July 14, 2014
Ten-year-old Ali Pringle, her eight-year-old brother, Jake, and their baby sister, Eliza, have a new nanny, one who shows up in a motorcycle jacket and gardening hat, is obsessed with canned fish, and knows an awful lot about them. Ali and Jake soon discover that Nanny X is a special agent for Nanny Action Patrol (NAP) and she needs their help. The mayor is threatening to build a factory in a local park, and after he’s hit on the head with what appears to be a rock during a protest, Ali and Jake try to prove the innocence of Ali’s classmate Stinky. Armed with Nanny X’s devices—such as a self-destructing phone hidden in a diaper—they investigate a scheme that involves everything from coconuts to stolen diamonds. Rosenberg (Canary in the Coal Mine) offers a quick, fun romp dotted with advanced vocabulary to intrigue and challenge growing readers. Eliza and Jake’s alternating narratives and Nanny X’s off-kilter leadership entertain in a feel-good story about getting the chance to be a hero. Ages 7–10. Agent:
Susan Cohen, Writers House.
July 15, 2014
Lots of nannies are special; this one is a special agent.When Jake and Alison's mom returns to work as a lawyer, they, their toddler sister, Eliza, and their enthusiastic dog, Yeti, get a new nanny. Nanny X arrives clad in a motorcycle jacket and straw hat; fifth-grader Alison is not impressed, but Jake is intrigued. Both are a bit grossed out by what's in their lunch sacks: peanut butter-and-anchovy sandwiches. When she takes the kids to attend a rally to save their neighborhood park from becoming a factory, the mayor is beaned by what appears to be a rock. One of Alison's friends is accused, and Nanny X swings into action, revealing that she's a member of the Nanny Action Patrol. Alison's skepticism deepens, but as the gadgets come out of the diaper bag (baby-bib GPS tracker, sippy-cup listening device) and the investigation continues, she's slowly won over. Can the kids and Yeti help Nanny X halt a major crime? Alison and Jake alternate narration duties in Rosenberg's tale of neighborhood espionage in suburban Washington, D.C. Buffoonish bad guys with foolish plans for power nicely balance the hints of real danger in this light, fast read. Both narrative voices are distinct, and the action, while not exactly believable, is realistically presented.A fun and funny blend of Spy Kids and Mary Poppins. (Fiction. 7-10)
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October 1, 2014
Gr 3-5-Alison Pringle, 10, doesn't want a nanny; she wants her mother to stay home rather than going back to work as a lawyer. The feeling intensifies when she meets the new nanny, ominously named Nanny X. She wears a garden hat and a motorcycle jacket, and knows way more than she should. When Alison; her eight-year-old brother, Jake; baby sister, Eliza; and Nanny X go to a meeting about the park being turned into a factory, Alison soon discovers that there is much more to her new caregiver than she could have ever imagined. Could Nanny X be a secret agent? Reminiscent of Jarrett Krosoczka's "Lunch Lady" series (Random), Nanny X provides an humorous story about an unexpected hero. The narration alternates between Alison and Jake, giving an interesting change in perspective. A solid addition to a popular genre.-Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 15, 2014
Grades 2-4 Ali and Jake aren't sure what to think of their new nanny: she wears a motorcycle jacket and mirrored sunglasses, makes anchovy sandwiches, and talks into diapers. Meanwhile, a local park is threatened when the mayor wants to turn it over to a new business, and Ali and Jake know they have to try to save the park. During the ensuing protest, the mayor is knocked out by a mysterious object, and Ali's friend Stinky is accused. So what happens? They turn to Nanny X, who, as it turns out, works for NAPthe Nanny Action Patroland her diaper bag is full of spy gadgets to help them uncover the dastardly park plot. Rosenberg captures the spirit of a zany tween movie full of outrageous adventures, cartoonish bad guys, and kids who end up helping save the day in an unexpected way. A good choice for readers looking for a mystery that's not too scary or intense.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)