Directed by Kaspar Snit »

Cary Fagan is an award-winning writer for both young readers and adults. In addition to several picture books published with Tundra, he also wrote the award-winning biography of Chan Hon Goh, Beyond the Dance: A Ballerina’s Life. He has won a Mr. Christie’s Silver Medal for Daughter of the Great Zandini, a City of Toronto Book Award for an anthology he co-edited, and the Jewish Book Committee Prize for Fiction. Cary Fagan lives in Toronto.

Fresh from their victory over the nasty Kaspar Snit, — who was last seen trying to steal the fountains of Rome in The Fortress of Kaspar Snit — the Blande family have certainly earned a rest. They’re not actually an average family (what average family has the power to fly?), but they like to relax in front of the TV like everyone else.

Their favorite show (except for Dad) is the hugely popular hit, “The Zoomers.” When it’s Zoomer time, mom makes a batch of popcorn, Solly settles his rat GW on his shoulder, and Eleanor watches avidly as the Zoomer family of superheroes set off on their weekly adventure. But Eleanor’s noticed an odd detail: the director is one I. M. Partankiss. And that’s none other than Kaspar Snit. Surely he must have reformed? After all, he is planning to donate a million dollars to his beloved native land, Verulia. Problem is, “The Zoomers” won’t be seen on TV until a million dollars has been raised.

The Blande parents are off to a romantic vacation in Tuscany and Eleanor and Solly are left in the care of their new, extraordinary nanny, Mrs. Leer, and so the fun begins. The adventures they embark on are much more exciting than anything they’ve seen on “The Zoomers.”

The thousands of readers who made The Fortress of Kaspar Snit such a success will welcome Cary Fagan’s laugh-out-loud sequel. Not only does this book stand alone as a hilarious story, but it also introduces the most memorable nanny since Mary Poppins.

Children's Literature

The flying Blande family and villain, Kaspar Snit, return in this sequel to The Fortress of Kaspar Snit. Eleanor and Solly along with their parents settle in to watch their favorite superhero family, The Zoomers, on the television. The astute Eleanor figures out that I. M. Partankiss, the writer, producer, and director of the family's favorite show is really Kaspar Snit. Although he manages to make a new career for himself, Snit has some tricks up his sleeve. Later that evening after the television show, the parents announce that they are going to Tuscany for vacation while the children stay at home. Eleanor and Solly are both disappointed because they must stay at home. They're also unhappy due to the promise of no flying while their parents are away. The children are left in the care of Mrs. Leer, the proud card-carrying member of the International Union of Extraordinary Caregivers. Although Mrs. Leer is an extraordinary nanny who wears apple-pie-and-vanilla-ice-cream-scented perfume, the children still miss their parents. In order to cheer up Solly, Mrs. Leer takes the children to Partankiss Productions where The Zoomers television show is made. Kaspar Snit has his own devious plans and agenda for the Blandes. The story is a lighthearted adventure with family, fun, and quirky qualities.