CREEPY CAFETORIUM

Weird is the norm in this school.

Gray-haired custodian Gertie guides readers through the cafetorium of Newville Elementary (home of the Flying Pickles!). A cafetorium can be anything you need it to be—a cafeteria, an auditorium, a gym, or maybe even an interdimensional portal. No matter what, though, odd, downright eerie stuff happens there—and also sometimes things that are just superannoying. Even the staff are weird; one never stops talking, and the other never says anything (some people believe they’re a robot). Six tales by different authors comprise this animated collection, each featuring a different protagonist but connected through recurring characters. The stories include a doppelgänger made of Jell-O, an earworm that continually plays in everyone’s heads, a sinister balloon in search of hot air, a basketball that won’t bounce, a book full of excuses (that come with a price), and a spotlight that focuses on the one person who most wants to avoid it. While the characters may be rolling their eyes or quaking in nervous fear, readers are more likely to have fits of giggles. A few loose ends are not resolved but add to the general atmosphere. Jung’s fun and kooky full-color illustrations add to the Saturday-morning–cartoon feel of the collection and include visual jokes for readers to enjoy. The illustrations depict characters with a range of skin tones.

Fun, not-too-scary school-themed spooks.