Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All

The Riot Brothers #1

by Mary Amato, Mary Amato

Move over, Captain Underpants, a couple of new pranksters are in town. Narrated by fifth-grader Wilbur and featuring his third-grade brother, Orville, this hilarious story follows the antics of two boys with overactive imaginations and a comfortable sibling relationship. The action is divided into three "books," with six chapters each. In the first, the brothers are determined to catch a crook. They make a windfall by giving lessons in being annoying to their classmates, are reprimanded by the principal (who is also their mother), and still manage to foil a bank robber on the way home from school. Next, while searching for treasure, they find a mysterious box in the closet. After they finally open it, they discover that the contents, although not worth money, are still valuable. The final installment has the duo building a catapult designed to overthrow a king and using it instead to defeat a bully.

Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Chapter Books, Juvenile, School

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

I write fiction for young adults and children and enjoy connecting with my readers. Adults (ages 18 and up) who are interested in writing, please check out my Meditative Art/Writing Workouts, a donation-based twice monthly online group.
https://www.maryamato.com/meditative-...

Reviews

[Domantas Galbuogis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man ši knyga patiko nes ten yra paslapčių.

[Emily Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for all 4 books. They're hilarious, mild pranks that aren't too over the top and a nice relationship with their mom. Both my boys enjoyed them and were disappointed there were only 4 books in the series

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I saw all of the underwear on the cover and thought I was in for an 8 year olds fart joke book, but these adventurous and kooky brothers were a lot of fun! Highly recommend.

[Caroline Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely hilarious for both my 7 year old and me! There will for sure be snarf attacks, underfoodle and the naked mole-rate games in our future :)

Henry's review: I especially loved the saying, "There is nothing quite as frightening as your mom chasing after you with kissy lips."

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orville and Wilbur Riot know how to make their own fun. They invent games involving milk snorts, underwear, and diaper wipe boxes. They set interesting goals. And, of course, they create their book of rules. This is a wild and crazy romp with two kids who seem to have no "off switch." It's the first book in "The Riot Brothers" series, and is the beginning of great silliness.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amato, Mary The Riot Brothers: Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret Life, illustrated by Ethan Long, 153 pages. Holiday House, (2004), reprint 2017. $13. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL-ESSENTIAL

KID APPEAL: HIGH

Wilbur Riot is very good and inventing games. Orville Riot is really good at being annoying. Together they decide to make some money by teaching other kids how to be annoying. They make great money, but their mom makes them give it back. This book includes three separate stories: Book one “The Riot Brothers Capture a Crook”. Book Two: The Riot Brothers Find a Hidden Treasure. Book Three: The Riot Brothers Overthrow a King.

Author Mary Amato clearly knows her audience and cleverly creates songs and outrageous games for her readers to laugh at and possible try at home. Like the game, Underfoodle: who can get the most underwear on their head in 30 seconds. She also teaches important life skills like flaring your nostrils for pictures and raising only one eyebrow. A funny read that is sure to attract reluctant readers and annoying boys.

Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Patty Corwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my grandson at the library used book sale. There’s a story as to why: when in college, my dear friend Char and I would make what we called Snarf Calls to our friend Bill Keehan. We’d call his dorm room, make up some outlandish story, and end it with the word SNARF yelled into the phone - and promptly hang up. We all got very creative with these calls. We even called every room on Bill’s floor and told them to give Bill this message : SNARF! (Not very sedate, were we?) to this day we still joke about snarfing. So, when I saw the title of this book, I had to buy it. I must admit I laughed way more than I should when I read the book. These brothers invent games (my favorite being Underfoodle, where you put the most underpants on your head that you can in 30 seconds while trying to pull the underpants off you brother’s head ... or could be your spouse or significant other). I might just have to keep this book for myself instead of giving it to Owen!!! Hilarious! Of course, there are adventures that the boys embark upon, and the plot is very suitable for any boy ages 5-10. It also would be a hilarious read-aloud with no other merit than for a good laugh!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really silly fun for 2nd /3rd, low 4th. I like these brothers because they invent games to entertain themselves. I didn't particularly like the Snarf Attack because I am an adult and I don't like kids playing with food or making a huge mess with milk. Underfootle was much better. The object of that game is to see how many pairs of underwear you can put on your head in 30 seconds. That was funny! " All you need is a butt to put underpants on your butt, but it takes a brain to put underpants on your head." It is all about getting a laugh. The Naked Mole-Rat game was also funny. You pick something like a cracker or toast and pick a target number. Let's say a saltine and 30. Then you have to eat the saltine in 30 bites. This is when you look like a Naked Mole-rat.

I also liked the Riot brother's rules. #1 Make something exciting happen every day. #2 Do not tell anyone your true mission.

When they were chased by kissy lips, that was hilarious especially when they found what their great grandpa called them when they were babies-Pooky Waddles and Onion Head.

Their secret snow dance was pretty good too! You just have to read it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Orville and Wilbur Riot--gotta love those names!--make life interesting for everyone around them, including their patient mother who is the school principal. Fans of Captain Underpants are sure to enjoy these stories, filled with pranks, hijinks, funny sayings, and two brothers who are almost always on a mission. In the three short stories offered here, the siblings may not always achieve the original point of their missions, but they always have fun doing it. I am positive readers will try their own version of a snarf attack as well as flinging underwear to and from as part of their fun. Playing with food always has an appeal for a certain audience. What is it about underwear that makes it so amusing? The sketches that accompany the stories only enhance the stories, and make it hard to remain grumpy while reading. And if humor isn't your cup of tea, then you still might be amused by the tips the brothers offer for how to pull off their tricks and even get rich--well, sort of!--while doing so.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

SERIES REVIEW:
These books are the best books for kids ages 6-10. They are funny and engrossing with characters that kids will fall in love with! My boys read all four books and loved them all. They thought they were really funny, with great illustrations and quick chapters, which helped to keep them engaged. They were constantly filling me in on what was going on in the books. I loved seeing them so interested and loved all the great conversations that came from them reading these great stories. A great Christmas gift idea!

[Hanna Thrasher]

This book is about two brothers Orville and Wilbur who love to try and make their day as interesting as possible. They create things that will try and make every day an adventure, from catching a bank robber to searching for treasure, these two always find something to get into. This book is great for young readers who may be having a hard time finding something they like. This book kept me laughing through the entire thing!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Riot Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, and their number one rule to "make something exciting happen every day", capture a crook, find some hidden treasure, and overthrow a king. There is never a dull moment when these two brothers set off on their daily adventures.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/8/2018 ~ So funny! (Of course, the characters on the cover have underwear on their head and a green bean coming out of the nose!) I'm glad there are new editions and that this book from 2004 is still available.

I have readers who will EAT. THIS. UP!

[Lindsey Reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! I wanted to read books that had leading male roles because as a kid I found myself reading predominantly female leading books. The stories and challenges were funny and I can see students loving the grossness of this book!

[Stephanie Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the (not Wright but Riot) inventor brothers, Wilbur and Orville, make my 9 year-old laugh out loud. I love the imagination the boys display and how it pairs with happenstance to neatly tie up delightful stories. Can’t wait to read the rest of them to my son.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just an utterly silly good time. Two brothers that love making up ridiculous games and keeping life interesting. Great series to recommend to reluctant readers.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goofy good fun for elementary age readers.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative, witty and really lovable characters who find themselves in trouble often, but with a good heart behind it. Entertaining and funny

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. I think young boys would like it.

[Tara Ethridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super silly and the perfect amount of goofiness for readers. Two brothers have a ton of cute games between them to make each other laugh and keep life interesting. Loved their creativity!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute funny book for 1st-3rd graders.

[Benita Borrowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun to read with my grandson.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit over promised and under delivered by the description—but it was fine.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my 9-year-old, and we both really enjoyed it! Silly but fun. Looking forward to reading the next in the series!

[Shelbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short chapter book!

[Hector Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey boys and girls this is a book that would make you laugh maybe even laugh really hard. My opinion about the book is that it is the best because it made me laugh a lot because of the game that they made. I said that because one of the main characters invents games and they are funny and I tried some and I won in some of them. I also might say a lot so ***Spoiler Alerts*** so if you don't like that you don't have to read this book sorry it might just slip off sorry. My book is a comedy type of book and it's also a fiction book. This book is also told in first person by Wilbur Riot.


The book will have 3 parts and the part of each one is a different type of book but by the same persons and same characters but each book has something different happening. The best part about this book is that they have 3 different type of missions do do and at the end there is a bonus part, one for each part.the first one is about catching a crook or a thief, second is about a secret treasure, and the third is about overthrowing a king. The major characters are Wilbur Riot and Orville Riot, the other characters are mom, friend, and Goliath he is in the third part of the book. My type of conflict is person vs person because the first part is they go against a crook the second is that they have to crack a treasure and they have to find a key and the third part because they have to fight someone to become a king. The Riot brother wanted to do a mission but something bad happens and they have to go to a lot of stuff and they get in trouble and then they have to find a resolution but they all have different stuff you just have to read it and see.


One of my favorite part of the books is the one that they capture they crook because they want to go to a bank because robbers mostly rob banks and they have to go to the bank but they have no money so they trick there mother to go to the bank. It was also time to go to school and they made signs that said annoying lessons for one quarter per lesson. At first I didn't think they would make a lot of money but they actually did I was really surprised. That was the second best part of the book. This is the second best because it is funny how they get a lot of money and they are called to the office and the principal tells them to give back the money which to me was a total fail about the lessons.


