Johnny on the Spot

by Edward Sorel

Every day, Johnny listened to his favorite radio program, "Don Winslow of the Navy." Someday, he would travel the world and have adventures, just like Don Winslow. But then the radio, which had been growing fainter, went dead altogether -- and Johnny's parents couldn't afford to buy a new one. Johnny refused to give up hope. Maybe Mr. Zaga, who lived in the basement apartment and was supposed to be an inventor, could help. Mr. Zaga's apartment was full of weird machinery. He was interested in time travel, not in repairing radios, and he believed that with powerful electrostatic magnetism he could project himself into the future. But perhaps an electric charge from his machinery could fix the radio. Sure enough, the radio played again, but before long Johnny and Mr. Zaga discovered that the radio was giving tomorrow's news. It was a day ahead in time! The adventures Johnny has then -- at a nearby bank robbery, a local fire, and with Mr. Zaga at the racetrack -- fill this funny and exciting book and will delight young readers. Full-color pictures rendered by a distinguished author/illustrator capture the big-city scene and a small boy's dreams of glory to perfection.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining story with an old-timey feel.

[CybercrrEDU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. It reminds me of Back to the Future. It's about a kid with an old man that so much find out about future events. But I won't spoil it beyond that. You will have to read it. 😉

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appears to take place in the late 1920s/early 1930s in New York City. Johnny enjoys listening to the radio shows of yesteryear. When the radio dies and Johnny's family can't afford a new one, he has an idea. Maybe old Mr. Zaga who lives in the basement of their apartment building can fix it. What happens next is much more magical than simply fixing it.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lukewarm about this book, but my 7 year old loved it enough he asked for a sequel. It was fun explaining the radio era to him. Fire Alarm Boxes! Knickers! TV in the future! No one in the house liked the art style. Several family members thought the book had been scribbled in. Print.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure I like part of the message, but this was still a good story with exciting illustrations of old New York. For a boy who loves art the way mine does, this was a great choice.