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Calvin Coconut #9
Calvin Coconut #9: Extra Famous
There are zombies at Kailua beach!! Well, kind of. Fourth-grader Calvin Coconut and his friends have been recruited by Benny Obi (the boy from Kung Fooey who liked to tell crazy stories and ate bugs) to be extras in his uncle's movie: Zombie Zoomba! And who ends up with an actual part? Calvin's babysitter, Stella.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Graham Salisbury
33 books102 followersGraham Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii's morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser. Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. "I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips walk the keyboard, things that make me laugh or get all choked up or even amaze me."
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 20, 2019
Just as good as the first in the Calvin Coconut series. Calvin and his friends get to be in a movie, playing Zombie extras, and the filming is on their local beach. There is small part of the story that I really like and I think shows how well the author keeps the tone of the Calvin books not too serious but not unrealistically light either: Calvin's friend Julio is frustrated with his younger siblings and his responsibility for them, and Julio's father resolves it in a thoughtful way that surprises both Julio and Calvin.
August 12, 2017
Calvin Coconut is a series of a fourth grader kid who lives in Hawaii. In this book, Calvin and his friends get picked in an audition for a movie by Benny Obi. Calvin secures his spot as a zombie in "Zombie Zumba", He starts practicing his zombie walk, and his sister encourages him to unleash his inner zombie. He keeps practicing and later becomes a movie star. I really love the book it's short and sweet, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
October 28, 2024
Pretty fun early chapter book! Calvin and his friends are invited to be extras in a zombie movie. As a kid I’d love the illustrations, the humor, and the not too scary zombie acting. As a parent I love that there’s some great pieces thrown in about befriending the “weird” kids, handling sibling fights, and dealing with a divorced family. Does a great job of peppering Hawaiian culture too!
June 17, 2019
Enjoyable story about kids learning life lessons and becoming better people while acting as extras in a zombie movie.
June 7, 2018
This was a very enjoyable short novel. It describes Calvin and his friends as they try out acting. It might be suitable for upper elementary readers that were better than average readers.
June 18, 2013
At first, Calvin and his friends can barely believe it when their old friend Benny Obi tells them that his uncle is making a zombie movie and they can all have a chance to be in it. They soon find out this is true, however, and the next thing they know, everyone is in on the fun, even Stella, the teen girl who lives at Calvin’s house. Calvin and his buddies have the chance to wear creepy make-up, practice their zombie staggering, and even make some money in the process. Not only do the kids learn about filmmaking, they also have the chance to get to know Benny better, and to grow closer to each other and to their families.
If there is a series in my library that I suggest to kids more than any other, it’s definitely the Calvin Coconut series. In my opinion, they are the best written transitional chapter books out there, and Graham Salisbury is probably the most talented chapter book author. Time and again, his storytelling style and descriptive writing, impress me and surpass my expectations. The stories he tells about Calvin’s life in Kailua Beach are equal parts touching and funny, suspenseful and exciting, and I just never get tired of them.
In this book, what I appreciate so much is the way Salisbury incorporates the latest craze - zombie movies - into an age-appropriate and edifying story. Rather than trying to incorporate silly fantasy elements into his very realistic world, he finds a perfectly believable way for Calvin and his friends to get into the zombie fun, and then uses this opportunity to teach kids about film-making, family, and friendship, all in one shot. Calvin’s inherent goodness comes through loud and clear in this story, in his acceptance of Benny even though he doesn’t always tell the truth, in his respect for Stella’s acting chops, and in an unexpected gesture of kindness after he receives his pay for his work on the film.
Obviously, I won’t tell kids this is a book about how to be good, because really, the zombies are probably the only selling point I’ll need to send this book out of the library with an eager reader, but I do think Calvin is an excellent role model, and that kids will want to become better people after reading about his good deeds and fair treatment of those around him. I think kids will be similarly comforted by the presence of so many great adult role models in this book.
