James Preller

I just reread this old favorite of mine and, damn, it's short but as good as I remembered.

It's just the story of a baseball match, a little league final between two teams called "Northeast Gas & Electric" vs "Earl Grubb's Pool Supplies". It's basically a play by play description of the game, from the point of view of the "Earl Grubb's" players.

That sounds awful, I know, but it's written with so much passion for the game, and with such a heart-felt examination of the characters, their show more motivations, their hopes and fears, that it's more entertaining and moving than it has any right to be. It's a book about baseball, of course, but also about friendship, and the joys and sorrows of team sports.

If you have no familiarity at all with baseball you can get a bit lost in the technicalities, but the passion still comes through.

Just another reminder that really good children's literature can be enjoyed by adults, and if you have a kid who likes sports, this is a great choice as a gift. show less

This gem of a book is filled with unimaginably gross concepts (undoubtedly means kids will find it hysterical) described in catchy rhyme and rhythm. As we follow Awful Ogre through his daily routine, the fantastical illustrations depict each story detail and perfectly accompany the text. Rich vocabulary throughout make this a treasure trove for word study. Another application would be to use it as a character study of Awful Ogre--many details of his personality are given explicitly and show more others are possible to infer. show less

Why has no one ever thought to do this before? James Preller is starting a new series of scary stories for young readers. The book is just under 100 pages, has plenty of spooky black and white illustrations, and it looks like they will be retellings of classic scary tales.

Eight-year-old Liam is as thrilled as any other kid to move to a new house in a new town, especially when it turns out to basically be the haunted house of the neighborhood. In other words: Not much. He's even more nervous show more when he hears mysterious noises and sees mysterious things he can't explain. Then his big sister Kelly and her best friend Mitali think it would be fun to play a scary game; Bloody Mary. To their shock, the horror becomes real. Dum dum DUM. There is an appropriately terrifying but ultimately happy ending and readers are ready for the next tale of thrills and chills.

The black and white illustrations are appropriately grim and gruesome without being too terrifyingly graphic. The illustrator even manages to make a simple unplugged cord look menacing! Preller manages to be scary without being overly dramatic or silly and while I wouldn't hand this series to parents who have concerns about ghosts, witchcraft, etc. the average kid will gobble them up with delight.

Verdict: This is AWESOME. Perfect for kids who desperately want scary stories, but aren't ready for Goosebumps or Alvin Schwartz. Buy several copies and I promise you will not regret it.

ISBN: 9781250018861; Published July 2013 by Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan; ARC provided by the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2013; Purchased for the library show less

Jigsaw Jones can't refuse Sally-Ann Simm's puppy dog eyes. When the four-and-a-half-year old asks him for help in getting her money back from bully Bobby Solofsky, he agrees, even though she can't pay the fee. The problem is, Bobby used a fair bet to get the money, even if it was a dirty trick to use advanced scientific knowledge on a girl not even in kindergarten. While he is considering this challenge, a few other puzzles pop up. First, his partner in detecting, Mila Yeh, gives him a new show more code to crack. Second, the volcano that girls in his classroom bring in as a science experiment has a smelly problem. Using his intellect, his scientific knowledge, and help from friends and family, Jigsaw figures out this new batch of mysteries baffling him.

The Jigsaw Jones series is one of many beginning reader chapter books that use mystery as a hook for new readers. I love mysteries, so I have no issues with the preponderance of this genre. Nonetheless, I look for books that are quality at all levels of writing; just because a children's book is a mystery, doesn't mean that it is a good book. Jigsaw Jones is a good book. The writing is engaging and uses a blend of easy-to-read words and more advanced vocabulary. The cartoony illustrations break up the text, and the code puzzle can challenge readers along with Jigsaw. The element that makes me appreciate the series even more is the nod to old noir mysteries. Everything is scaled down to a child's level, and is innocent and appropriate, but within that context, Jigsaw acts like a miniature Sam Spade. A creative tone, good characters and strong morals, and a clever story make this a winner in the beginning chapter book realm. I will certainly check out other books in the series. show less