J. C. Greenburg - In the Jungle

Andrew is ten years old, but hes been inventing things since he was four. Andrews inventions usually get him into trouble, like the time he accidentally took the Water Bug underwater vehicle on a trip to the deepest place on earth.

Andrews newest invention was supposed to save the world from getting buried in garbage. Instead, it squashed Andrew and his cousin Judy down to beetle size. They got hauled off to a dump, thrown up by a seagull, and carried off by a bat. Now theyre flying across the Pacific Ocean on the back of a bird!

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 Tyrannosaurus all because of Andrew. Judy thought that nothing weirder could ever happen to her until today.

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 a monster asteroid. Now can he protect his tiny buddies from meat-eating plants, dinner-plate-sized spiders, and shocking animals?

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!

Hes a super-secret scientist, Andrew and Judys uncle, and Thudds inventor. Uncle Al is really smart, but is he smart enough to save his beetle-sized niece and nephew from the incredibly weird dangers of the Australian jungle? Even the trees are deadly!

I wonder where we are now, thought Andrew Dubble. Andrew, no bigger than a beetle, poked his head above a feather on the birds back. A cold wind smacked his face as he peered at the earth far below.

Wowzers schnauzers! Andrew shouted. I see green down there! Its land! Now maybe this bird will take a break. Shes been flying over the ocean for ages!

Another feather on the birds back twitched. A pile of frizzy dark hair popped up and went wild in the wind. It was Andrews thirteen-year-old cousin, Judy.

Judy shook her hair away from her face. Fat chance, Bug-Brain, she yelled above the wind. This bird is an arctic tern! Shes on her way to Antarctica! Unless Uncle Al gets our messages, were penguin chow!

Uncle Al was Andrew and Judys uncle, and he was also a super-smart, super-secret scientist.

meep Unkie Al not call back yet, came a squeaky voice from Andrews shirt pocket. It was Andrews little silver mini-robot and best friend, Thudd. And penguin not eat bugs.

Oh, great, groaned Judy. So well just turn into bug-sized ice cubes.

The bird spread her wings wide and glided.

Shes going lower, said Andrew.

Now Andrew could see a wide, sandy beach and a forest beyond.

Looks like a deserted island, said Andrew.

Noop! Noop! Noop! said Thudd. Australia! Continent!

Australia! said Judy. Cities! People! Someone could find us!

As the bird glided lower still, Andrew saw driftwood and heaps of seaweed on the beach. But he didnt see any people.

Now the bird was flying over the forest. It looked like a bumpy blanket of green. Here and there, tall trees poked through. A river zigzagged through the greenness like a silver snake.

The bird swooped down through the tree-tops and into the forest.

At first Andrew could hardly see in the dim light under the leaves. His eyes were used to the brightness of the open sky.

The air was alive with screeches and cries and cackles, chirps and whistles, and a sound like crazy laughter.

The bird dove under huge fan-shaped leaves.

Look at this place! Judy said. Nothing but tangles of trees and vines! Its a jungle!

meep Rain forest, said Thudd. Australian rain forest strange, strange, strange!

Got plants and animals that not live any other place. Got most poisonous snakes in world! People found eighty-six thousand kindsa insects! Found ten thousand kindsa spiders!