Now on to my favorite part about the book which is when the have to overthrow a king. This is the best part because they don't want to go to school so they come out with a plan which is to cover the windows with white paper to make it look like snow and in the morning the mom falls for it and calls the school to say that there is no school. The mom tells them to go outside to play with the snow but they remember that it's fake. This is the best part because they invent thing to go outside and play with the snow. They make this thing called the finger which is to sit the king and in the other side the will jump and the king will fly out and they will become the king. The part that made me laugh was when they really overthrow the king.


So in conclusion the book that I read I will give it 5 out of 5 if I can give it more I will. I will give that 5 out of 5 because the book made me laugh really hard when I was reading in my house. I will also recommend this book for kid that really like to laugh there guts out just like me. Also for kid that like to play game in the house when you are bored and if you have a brother or a boy or girl to play with especially the games they made up. Remember not to play with an adult. Also remember that this book is about solving different type of mission they make also they are kids in third and fifth grade and that the kid invent really funny and cool games that you would like to play and also you have to read the bonus part of the book.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Riot Brother Rule 1: Make Something Exciting Happen Every Day."

This is a funny and engaging book anchored by two very appealing brothers. I'm not an easy sell on little boy books. Lots of them are way too heavy on the snot/farts/boogers, or the mouthy comebacks, or a general level of cutesy sneakiness or carelessness or nastiness that I find more off-putting than funny.

That's why this book was so refreshing. The boys aren't little Mr. Perfects; far from it. But there is an overarching good humor and decency in these books that just tickled my fancy.

Start with the boys - third grader Orville and fifth grader/narrator Wilbur. First off, they like each other and appreciate each other. They back each other up and they work off each other, whether they're making up games, or scheming, or just sharing wisdom about the world. Wilbur complements Orville when he has a good idea or adds something to a plan. Orville obviously admires his older brother. They are a team. This is greatly enhanced by Mom. She has some funny lines; she stays out of the way but always knows what's going on; she lets the boys loose until it's time to rein them in. And there is real familial love expressed, in little boy fashion. No drama. (Dad isn't mentioned, which is a shame, but not surprising I guess.)

The best part is that mostly the boys play wildly imaginative make believe. They try to earn money so they can go to the bank, because that's where you need to go if you want to foil a robbery. They turn housecleaning chores into a treasure hunt. They make up fun games. They amuse themselves and each other. They invent a snowball machine. They make up an underpants hat game and a what-food-am-I? charade game. They are funny and they have fun. There is tremendous madcap energy in everything they do, (never walk when you can run), but the stories themselves never get out of control and each plot ties up nicely by the end. (The book is set up as three "mini-books", so it is nicely bite sized for a young reader.)

All of this is accompanied by Wilbur's deadpan commentary on life and the "Riot Brothers Rules". That commentary is both insane and sometimes accidentally right on point, and that adds an element of thoughtfulness that is so rare in boys' humor books.

The books are well-written. Vocabulary is age appropriate, with a few challenges here and there. There is no irony or self-parody; the author never mocks the genre. Everything that happens seems to be within the experience and understanding of a very young reader, although some of the more subtle jokes may go over their heads. But a bit of challenge is nice to see in a book like this.

So, the upshot is that this book struck me as a very appealing read, with a lot of upside and entertainment value. What a nice find.

Please note that I found this book while browsing kindle samples and then picked it up at our local library. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

[Nobies57 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brothers, Orville (5th) and Wilber (3rd) Riot are are best friends and just downright funny. Each book is a set of short stories revolving around another great idea the brothers brew up. In this book we are introduced to the brothers during a typical mealtime when they are playing their game Snarf Attack. The rules are simple. Try to make your brother laugh so hard that milk comes out of his nose. If you forget the rules, don't worry, there is an appendix with all the rules of the games for quick reference.
Most of the fun in these stories is just enjoying these two and their spot-on age appropriate approach to everything. To raise money (so they can go to the bank and catch a bank robber) the brothers decide to give annoying lessons for a quarter during recess. This turns out to be more profitable than expected, but the brothers land in the principal's office when a teacher catches wind of the business.
Turns out the principal is their mother! She is a no nonsense woman, who understands boyish pranks. They return all the money and a fair amount of time is served. At home, Mom is a single mom and she slides right through their escapades never missing a beat and never getting upset.
The next story about a snow day is classic. If you're silly you will love these guys.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Riot Brother Rule Number One: Make something exciting happen every day."

Wilbur and Orville Riot, brothers with a plan. They have their own list of rules, their inventive games, their sayings for every possible situation and each other. They create fun on a daily basis, as per their Riot Brother Rule #1. In this first series of stories, they try to capture a crook (who's not a crook), try to find hidden treasure and try to convince their Principal mother that it's a snow day. They give lessons on how to be annoying, literally; they invent "The Flinger" to dethrone a king and take on a bully. Through it all, the word play flies back and forth (How can we go to sleep if we don't know where it is.)

All the sayings, rules, and games are in the back of the book for quick and easy access for students. Humorous illustrations add to the fun for readers