1 Short, Shorter, Shortest

Stink The Incredible Shrinking Kid Meet Judy Moody's littlebrother! Megan McDonald illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

SHORT, SHORT, SHORT

Shrimp-o! Runtsville! Shorty Pants! Stink was short. Short, shorter, shortest. Short as an inchworm. Short as a... stinkbug! Stink was the shortest one in the Moody family (except for Mouse, the cat). The shortest second- grader in Class 2D. Probably the shortest human being in the whole world, including Alaska and Hawaii. Stink was one whole head shorter than his sister, Judy Moody. Every morning he made Judy measure him. And every morning it was the same. Three feet, eight inches tall. Shrimpsville.

He had not grown one inch. Not one centimeter. Not one hair. He was always one head shorter than Judy. "I need another head," he told his mom and dad. "What for?" asked Dad. "I like your head just the way it is," said Mom.

"You need a new brain," said Judy. "I have to get taller," said Stink. "How can I get taller?" "Eat your peas," said Dad. "Drink your milk," said Mom.

"Eat more seafood!" said Judy. "Seafood?" "Yes— shrimp!" Judy said. "Hardee-har-har," said Stink. His sister thought she was so funny. "What's so bad about being short?" asked Dad. "I have to drink at the baby fountain," said Stink. "And stand in the front row for class pictures. And I always have to be a mouse in school plays. Just once, I'd like a speaking part, not a squeaking part."