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Nate Ball

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Alien in My Pocket #1: Blast Off! Kindle Edition

by Nate Ball (Author), Macky Pamintuan (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 251 ratings

Book 1 of 8: Alien in My Pocket

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2015-2016 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Winner!

With engaging illustrations on every spread, a page-turning plot, a do-it-yourself experiment on building your own rocket, and fun science facts throughout, this is the perfect chapter book for young readers! And it’s all from the amazing brain of MIT graduate Nate Ball, host of PBS’s Emmy Award-winning Design Squad series.

When a four-inch-tall alien crash-lands through Zack McGee's bedroom window, Zack is sure he's about to become the first victim in a new War of the Worlds. But when the alien turns out to have weapons that are more ticklish than terrifying, Zack realizes that rather than protect the world from the alien, it's up to him to protect the alien in his pocket from the world.

The adventure begins in this thrilling new chapter book series, complete with a do-it-yourself science experiment!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2–5—Another normal school year is about to start for fourth grader Zack McGee until a small blue alien crash lands in his bedroom. In Blast Off!, Amp the alien stows away in Zack's backpack and joins him at school while Zack tries to figure out a way to repair Amp's ship. This proves most difficult for Zack who, unlike his overachieving scientist family, would rather spend time on the baseball diamond. His neighbor and best friend, Olivia, helps explain the science behind the story. The chapters are short and delightful pencil drawings accompany the text. Ball integrates real science in a refreshing way. In the second installment, The Science UnFair, Zack faces failing science if he does not get an A on his science project. He must also prevent Amp's identity from being exposed. When the day of the science fair comes, Zack's experiment works almost a little too well and all but destroys the science fair finals. The first book includes step-by-step instructions for creating a bottle rocket, while the second book offer instructions for constructing electromagnets. The science is aligned to the Common Core standards as well. Both titles will likely have appeal to even the most reluctant reader.—Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX

Review

“With lots of illustrations, this series gives kids an extraterrestrial adventure they will love.” — Brightly

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DB361CO
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Illustrated edition (January 7, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2579 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 165 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,475,062 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #465 in Children's Technology Fiction
- #784 in Children's Boys & Men Books
- #1,036 in Children's Action & Adventure Sci-Fi Books

Customer Reviews:
4.5 251 ratings

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Nate Ball

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Nate Ball is the host of the Emmy and Peabody Award Winning PBS reality shows Design Squad and Design Squad Nation. An MIT graduate with a Master’s Degree in mechanical engineering, Nate is also the co-founder of Atlas Devices, a two time All-American pole vaulter, and a competitive beatboxer. He lives with his wife in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

251 global ratings

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Martin Kollman

The Spark to My 1st Grader Wanting to Read!

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

This series is a great adventure for elementary kids and while it is about a 4th grade boy, it is great for girls too! Both my kids love it and may be the spark to getting my 1st grader pumped about reading, as I have no trouble saying its bed/story time. They run for the bedroom! Books in this series are 110-130 pgs, so they are short reads and about 3 chapters a night is perfect. Lots of excitement with Zach and Oliva as they try to teach the alien Amp about earth and help him get home. There is a cool science experiment at the end of every book that has been spot on for what I have around my house and the level of skill for kids. Great book series and you will want to buy all 8 of them. Trust me!

One person found this helpful

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Katherine Gabriel

Totally worth the money

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2019

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I give this 100% it’s an amazing funny book. When I first got this book for a school challenge I thought it would be like a cheesy sci-fi book ! But I got sucked in right when we meet Amp . I like Nate ball’s visualization of Amp the 3 fingered blue alien or Erdian I am so glad I was asked to read this book ! Thank you Nate ball for sharing your amazing story with us!! !😃😀😁😆👍🏻

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Sunshine Girl

this book was really good, but some parts could have been better

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2016

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From my 10 year old: "Over all, this book was really good, but some parts could have been better. Also, I really didn't like that this book is in a series because it was short enough to be all in one book.

Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2020

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This was a fun book that engaged my kids. They would stop me to ask questions, talk about science, and had an activity that got the neighbor kids involved as well. Chapters are short enough so focus isn’t lost and gives you the option to read 2 or 3 without a large devotion of time. We will be getting book 2.

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Lauren K.

Blast Off! on a world-saving, engineering adventure

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2014

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Ball creates a genuinely entertaining narrative as Zack McGee must save Earth from a pending intergalactic attack by helping his new-found alien friend return home while simultaneously dealing with the havoc having an alien in ones pocket causes. Ball transforms the typical elementary school woes of school work, principal trips, and bullies into a hilarious yarn that only a four-inch alien with some mischievous powers could cause. Amongst the comedy, Ball manages to slip in some science and engineering know-how. Directions to build a bottle rocket are included so you can have your own rocket launching adventure (although there is a lack of instructions regarding how to acquire your own small, blue alien).

6 people found this helpful

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Rachel

Such a fun, silly story

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2021

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My first graders loved listening to this book. It is about a fourth grader and there are some bigger science vocabulary words so you could definitely use this book to discuss various science topics with older ages. Good for an enjoyment read in first grade!

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avid rita

Loved even by reluctant readers

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2017

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Engaging read for the young 'uns in my circle. I love the 'hands on' ideas that come along with the lively story, and which increases the interest of the kiddos. A great incentive for the reluctant readers. I'm always glad to see the kids engaged in science oriented activities, especially in this 'STEM' economy.

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

7 year old son was not interested in this book at all.

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