“The Ice Cream Kid” Makes Brain Freeze Cool and Clever

Irwin Snackcracker is a fun kid with a wacky sense of humor, but he’s pretty normal for the cartoon world in which he lives. Like most kids, he loves ice cream, and tries to get his hands on the frozen treat whenever he can. Little does he know that his pursuit of the frozen delicacy will change his life forever and set him on the road to an epic adventure.

It all begins on an average school day. Irwin is excited about getting to school that day, not just because he hopes to win the Booger Contest, but because he loves the cafeteria food. His favorites are meals that include pizza and tater tots, but his most anticipated treat is ice cream. When Irwin arrives, he finds that the other kids got to the ice cream bin before him and stripped it nearly clean. There’s only one fudgesicle left and a grateful Irvin grabs it and bites in with gusto. This is where things get weird.

As the twinges of a brain freeze begin to creep into Irwin’s head, he undergoes a magical metamorphosis, going from average boy to a superhero named The Ice Cream Kid. His new alter ego possesses powers most kids would love to have, namely lightning speed and the power to communicate with animals. The biggest perk is of course, an ongoing supply of ice cream to keep his powers in tip-top shape.

While Irwin’s powers come as a surprise to him, he’s no stranger to superhuman qualities; his grandfather is Mighty Super Gus, a well-respected hero who – along with Irwin’s sidekick Bert the Pigeon – joins Irwin on his very first mission: saving the city from Sweaty Crocker, a lunch lady with a grudge and an evil heart. Defeating Sweaty won’t be easy, but Irwin is determined. Although he is a little nervous about the big responsibility that rests on his shoulders, he sets aside his everyday life and dedicates himself to his new role as the Ice Cream Kid. Can Irwin harness his sometimes-overwhelming new powers? Can he defeat the wicked lunch lady? You’ll have to read and find out!

The desire to “find out what happens” is, after all, what books like The Ice Cream Kid: Brain Freeze! hope to cultivate in young readers. For many years, parents and teachers, aware of the statistics showing girls advancing far beyond their male classmates in English language arts, have been trying to find ways to make reading accessible and enjoyable for boys from elementary school on. Book series like Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and others in this genre make use of abundant illustrations, bathroom humor, and sharp wit to keep kids hooked on the stories.

Although these series are comedy, they touch on deep issues like family loyalty, emergent romantic feelings, bullying, and academic anxiety in an open honest way kids (particularly boys) can relate to without feeling like they’re watching an “Afterschool Special”. The Ice Cream Kid has some elements that would place it in this genre. Although it’s heavy on the fun and fantasy, it also speaks to kids about the big changes that come with the transition from “little kid” to tween, and the importance of self-esteem during this pivotal time.

The Ice Cream Kid’s author, Todd Clark, has enjoyed a lifelong love of drawing comics. The Idaho-based illustrator is the mind behind the syndicated comic strip “Lola”. His illustrations for The Ice Cream Kid help the book to come alive for kids and make them want to keep turning pages to watch the story unfold.

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