Publisher's Weekly Review

When an "extremely annoying howl" wafts through Jimmy's house, he springs into action: this is a job for his superhero alter ego, Kid Amazing. After taking a secret elevator to his high-tech underground lair-depicted in an elaborate cutaway illustration-and suiting up in his superhero attire, Kid Amazing gets his assignment from the Commissioner (Mom) and tracks the howl (and an accompanying stench) to a high chair containing the Blob (his baby sister). Her calamity is twofold: she has dropped her pacifier ("the howl neutralizer"), a situation that Kid Amazing expertly remedies, and she has a wet diaper, which he sagely leaves for the Commissioner to deal with ("the Blob needs a new stink-containment unit" he informs her). Schneider's (Everybody Sleeps [But Not Fred]) jaunty illustrations give this sly superhero story an extra goose of irreverence and theatricality. Extra kudos to the author for refraining from a reconciliation between Kid Amazing and his nemesis, although the Commissioner does admonish him to "please stop calling your sister the Blob" in a nice throwaway line. Ages 4-7. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.