Lizard Music, Daniel Pinkwater
Science fiction
First line: “I figure that Mom and Dad were having some kind of trouble and needed to go away by themselves.”
Booktalk: When Victor’s parents decide to take a vacation, leaving him alone with his sister Leslie, Victor is THRILLED – especially once Leslie takes off on a camping trip. Finally, Victor has the house to himself. He can do whatever he wants – he can order pizza with anchovies, he can build model airplanes in the kitchen, and best of all, he can stay up late to watch TV.
One night after the late-late show, Victor sees something very strange. A bunch of human-sized lizards walk onto the soundstage carrying instruments, and start playing the best music Victor has ever heard! They’re not in the TV guide, and when Victor calls up the TV station, they think he’s crazy.
Victor sets off for the big city in search of clues. He meets a bunch of crazy characters who know all about the lizards, and who warn him of an alien invasion that’s already taken control of Victor’s sister! Together, Victor, his new friend Charlie, and Charlie’s pet chicken Claudia set off on the adventure of a lifetime to find the invisible lizard island and rescue Earth from the aliens.
Similar titles: If you like this one, I highly recommend reading Daniel Pinkwater’s other books, especially The Neddiad and Bushman Lives (7th & 8th graders will also enjoy The Education of Robert Nifkin).