Dav was so disruptive in class that his teachers made him sit out in the hallway every day. Luckily, Dav loved to draw and make up stories. He spent his time in the hallway creating his own original comic books — the very first adventures of Dog Man and Captain Underpants. In the second grade, Dav's teacher ripped up his comics and told him he couldn't spend the rest of his life making silly books. Fortunately, Dav was not a very good listener.

Dan Santat is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, which won the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2015. He is also the creator of the acclaimed graphic novel The Aquanaut, and his graphic memoir, A First Time for Everything, was the 2023 National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature. His art is featured in numerous children's books, including Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta series as well as picture books by Henry Winkler and Jake Gyllenhaal. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and pets. Visit him online at dansantatbooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Ricky Ricotta series:"This reboot... offer[s] a new generation of readers a fun introduction to chapter books... Newly independent readers and Pilkey fans alike will not be disappointed by the humorous ride." — School Library Journal"Aimed at a younger audience than the wildly popular Captain Underpants books, this series... has all the classic Pilkey hallmarks: comic book panels, superhero action, and flip-o-rama." — Booklist

From the Publisher

Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot pal are a big hit with kids! Now, in their latest action-packed adventure, they face a mean Martian named Major Monkey -- and his monstrous Mecha-Monkeys. When Major Monkey kidnaps Ricky's Robot, it's up to Ricky to rescue his friend and help save the planet...and mousekind!

bn.com

In a fourth episode, the titular mouse must rescue his robot from the evil Major Monkey, who plans to mount an assault on Squeakyville in Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars, by Dav Pilkey, illus. by Martin Ontiveros. "Flip-o-Rama" pages add to the fun. ( Feb.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 2-4-In their fourth adventure, young mouse Ricky and his super-robot friend battle the evil Martian villain Major Monkey. After decoying the Mighty Robot to Mars with a fake distress call, the simian fiend plans to take over Earth with the aid of his giant metallic Mecha-Monkeys. It's up to Ricky to travel to the red planet and release the robot in time to save the world once more. Pilkey's special brand of deadpan humor highlights the off-the-wall plot. The brief, easy-to-read text and Ontiveros's black-and-white cartoon illustrations strike just the right note of mock heroism. The "Flip-O-Rama" activity pages add to the comic-book effect. This science-fiction romp should have strong appeal to reluctant readers as well as those just making the transition to chapter books.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Pilkey and Ontiveros team up for another action-packed adventure with Ricky Ricotta and his robot (Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus, 2001, etc.). In a tale that is part comic book, part early chapter book, tiny mouse Ricky enjoys playing with his gigantic robot until they decide to use the family minivan as a skateboard. It becomes a minivan pancake and Ricky and his Mighty Robot are in trouble. But before they can repair the damage, they are called into duty: saving Mars and Earth from destruction by the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars. Like the comic-book superheroes of decades past, Ricky and his Mighty Robot race from disaster to disaster, narrowly avoiding catastrophe at every turn. There is violence in the battle scenes, but the battles are comical with the trademark Pilkey plays on words. "Ricky's Robot treated the Mecha-Monkeys to two servings of punch . . . one foot-long . . . and a knuckle sandwich." Of course, it all works out in the end: Earth and Mars are saved, bad guys are punished, and even the demolished minivan is replaced. All is right with the world. Kid-pleasing diversions such as a flipbook and 11 "how to draw" pages add to the fun. Part shtick, part goofy predictable adventure, the easy-to-read short novel will allow the early reader to turn pages quickly, feel successful, and have fun. (Fiction. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews