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The Book That Inspired The Movie Home

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Dreamworks new movie Home was inspired by the book True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex and published by Disney Publishing. And now there is a new chapter in the story, the recently release sequel Smek for President. 

HOME Smekday Reading
Photo Credit: DreamWorks Home (c) 2015 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.
Look at the picture below, then look again at the picture above. Notice anything? That’s Oh and Tip reading the book True Meaning of Smekday in the movie. So fun. 

My daughter’s can’t wait to see Home, and I know that my avid reader will be thrilled to to read both True Meaning of Smekday and its sequel Smek for President. 

True Meaning of SmekDay

About True Meaning of Smekday

It all starts with a school essay. 

When twelve-year-old Gratuity (“Tip”) Tucci is assigned to write five pages on “The True Meaning of Smekday” for the National Time Capsule contest, she’s not sure where to begin. When her mom started telling everyone about the messages aliens were sending through a mole on the back of her neck? Maybe on Christmas Eve, when huge, bizarre spaceships descended on the Earth and the aliens—called Boov—abducted her mother? Or when the Boov declared Earth a colony, renamed it “Smekland” (in honor of glorious Captain Smek), and forced all Americans to relocate to Florida via rocketpod? 

In any case, Gratuity’s story is much, much bigger than the assignment. It involves her unlikely friendship with a renegade Boov mechanic named J.Lo.; a futile journey south to find Gratuity’s mother at the Happy Mouse Kingdom; a cross-country road trip in a hovercar called Slushious; and an outrageous plan to save the Earth from yet another alien invasion.

Fully illustrated with “photos,” drawings, newspaper clippings, and comics sequences, this is a hilarious, perceptive, genre-bending novel from best-selling author Adam Rex.

Read an excerpt from True Meaning of Smekday.

Smek for President

About Smek for President

In this much anticipated sequel to The True Meaning of Smekday, Tip and J.Lo are back for another hilarious intergalactic adventure. And this time (and last time, and maybe next time), they want to make things right with the Boov.

After Tip and J.Lo banished the Gorg from Earth in a scheme involving the cloning of many, many cats, the pair is notorious—but not for their heroics. Instead, human Dan Landry has taken credit for conquering the Gorg, and the Boov blame J.Lo for ruining their colonization of the planet. Determined to clear his name, J.Lo and Tip pack into Slushious, a Chevy that J.Lo has engineered into a fairly operational spaceship, and head to New Boovworld, the aliens’ new home on one of Saturn’s moons.

But their welcome isn’t quite as warm as Tip and J.Lo would have liked. J.Lo is dubbed Public Enemy Number One, and Captain Smek knows that capturing the alien is the only way he’ll stand a chance in the Boovs’ first-ever presidential election.

With the help of a friendly flying billboard named Bill, a journey through various garbage chutes, a bit of time travel, and a slew of hilarious Boovish accents, Tip and J.Lo must fight to set the record straight—and return home in once piece. 

Read an excerpt from Smek for President.

Love the movie? Make sure you print some free activity pages for the kiddos.

Giveaway 

One lucky winner will recieve copies of True Meaning of Smekday and Smek for President and a $25 Visa gift card to see Home in theaters. 

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends April 26.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Leigh Anne Borders says

    I would love to share this with my boys and my students. I think they would really enjoy it.

    Reply

  6. Leigh Anne Borders says

    Better Homes and Gardens Clover 5-Piece Bedding Comforter Set is something that would brighten my bedroom! I just love this. I also love what you did as well. Thinking I want some bright colors for this spring/summer!

    Reply

  10. Eloise Carlson says

    My 6 year old daughter would love this book! She reads a lot and would enjoy it! Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!

    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    Reply

  21. Kelly says

    I would keep at my house, for all the people that come to visit me. From neighbors, to family, the books will be enjoyed!

    Reply

  38. Dawn Monroe says

    I think my oldest granddaughter would enjoy them because she likes to read and she liked the movie.

    Reply

  46. Stephanie Reed says

    I happen to think books for children are always well-written because children are discerning readers. SO, am I allowed to say I would enjoy these books? 🙂

    Reply

    • jen says

      Most definitely! In fact, I believe it is the NYT review on the cover that says something about it being a page-turner for adults too 🙂

      Reply

  52. Natalie Brown says

    Hello! My grandson isn’t a reader yet, but I would give these books to him. We can read them to him until he knows how to himself. Although, he does like to just go through books and look at the pictures. Thank-you for this chance. 🙂

    Reply

  74. Tina W says

    My nephew Ayden is not quite old enough to read this on his own, but I’m sure he would love to read it along with me!

    Reply

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