The Terrible 2 + 2’s: A basement Invention Lab Adventure
EARLY READER chapter book (1300 words)
Jackson is a boy who likes things Just Like Always. When his parents tell him he's going to have a baby brother, he gets creative with one of his parent's home laboratory inventions and creates Dad 2.0 and Mom 2.0.
SAMPLE:
CHAPTER 1: A Surprising Surprise
Jackson is a boy who likes things Just Like Always.
Breakfast, crunchy.
Bath, splashy.
Pets, furry.
Jackson's mother and father have a famous Invention Lab in their basement. Some inventions are very popular, like the Pet Wash and Brush Machine. Some are very unpopular, like the Toothbrushing Dentist Robot. Jackson's favorite is the Forever Cookie Machine. You put in a picture of your favorite cookie and push a button. The machine rumbles and grumbles and spits out cookies forever and ever, until you turn it off.
One day, when everything is fine and Just Like Always, Jackson's parents come upstairs with a surprising surprise.
Dad says, "Son, we have a surprising surprise. You are going to have a baby brother!"
This does not seem Just Like Always to Jackson.
"Why do I need a baby brother?" he asks.
Jackson has not been around many babies, but he knows they cry a lot and poop a lot and when they get bigger, they try to take your toys.
"We always wanted two children," says Mom.
Jackson asks, "Where will the baby sleep?"
"The baby will sleep in your old crib," says Dad.
"You will get a big boy bed!" says Mom.
"Two brothers together!" says Dad. "Nice and cozy."
"Two Jacksons?" asks Jackson.
Dad laughs. "Two boys. You can help us pick a good name for your new brother."
"I know great names," Jackson says. "How about PEST or BRAT or STINKER?"
CHAPTER 2: The Forever Cookie Machine
Jackson's parents do not like these names one bit. They send Jackson off to think about how nice it will be to have a baby brother. Jackson thinks, and thinks, and thinks. Then he talks things over with his dog Hector Protector and his rabbit Nibs.
They agree there is only one thing to do. Jackson goes downstairs to the Invention Lab and turns on the Forever Cookie Machine. It rumbles and grumbles. Then, he puts in his favorite photo of Mom and Dad and....
Later that day, Jackson goes into the kitchen where his parents are making dinner.
"I have a surprising surprise," Jackson says. "We are going to have two more parents."
Dad laughs like this is a very good joke.
"I don't think so!" says Mom.
Just then, up the basement stairs come Mom-2 and Dad-2. Mom gasps.
Dad says, "I bet you used the Forever Cookie Machine."
"He did," says Dad-2. "That's our boy!"
"Jackson, why do you need more parents?" asks Mom.
"Two for me and two for the baby," Jackson says. "We can all live together, nice and cozy!"
So, a life of togetherness begins.
CHAPTER 3: Things Get Crowded
Jackson and his four parents go everywhere together.
At the park, two Dads give Jackson as many pushes as he wants on the swings. At the zoo, two Moms take Jackson to see his favorite animals. Sometimes he sees them twice! At the movies, Jackson has four parents to hold his popcorn and snacks.
Jackson likes togetherness! His pets like togetherness too. One night, Jackson sees Hector Protector and Nibs looking through his book of animal pictures. He watches them sneak down the steps to the Invention Lab. He hears the Forever Cookie Machine turn on. It rumbles and grumbles and....
The next day, things are not Just Like Always. Again.
The kitchen is a mess. Two hungry bunnies and two friendly dogs zoom around the room. Nibs and Nibs-2 turn over their food dish. Hector Protector and Hector-2 play tug-of-war with a dog biscuit. Two Moms make chocolate chip pancakes together. Two Dads make coffee together. They all talk and talk. The bunnies hop. The dogs yip.
Jackson asks for "more pancakes please" three times. It is so noisy that Mom and Mom-2 do not hear him. It is so noisy that Dad and Dad-2 go downstairs to the Invention Lab to drink their coffee.
Jackson says, "Things are getting very crowded around here."