Mac Undercover (Mac B., Kid Spy #1)

I can’t recommend this book enough. This is my 5 year old son’s favorite book (and series— the sequels are just as good)! He has listened to Mac Barnett read it out loud over and over again (it’s on the author’s Instagram for free for kids to watch during the pandemic and school closures). My son flips through the pages and follows along while Mac reads it out loud. I’ve also read it aloud to him twice. My son loves to pick it up and read his own version of the story to me (creating a different version every time where he stars as the kid spy). This book, or one of its sequels, is almost always in sight. He frequently totes it (or more often the whole stack of 4) from room to room with him. He falls asleep with all 4 of them wedged in between his bed and the wall. And now he can read it to me the way it really does say even though it’s above his reading level, because he’s heard it so many times. My son has always loved books but this very book, I’m sure, has made him a reader for life. This series is hilarious in a way that you will enjoy along with your child. It is a very special blend of humor and adventure and somehow manages to feel very sweet and real and relatable despite the outlandish plot. It’s not written in the typical fashions I’ve encountered before— Barnett doesn’t write with special kid gloves on. This isn’t the standard mass produced kids’ series featuring a utopian town that Mary Sue and her sibling live in where they experience a predictably themed adventure each sequel. Neither does it rely on potty humor like many kids’ humor books. It’s witty and written like kids are capable of appreciating more, and they are. There are also plenty of true facts your little reader can go look up if they are so inclined and the series is littered with accurate history and geography facts that pop up in an entirely natural way. Maybe best of all, I love seeing these books available at our local, independent bookstore! :)

Nice fiction (not realistic, but fun) for a kid who is into spies. More up-to-date than Harriet the Spy, but not the same story line.

Grandkids loved it!!

Very wise and funny book for my 8 years old. Thank you!!

Mac is a hoot and his adventures are fun. You are really going to like this book.

Grandson enjoyed this book and encouraged to read more of the series.

We have become huge Mac Barnett fans. We read the first two chapters of this one out loud at our 7 year old's school birthday party. The whole class of squirmy 6 and 7 year olds was enthralled. It's a great excuse to bust out your British and Russian accents.

It was so good A kid would love it A great story and it was just so so so good

My son really enjoyed the book (he doesn't really like spy books) but he does like this one. Chapters are only a few pages long, with pictures. The reading level is similar to Captain Underpants but with more grade 4 vocabulary. Each chapter was interesting enough to hold his attention.

ho acquistato diversi libri in inglese adatti ai 'bambini', per far fare pratica di lettura ai miei figli, questi libri sono facili da leggere per un bambino italiano di quinta elementare, a parte alcuni termini e frasi, cercati tranquillamente nel pc o cellulare, la lettura risulta fluida e molto comprensibile. Li consiglio vivamente.

Enjoying using

Disfrute mucho leerlo con mi hija de 6 años, se nos hizo divertido, no quería que se lo dejara de leer. Me gusta como Mac lo cuenta desde la perspectiva de un niño y que aprendimos datos interesantes que no sabíamos. Ya quiero leer el siguiente.

Ottima storia per ragazzi da leggere per esercitarsi con l'inglese. Il livello di difficoltà è intermedio (terza media, biennio superiori), quindi permette una lettura piacevole senza dover ricorrere troppo al dizionario. Illustrazione storia divertenti. Consigliato!