If there is a series in my library that I suggest to kids more than any other, it’s definitely the Calvin Coconut series. In my opinion, they are the best written transitional chapter books out there, and Graham Salisbury is probably the most talented chapter book author. Time and again, his storytelling style and descriptive writing, impress me and surpass my expectations. The stories he tells about Calvin’s life in Kailua Beach are equal parts touching and funny, suspenseful and exciting, and I just never get tired of them.
In this book, what I appreciate so much is the way Salisbury incorporates the latest craze - zombie movies - into an age-appropriate and edifying story. Rather than trying to incorporate silly fantasy elements into his very realistic world, he finds a perfectly believable way for Calvin and his friends to get into the zombie fun, and then uses this opportunity to teach kids about film-making, family, and friendship, all in one shot. Calvin’s inherent goodness comes through loud and clear in this story, in his acceptance of Benny even though he doesn’t always tell the truth, in his respect for Stella’s acting chops, and in an unexpected gesture of kindness after he receives his pay for his work on the film.
Obviously, I won’t tell kids this is a book about how to be good, because really, the zombies are probably the only selling point I’ll need to send this book out of the library with an eager reader, but I do think Calvin is an excellent role model, and that kids will want to become better people after reading about his good deeds and fair treatment of those around him. I think kids will be similarly comforted by the presence of so many great adult role models in this book.
June 18, 2013
Book 9 in the Calvin Coconut series. 2nd grade reading level through about 5th grade for interest. Calvin and his friends have a chance to be extras in a movie being filmed in their town in Hawaii--and they get to be zombies, no less. They're all thrilled when they are chosen, excited to get made up as zombies, and happy to stagger around the beach on cue.
Hawaii is an exotic location for most young kids, but the author, who grew up in Hawaii, gives the book just enough of the exotic to be interesting but not so much as to take away from the basic 2nd or 3rd grade activities, reactions, and feelings of his characters.
Hawaii is an exotic location for most young kids, but the author, who grew up in Hawaii, gives the book just enough of the exotic to be interesting but not so much as to take away from the basic 2nd or 3rd grade activities, reactions, and feelings of his characters.
July 12, 2013
Calvin Coconut's latest wild adventure sees the return of his friend Benny Obi, the kid who can't seem to stop exaggerating. This time, Benny says he's in town to help his famous filmmaker uncle with his latest movie, about zombies on a beach...and this time, he's not making it up. Now Calvin & all of his friends are desperate to be picked as extras for the scenes being filmed locally. Everyone's excited, even the ever-grouchy Stella. It's sure to be an experience Calvin won't ever forget.
I just love this series - I love the funny, likeable protagonist, the wide cast of characters, & the great artwork. Its gorgeous Hawaiian setting certainly doesn't hurt, either.
I just love this series - I love the funny, likeable protagonist, the wide cast of characters, & the great artwork. Its gorgeous Hawaiian setting certainly doesn't hurt, either.
October 26, 2013
4th Grader Calvin and his friends have the opportunity to be extras in a zombie movie. Benny’s uncle is a real life movie producer and he’s filming on their local beach. But Benny is such a liar, can the kids trust that everything he tells them is true? Book 9 in the series brings the friends together again for another fun adventure. Well written for the elementary boys, this series (and this story) will not disappoint. Wanna make a movie?
April 6, 2014
This is a great addition to the "Calvin Coconut" series. Calvin is a Star!! What kid does not dream of becoming some kind of celebrity? In this book, Calvin is recruited by his friend Benny Obi to be a Zombie extra in his uncle's film, "Zombie Zumba!" Boys and girls will get into this easy to read chapter book full of Zombie action including "girl" Zombies, Darci and Stella.
May 27, 2013
Calvin Coconut -- zombie. I mean it. He's a zombie. Well at least he is hoping to be. Calvin and his friends have been recruited by Benny Obi to be extras in his uncle's new movie. How cool is that? Zombie Zoomba. But will Calvin's dreams of an acting gig come out the way he thinks?
October 26, 2014
I read this aloud to my 7-year-old and we both really liked it. We will be reading more of the Calvin Coconut books.
February 4, 2016
Kids who love zombies and watching movies will enjoy this lighthearted story about Calvin and his pals getting roles as zombie extras in a movie filmed on their beach.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews