January Joker (Calendar Mysteries Series #1)

by Ron Roy, John Steven Gurney (Illustrator)

Overview

It’s a mystery every month from popular A to Z Mysteries author Ron Roy! With the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries kids!


January is for Joker...
 
In the first book of the Calendar Mysteries—an early chapter book mystery series—Green Lawn has a problem! When Bradley Pinto wakes up in the night to strange lights in his backyard, he wonders if there are aliens in town. When he sees three-toed tracks in the snow, he's sure of it. His twin, Brian, and friends Lucy and Nate aren't so certain. But then Lucy's cousin Dink, the twins' brother Josh, and Nate's sister Ruth Rose all disappear. Are there really aliens in Green Lawn? And where could they be taking Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose?
 
Parents, teachers, and librarians agree that these highly collectible chapter books are perfect for emerging readers and any kid who love mysteries!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780307771698
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	10/20/2010
Series:	Calendar Mysteries: A Stepping Stone Book (TM) , #1
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
Lexile:	380L (what's this?)
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

RON ROY has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries, Capital Mysteries, and Calendar Mysteries. When not working on a new book in his Connecticut home, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books. Visit him online at RonRoy.com.

JOHN STEVEN GURNEY has illustrated many books for children, including the entire A to Z Mysteries series and Scholastic’s popular Bailey School Kids series. He lives in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 1–3—This spin-off of the popular "A to Z Mysteries" series (Random) stars the younger siblings and cousin of sixth-graders Josh, Ruth Rose, and Dink. In this first installment, seven-year-old Bradley wakes up to see strange lights in the backyard. He rouses his twin and friends Nate and Lucy to investigate the strange occurrence and is convinced that aliens have landed in Green Lawn. Bradley has an easier time convincing the others when Josh, Ruth Rose, Dink, and the dog go missing the next day. The kids find a piece of paper about alien abductions in Josh's printer tray and receive two disturbing phone calls from the suspected abductees. Things get even more harried when they catch glimpses of strange creatures and hear thumps in the attic. The story is full of clever twists and turns and is an excellent choice for reluctant readers. This early chapter book should be a hit with young readers.—Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY

School Library Journal

Overactive imaginations and a gentle kind of groupthink combine with tricky sixth-grade siblings (all familiar character to readers of Roy's A to Z Mysteries) to make for one exciting Saturday morning. With all the parents out for breakfast and the older kids left in charge as babysitters, younger siblings Brady, Brian, Nate and Lucy take the bait left by their older siblings. First they see a strange snow circle, then mysterious footprints. Next, an article about aliens left on the missing Josh's computer leads the open-eyed youngsters to imagine the worst: Aliens must have stolen their older brothers and sisters! Frequent recaps and straightforward events make this a fine first mystery for the ready-for-chapter-book set. More experienced readers might find the plot simple and predictable, but new readers have to start somewhere and this is the book for them. A light, easy-to-read introduction to this new series . . . and the A to Z Mysteries they can graduate to, as well. (Mystery. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews

04/27/2015
This chapter book for budding readers launches Calendar Mysteries, a spinoff of Roy's A to Z Mysteries, starring the seven-year-old siblings of that series' protagonists. During a sleepover, twins Bradley and Brian and their friends Nate and Lucy awaken in the middle of the night to find a strange yellow light in the backyard, illuminating two aliens and a circle in the snow that they presume is the imprint of a spaceship. The next morning, the kids discover three-toed footprints on the ground and realize that their older siblings, who are supposed to be babysitting them, are missing. A phone call from the twins' brother, who says he's on a spaceship, confirms their suspicion that he and his friends have been abducted. And it seems as though some aliens have remained behind-in the attic. It won't require any serious sleuthing for readers to detect what's going on, yet believable banter, humorous moments and chipper illustrations add freshness to the mild mystery. Ages 6-9. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly