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!

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.

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.

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)

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