Book excerpt: The Super Secret Monster Patrol battles the Hydrant-Hydra, a clean-freak water monster! Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!Sound the alarm -- things are heating up in Stermont! The Super Secret Monster Patrol arms themselves with water balloons to take on their hottest monster yet. But when puddles appear in the streets and the town starts to flood, Alexander and his friends realize there's a different monster splashing about! Get ready for an epic water battle in this fully illustrated, action-packed adventure from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Troy Cummings!