Dirtball Pete    by Eileen Brennan Order:  USA  Can Random House, 2010 (2010) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch No matter how many times he is washed, scrubbed or hosed off, Dirtball Pete is always dirty. Just like Pigpen from the Peanuts comic strip, he always seems to be engulfed in a cloud of dust. Plus, he's pretty stinky, as demonstrated by pictures of several nose-holding little girls. Dirtball Pete has been assigned to be Pennsylvania for Fifty States Day at school; his mother is determined that he be squeaky clean for the big recital. But when a kid has a natural aura of dirt surrounding him, chances are, he won't be able to remain clean for long. Sure enough, a series of incidents lands Dirtball Pete in his original state of filth, just in time for the school play. Even though his hair is matted with a fork, flowers, and a critter, and his face (as well as his Pennsylvania costume) is covered in smudges, Dirtball Pete makes everyone proud when he is the clearest, loudest speaker in the whole play. A sweet romp through the life of a young child who just loves to have fun, this book, along with its drawings, is sure to appeal to the child in all of us. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews