Matthew and the Midnight Wrestlers

Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice, 2007

Matthew loves his art class, but he hates trying to find a way home without running into the neighbourhood bully, Big Mike. Later, as Matthew watches his favourite wrestling show, he sees a tag team dressed like artists. It gets him thinking. Maybe, if he drinks enough milk, he'll be strong enough to become a wrestler one day. But later, as Matthew drifts off to sleep, he becomes convinced that muscles alone won't do it - he needs a good costume Then he can take care of Big Mike.

Before he knows it, Matthew is in the middle of another midnight adventure. He meets up with Tooloose the Wrecker, a wrestler who is looking for a partner. Before he knows it Matthew is now called Slap Dash the Masher, and he is about to enter the ring in his first tag team fight. This is no ordinary wrestling match. All the wrestlers are artists, and they have the craziest costumes. But during the main event, Matthew has to face the Masked Marvel, who looks suspiciously like someone Matthew knows.

Another wild and imaginative adventure that could only happen after bedtime, Matthew and the Midnight Wrestlers is a fun and fast-paced story for beginner readers who are ready for an early chapter book.