J. C. Greenburg - With the Frogs

ANDREWS WORLD

Andrew is ten years old, but hes been inventing things since he was four. His inventions usually get him in trouble, like the time he accidentally took the Time-A-Tron on a trip to the beginning of the universe.

Andrews newest invention was supposed to save the world from getting buried in garbage. Instead, it squashed Andrew and his cousin Judy down to bug size. They got hauled off to a dump, thrown up by a seagull, carried off to a rain forest, and stuck inside their uncle Al!

Now Andrew is flying off to a frog pond to investigate why frogs are disappearing all over the world. But will Andrew be the one whos disappearing?

Judy is Andrews thirteen-year-old cousin. Shes been snuffled into a dogs nose, pooped out of a whale, and had her pajamas chewed by a Tyrannosaurusall because of Andrew. Judy had promised herself that shed never let Andrew talk her into another stupid adventure again. But then she got hungry.

The Handy Ultra-Digital Detective. Thudd is a super-smart robot and Andrews best friend. He has helped save Andrew and Judy from the exploding sun, the giant squid, and the really weird stuff inside Uncle Al. Now can he protect his buddies from the jaws of a water tiger?

This giant fake snake is Andrews newest invention. Goa is sort of short for Garbage Goes Away. The Goa is supposed to keep the world from getting buried in garbage by squashing rotting vegetables, green meat, and dirty diapers down to teensy-weensy specks. Unfortunately for Andrew and Judy, the Goa doesnt just shrink garbage. In two minutes and one stinky burp, the Goa can shrink anythingand anyone!

At first the Goa shrank Andrew and Judy to the size of beetles. But since then, theyve been changing size more often than some people change their underwear!

GOTTA WEAR YOUR WANNABEE

Ergh! grunted ant-sized Andrew Dubble. Andrew, wearing a furry black-and-yellow-striped jumpsuit, was on a ledge outside a kitchen window.

His arms were covered by black metal tubes, jointed at the elbows. He was struggling to get his legs into pants made from the same tubes.

Youre not supposed to be outside, Bug-Brain, came a voice from the window sill behind him. And whats with that stupid outfit?

It was Andrews thirteen-year-old cousin, Judy. Judy was ant-sized, too.

Im dragging you back inside, she said as she climbed through a hole in the screen and onto the ledge.

Andrew stood up stiffly in his metal pants. I figured that since were bug-sized, we need some bug advantages, he said. So I made us these suits. Theyre called Wannabees.

Judy rolled her eyes. Bug advantages! she said. I dont want anything that bugs have! I just want what humans havelike being human size!

A few weeks ago, Andrew was working on his latest invention, the Goa, short for Garbage Goes Away. The Goa was supposed to squash garbage down to the size of specks. Andrew did shrink some apple cores and stinky cheese, but he also accidentally shrank himself and Judy down to bug size.

Uncle Al is working on getting us big again, said Andrew. But were so small that we need protection right now. Were so soft, we could get crushed or eaten if something big comes along. Bugs are little, too, and theyve got lots of ways to protect themselves.

meep Hit Drewd! came a squeaky voice from a pocket in Andrews Wannabee.

It was Andrews little silver robot and pocket-sized best friend, Thudd.

Thats the best idea Ive heard since we got shrunk, said Judy. She made a fist and punched Andrew hard in the chest.

Ooof! she said, rubbing her hand. Its like youve got a hard shell!

Super-duper pooper-scooper! said Andrew. Our skeletons are on the inside. But all insects and spiders have their skeletons on the outside, like this.

meep Called exoskeleton, said Thudd. Exo mean outside.

Andrew nodded. If you fall from a high place when youre wearing the Wannabee, you wont get hurt. If something tries to bite you, youll be hard to chew.

He pulled the hood of the Wannabee over his head.

Andrew clomped over to a peanut shell on the window sill. He reached in and pulled out a Wannabee like the one he was wearing. He held it out to Judy.