The Otherworldly Adventures of Tyler Washburn: The New Kid

by Dylan Cole, Ahmed Aldoori (Assistant)

School just got a lot more interesting. Young inventor Tyler Washburn was always getting into trouble due to his numerous failed projects. Early one morning when testing his newest invention, the Automatic Locker Organizer v.2.0 , Tyler could not help but be drawn into a closet with a strange blue glow where the touch of one star whisked him across the galaxy to join aliens at the STAR academy. Tyler finds acceptance for his creativity, talents and different beat at The S ociety of T echnologically A dvanced R aces where he joins students from all over the universe to promote intergalactic peace.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Space

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2012

Reviews

[Laura]

Tyler Washburn is a creative kid who prides himself on his inventions. While his inventions are not perfect, he keeps on dreaming and is always looking for a new adventure. When Tyler ends up in the janitor’s closet and pulls a shiny star, his entire world is transformed. Tyler has been chosen for a special program which enables him to explore other galaxies with aliens from various places. School for Tyler will never be the same. What will Tyler encounter, and how will this affect his life back on Earth? Will Tyler put his invention skills to use while figuring out his new “normal”?
While Tyler’s character is not explored in depth, the real strength of this book for me was the development of the plot and the travel into the “secondary world.” In the beginning, many kids could identify with Tyler as feeling “different”, “bored”, or or unique in the way he sees the world and everyday life. Tyler’s character could encourage kids to crave curiosity and inquiry. By the time Tyler is moving down from the janitor’s closet, I found myself asking and wondering “where is he going?” and “what is going to happen next?” Tyler’s adventures throughout the rest of the book are engaging enough to draw the reader into Tyler’s world and identify with his craving for adventure. I think this could be a great book for older elementary grades to support students’ creativity and inquiry skills. While Tyler’s inventions did not ever work initially, he was still motivated to try and never stopped dreaming.

[Centauri]

looks like a good start to an awesome series; I kept thinking, "I would love to watch this show" To read the rest of the series you have to download a digital app which sucks!

a kid with a lot of imagination and drive for inventing gets a surprise of a lifetime: acceptance into an intergalactic school of extraterrestrials. he gets to meet other kids like himself, except in alien version of course: curious, inventive, and different. a good read to help a child think outside the box as well as start them on series of adventure fun and love of education

[Nancy Jo Lambert]

This was a fun book. My son and I read this one, and it was very interesting. I am a huge science fiction fan, so this was right up my alley. The plot is the best thing about this book. I would have liked a little more character development and it is a tad long because there are so many words on each page, but overall I liked it and will recommend it.

[Joella]

This book is way too long to read in storytime. It is one of those picture books that elementary school kids might like. But it would be way over the heads of preschoolers.

[Kristen]

For visual, sci-fi, inventor kids, this might become a favorite book.

[Alison]

A picture book for the older set about a cool new type of future alien school, where Tyler is the new kid, and the only human!

[Tracy Schillemore]

Great pictures. This is definitely a book for an older audience. Great for making kids think about being new or being different.

[Damera Blincoe]

Great pictures. This is definitely a book for older elementary school students.