The Greatest Kid in the World by John David Anderson

     What does it take to be the greatest kid in the world? Volunteering at the retirement community and playing three sports, like Kyo? Or maybe by making 200 sack lunches to hand out to the homeless with a youth group twice a month, like Aadya? As Zeke Stahl reads the bios of the four other contestants, he wonders how in the world his name is included with these over zealous do-gooders. They sound just like the suck-ups at his Indiana middle school. But that is what has happened in the new book The Greatest Kid in the World, from the bestselling author of Posted and Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, John David Anderson. Once again Anderson gives us a story both hysterically funny and touchingly poignant.

      At the start of summer Zeke receives a letter announcing that he is one of five contestants in the online contest for “Greatest Kid in the World”. There is no mention of how he was selected but there is a prize of $10,000.00 and a trip to Hawaii! Was this real or just someone punking him? As it turns out, it is indeed true and a cameraman would be arriving the next day to film him and his family for the next week.            

       Although Zeke knows there must be some mistake – after all, he describes himself as one who likes to “push the boundaries” and teachers and friends would, perhaps, use less flattering language. But boy, their family could definitely use the money. The summer was already sweltering with their air conditioner broken with no money to fix it and banned from the community pool due to a prank Zeke pulled the previous summer. So he decides that he must do everything he can to try to win for his family but what can he possibly do to compete with the others? Follow along during this crazy week of hijinx and hopefulness and meet Zeke’s dad through the post cards he keeps rereading at night.  

        Anderson is such a wonderful storyteller and this is a great read for the start of summer.Click HERE for a teacher's guide which includes discussion questions, classroom activities and an exclusive author letter. I would recommend it for the first read aloud in September as well.Win your own copy by leaving a comment below. 

        Kids will really relate and cheer for Zeke!