The Case from Outer Space (Jigsaw Jones Mysteries)
Author: James Preller
Genre: Children's Fiction
Release Date: August 8, 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Description:
Jigsaw Jones is back! In this brand new,
original mystery from James Preller, Jigsaw and his crew—Mila, Joey,
and Danika—find a clue that implies an alien may be about to visit their
school! Can it be true? And what does the Little Free Library have that
aliens from outer space might want?
(Hint: The school librarian has invited a special guest to talk about space exploration—an astronaut!)
Friendship,
mystery, and school-day shenanigans are what make the Jigsaw Jones
chapter book mysteries beloved and read over and over. Includes a word
jumble (names of planets in solar system), writing prompts, and
information on how to start a little free library (which are taking hold
in many parts of the country)!
Praise for JIGSAW JONES: THE CASE FROM OUTER SPACE:
"Jigsaw Jones is back! Preller's
puzzle-solving second grader returns for his first mystery in 10 years,
coinciding with the republication of four original "Jigsaw Jones"
mysteries. Fans will be happy to once more see Jigsaw, fellow detective
Mila Yeh, teacher Mrs. Gleason, and other familiar friends. Here,
classmates Joey and Danika find a mysterious note in a book they
borrowed from a neighbor's Little Free Library. They are convinced it
means that aliens are coming. ... As usual, Preller brings the threads
together in the end. ...Those who enjoy Preller's works for younger
readers will welcome the return of Jigsaw Jones. Highly recommended,
especially for devotees of series such as David A. Adler's "Cam Jansen,"
Ron Roy's "A to Z Mysteries" and "Calendar Mysteries," and, of course,
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's "Nate the Great."―School Library Journal
Chapter 1
A Knock on the Door
Call me Jones.
Jigsaw Jones, private eye.
I solve mysteries. For a dollar a day, I
make problems go away. I’ve found stolen bicycles, lost jewelry, and
missing parakeets. I’ve even tangled with dancing ghosts and haunted
scarecrows.
Mysteries can happen anywhere, at any
time. One thing I’ve learned in this business is that anyone is a
suspect. That includes friends, family, and a little green man from
outer space.
Go figure.
It was a lazy Sunday morning. Outside my
window, it looked like a nice spring day. The sky was blue with wispy
clouds that looked like they had been painted by an artist. A swell day
for a ball game. Or a mystery. Maybe both if I got lucky.
I was standing at my dining room table,
staring at a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. It was supposed to be a picture of
our solar system. The sun and eight planets. But right now it was a
mess. Scattered pieces lay everywhere. I scratched my head and munched
on a blueberry Pop-Tart. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right. As a
cook, I’m pretty good with a toaster. I began working on the border,
grouping all the pieces that had a flat edge. Sooner or later, I’d work
my way through the planets. The rust red of Mars. The rings of Saturn.
And the green tint of Neptune. I’ve never met a puzzle I couldn’t solve.
That’s because I know the secret. The simple trick? Don’t give up.
Don’t ever give up.
My dog, Rags, leaped at the door. He
barked and barked. A minute later, the doorbell rang. Ding-a-ling,
ding-dong.That’s the thing about Rags. He’s faster than a doorbell.
People have been coming to our house all his life. But for my dog, it’s
always the most exciting thing that ever happened.
Every single time.
“Get the door, Worm,” my brother Billy said. He was sprawled on the couch, reading a book. Teenagers, yeesh.
“Why me?” I complained.
“Because I’m not doing it.”
Billy kept reading.
Rags kept barking.
And the doorbell kept ringing.
Somebody was in a hurry.
I opened the door. Joey Pignattano and
Danika Starling were standing on my stoop. We were in the same class
together, room 201, with Ms. Gleason.
“Hey, Jigsaw!” Danika waved. She bounced on her toes. The bright beads in her hair clicked and clacked.
“Boy, am I glad to see you!” Joey exclaimed. He burst into the room. “Got any water?”
“I would invite you inside, Joey,” I said, “but you beat me to it.”
Danika smiled.
“I ate half a bag of Jolly Ranchers this morning,” Joey announced. “Now my tongue feels super weird!”
“That’s not good for your teeth,” I said.
Joey looked worried. “My tongue isn’t good for my teeth? Are you sure? They both live inside my mouth.”
“Never mind,” I said.
“Pipe down, guys!” Billy complained. “I’m reading here.”
“Come into the kitchen,” I told Joey and Danika. “We’ll get fewer complaints. Besides, I’ve got grape juice. It’s on the house.”
“On the house?” Joey asked. “Is it safe?”
I blinked. “What?”
“You keep grape juice on your roof?” Joey asked.
Danika gave Joey a friendly shove. “Jigsaw said ‘on the house.’ He means it’s free, Joey,” she said, laughing.
Joey pushed back his glasses with an index finger. “Free? In that case, I’ll take a big glass.”
Text copyright © 2017 by James Preller
Illustrations copyright © 2017 by R. W. Alley
You can purchase Jigsaw Jones: The Case from Outer Space at the following Retailers:
James Preller (born 1961) is the
children's book author of the Jigsaw Jones Mysteries, which are
published by Scholastic Corporation. He grew up in Wantagh, New York and
went to college in Oneonta, New York. After graduating from college in
1983, James Preller was employed as a waiter for one year before being
hired as a copywriter by Scholastic Corporation, where he was introduced
(through their books) to many noatable children's authors. This
inspired James Preller to try writing his own books. James Preller
published his first book, entitled MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue, in 1986.
Since that time, James Preller has written a variety of books, and has
written under a number of pen names, including Mitzy Kafka, James
Patrick, and Izzy Bonkers. James Preller lives in Delmar, New York with
his wife Lisa and their three children.
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