Benji Franklin: Kid Zillionaire

After 12-year-old genius Benji Franklin designs an excuse-generating app to help kids get out of doing chores, he amasses a fast, vast fortune in this upbeat series launch from Bean. In none-too-humble narration, Benji explains that, because of his name, people have always expected greatness from him: “Not to brag, but I didn’t disappoint.... At five, I was able to read in six different languages, including Dolphin (EE-EEEK!).” The story ricochets between outlandish—Benji uses his smarts to capture escaped dinosaurs cloned by paleontologists and helps a British billionaire intercept an asteroid—and (somewhat) down-to-earth, as he tries to use his know-how and wealth “for the greater good.” To that end, the young tycoon arranges for a farm to be donated to sustain a depleted food pantry and masterminds a plan to bring aid to an economically depressed town. Vimislik’s halftone cartoons underpin the madcap aspects of the story, whose high energy, goofy science-fictional elements, and punchy dialogue reinforce its appeal. Ages 7–10. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.)