" The Splendid Baron Submarine  is delightfully absurd, imaginative, and fun―a wonderful book for middleschool children to read on their own, and an even better book for families to read aloud together."  - Foreword Reviews, Starred Review Pirate treasure? A top secret mission? A terribly rude monkey with personal boundary and hygiene issues? Two out of three of those things sound like a dream come true to the young, clumsy, and terribly unscientific Waldo “W.B.” Baron, when his clever inventor parents are hired to go on a secret treasure hunt. The Baron family dives into adventure with their steam-powered submarine, but they aren’t prepared for the complications that occur during their trip, which include shark attacks, deep sea diving mishaps, and even a pirate’s curse, all of which W.B. is lucky enough to discover, one stumble, trip, and fall at a time. " The Splendid Baron Submarine is delightfully absurd, imaginative, and fun--a wonderful book for middleschool children to read on their own, and an even better book for families to read aloud together." - Foreword Reviews, Starred Review --Foreword Reviews "Kids will thrill over reading this book." - Story Monsters Ink --Story Monsters Ink Gr 5-7-W.B. Baron, star of The Magnificent Flying Baron Estate, is back with another adventure. This time W.B., his inventor parents, and their assistant Rose Blackwood are off on a mission to save the United States from bankruptcy. All they have to do is find a sunken pirate ship and its treasure. Fortunately, they have just invented a miniature "underwater ship" that, when transformed by the Bigging Machine, turns into the splendid submarine of the title. This second entry in the series contains many familiar elements: W.B.'s fear of squirrels, wacky inventions by his brilliant but scatterbrained father, mystery, and danger--all told with dry humor as a story-within-a-story. Rose Blackwood has a larger role here, transformed from an outcast to a valuable inventors' assistant. Other new additions include a monkey, three ghosts, Vice President Levi P. Morton, and an increased element of suspense. The novel includes aspects of history and science as well as themes of belonging, acceptance, and the importance of creativity and adaptability. Fans of the first book will be eager to read this sequel. VERDICT While not quite as clever and, by necessity, less surprising than the first book, readers will nevertheless enjoy another outing with the Baron family. -Gina Petrie, Catawba College Library, NC --School Library Journal Waldo “W.B.” Baron is back with another amazing adventure in another incredible invention! Pirate treasure? A clandestine meeting? A terribly rude monkey with personal boundary and hygiene issues? Two of those things sound like a dream come true to W.B, whose clever inventor parents are hired—by the Vice President!—to go on a super secret and intensely important treasure hunt to repay a national debt. If only it weren’t for that lousy, rude monkey, it would be the beginning of a perfect adventure. But at least it isn’t squirrels… The treasure hunt gives the Baron family the opportunity to use their exceptional steam-powered submarine, freshly biggened and ready for adventure! But things are seldom straightforward for the eccentric Baron family, and this treasure hunt is no exception. W.B.’s trademark bad luck has him suffering monstrous marine misfortune and marauding monkey misery. Can the Baron family embark on their newest adventure without the eggy and depressing Aunt Dorcas? Will the Barons find the treasure they seek? Will they save the country from financial ruin? Where does the monkey fit in, anyway? Do we like asking questions? Not really, but inside you’ll meet someone who likes asking questions and then answering them (despite his claims to the contrary, he really does like it). Oh, did we mention the pirate’s curse? Eric Bower is the author of "The Bizarre Baron Inventions" series. He was born in Denville, New Jersey, an event of which he has little recollection, yet the people who were there have repeatedly assured him that it happened. He currently lives in Pasadena, California. His favorite type of pasta is cavatappi, his favorite movie is The Palm Beach Story, and he is the proud recipient of a "Beanology Degree" from Jelly Belly University in Fairfield, California. His wife and family have told him that the degree is nothing to be proud of, since "It's not a real degree. You know that... Right?" and "Eric, they literally give them to everyone who visits the Jelly Belly factory," but he knows they're all just jealous.