Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Frank Einstein Series #1) : Book One
"I never thought science could be funny . . . until I read Frank Einstein. It will have kids laughing."
--Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid
"Huge laughs and great science--the kind of smart, funny stuff that makes Jon Scieszka a legend."
--Mac Barnett, author of Battle Bunny and The Terrible Two
Clever science experiments, funny jokes, and robot hijinks await readers in the first of six books in the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein chapter book series from the mad scientist team of Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs. The perfect combination to engage and entertain readers, the series features real science facts with adventure and humor, making these books ideal for STEM education. This first installment examines the science of "matter."
Kid-genius and inventor Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. In the series opener, an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm, and a flash of electricity bring Frank's inventions--the robots Klink and Klank--to life Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions.. . . until Frank's archnemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan
Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers. The Frank Einstein series encourages middle-grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews raves, "This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to 'keep asking questions and finding your own answers' fires on all cylinders," while Publishers Weekly says that the series "proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful."
STARRED REVIEW
"In the final analysis, this buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to 'keep asking questions and finding your own answers' fires on all cylinders."
--Booklist, starred review
"Scieszka mixes science and silliness again to great effect."
--Kirkus Reviews
"In refusing to take itself too seriously, it proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful."
--Publishers Weekly
"With humor, straightforward writing, tons of illustrations, and a touch of action at the end, this book is accessible and easy to read, making it an appealing choice for reluctant readers. A solid start to the series."
--School Library Journal
"Kids will love Frank Einstein because even though he is a new character he will be instantly recognizable to the readers...Jon Scieszka is one of the best writers around, and I can't wait to see what he does with these fun and exciting characters."
--Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl
"Jon Scieszka's new series has the winning ingredients that link his clever brilliance in story telling with his knowledge of real science, while at the same time the content combination of fiction and non fiction appeals to the full range of the market."
--Jack Gantos, Dead End in Norvelt

Other Available Formats Our Price New & Used Marketplace Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Audio CD - Unabridged)
Published: 2014-08-26
Publisher: Listening Library (Audio)$30.00 8 copies from $8.31 Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Library Binding)
Published: 2017-04-11
Publisher: Turtleback Books$18.80 Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Frank Einstein Series #1) (Paperback)
Published: 2017-04-11
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams$7.95 74 copies from $3.45
More About Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Frank Einstein Series #1) by Jon Scieszka; Brian Biggs
Overview
"I never thought science could be funny . . . until I read Frank Einstein. It will have kids laughing."
--Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid
"Huge laughs and great science--the kind of smart, funny stuff that makes Jon Scieszka a legend."
--Mac Barnett, author of Battle Bunny and The Terrible Two
Clever science experiments, funny jokes, and robot hijinks await readers in the first of six books in the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein chapter book series from the mad scientist team of Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs. The perfect combination to engage and entertain readers, the series features real science facts with adventure and humor, making these books ideal for STEM education. This first installment examines the science of "matter."
Kid-genius and inventor Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. In the series opener, an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm, and a flash of electricity bring Frank's inventions--the robots Klink and Klank--to life Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions.. . . until Frank's archnemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan
Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers. The Frank Einstein series encourages middle-grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews raves, "This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to 'keep asking questions and finding your own answers' fires on all cylinders," while Publishers Weekly says that the series "proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful."
STARRED REVIEW
"In the final analysis, this buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to 'keep asking questions and finding your own answers' fires on all cylinders."
--Booklist, starred review
"Scieszka mixes science and silliness again to great effect."
--Kirkus Reviews
"In refusing to take itself too seriously, it proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful."
--Publishers Weekly
"With humor, straightforward writing, tons of illustrations, and a touch of action at the end, this book is accessible and easy to read, making it an appealing choice for reluctant readers. A solid start to the series."
--School Library Journal
"Kids will love Frank Einstein because even though he is a new character he will be instantly recognizable to the readers...Jon Scieszka is one of the best writers around, and I can't wait to see what he does with these fun and exciting characters."
--Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl
"Jon Scieszka's new series has the winning ingredients that link his clever brilliance in story telling with his knowledge of real science, while at the same time the content combination of fiction and non fiction appeals to the full range of the market."
--Jack Gantos, Dead End in Norvelt
Details
- ISBN-13: 9781419712180
- ISBN-10: 1419712187
- Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
- Publish Date: August 2014
- Page Count: 192
- Reading Level: Ages 9-12
- Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.85 pounds
Series: Frank Einstein #1

Related Categories
BookPage Reviews
Our greatest scientists, reimagined as kid geniuses
When antimatter combines with matter, it creates an explosion of energy. That’s an accurate formula for what Jon Scieszka has created with this excellent first book in his new middle grade series.
Incorporating Isaac Asimov’s Three Rules of Robotics, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and a bevy of scientific principles, Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor presents science in a subtle but hilarious way. Kid genius Frank Einstein toils away with piles of junk, hoping to create artificial intelligence robots. Not long after, Frank, his sidekick Watson and the goofball robots Klink and Klank are working together to create an antimatter motor for the science fair. But what’s a good tween read without a villain? Soon their mission is foiled by nefarious classmate T. Edison.
Brian Biggs’ cartoon-tastic two-color illustrations add the perfect punch to the “diary” look so many young readers have come to embrace. Scieszka clearly knows his audience and plays right into their hands, as this series promises entertainment but supports it with real science. There are plenty of explosions and experiments to inspire reluctant readers to don the lab coats and start inventing!
This article was originally published in the August 2014 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.