Corl Street Welcomes Author James Preller on Friday, May 13, 2011
Corl Street’s tradition of hosting a well-known author and/or illustrator continues this year with James Preller. Author
visits are a powerful opportunity for students to learn about the writing process and to be encouraged in their personal
writing and reading. Personalized, autographed books make great gifts for your own children, extended family, and bookloving friends. If you would like to purchase any books, please fill out this order form. Feel free to stop by the Corl
Street library to review some of James Preller’s books.
Orders Due:
Friday, March 11
Checks Payable to:
Questions?
“Corl St. PTO”
Contact Kim Faulds (PTO chair) at kim.faulds@hotmail.com (867-4259)
or Paije Davis (librarian) at pss12@scasd.org (231-1185)
Student Name: _________________________ Phone #: ______________Email:_________________
Book Title
# of Books
Paperback Price
# of Books
Hardcover Price
Jigsaw Jones:
Case of Hermie, the Missing Hamster
$5
Case of the Best Pet Ever
$4
Case of the Buried Treasure
$5
Case of the Christmas Snowman
$5
Case of the Class Clown
$5
Case of the Disappearing Dinosaur
$5
Case of the Food Fight
$4
Case of the Groaning Ghost
$4
Case of the Kidnapped Candy
$4
Case of the Marshmallow Monster
$5
Case of the Secret Valentine
$5
Case of the Snowboarding Superstar
$5
Case of the Spooky Sleepover
$5
Hiccups for Elephants
Not Available in Hardcover
$4
A Pirate’s Guide to First Grade
Not Available in Paperback
$17
Justin Fisher Declares War!
Not Available in Paperback
$16
Along Came Spider
Bystander
Note: Topic of bullying. Theme and content
appropriate for older children.
Total number of books: _______
$6
X
Not Available in Paperback
X
$17
Total Amount Due: ___________
For book inscriptions, please use this format. Additional book inscriptions attached.
To whom the book should be inscribed: _________________________ ________________________________________
Title of Book: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Ordered by (Student Name) _______________________________Teacher and Room#______________________________
To whom the book should be inscribed: _________________________ ________________________________________
Title of Book: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Ordered by (Student Name) _______________________________Teacher and Room#______________________________
To whom the book should be inscribed: _________________________ ________________________________________
Title of Book: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Ordered by (Student Name) _______________________________Teacher and Room#______________________________
To whom the book should be inscribed: _________________________ ________________________________________
Title of Book: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Ordered by (Student Name) _______________________________Teacher and Room#______________________________
To whom the book should be inscribed: _________________________ ________________________________________
Title of Book: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Ordered by (Student Name) _______________________________Teacher and Room#______________________________
To whom the book should be inscribed: _________________________ ________________________________________
Title of Book: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Ordered by (Student Name) _______________________________Teacher and Room#______________________________
To whom the book should be inscribed: _________________________ ________________________________________
Title of Book: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Ordered by (Student Name) _______________________________Teacher and Room#______________________________
Featured Books Written by James Preller
JIGSAW JONES SERIES: The Case of…
Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster (Grade level: K-2)
Wingnut's hamster is missing! Jigsaw and his partner, Mila, are on the case. They are searching for clues and piecing
together the mystery. This is a job for Jigsaw Jones, Private Eye.
Case of the Best Pet Ever (Grade level: K-2)
With his top-secret detective journal, eye for detail, and ace partner Mila, Jigsaw is always ready to take on a new case.
But this latest mystery is for the dogs! The pet store is having a pet show! All the neighborhood kids sign up. The most
talented pet wins a shiny gold medal. But when the big day comes, the prize---poof--- disappears! Now, Jigsaw and his
dog Rags have to enter the contest themselves so they can solve this mystery and make the town safe for dogs, cats,
goldfish, and even iguanas!
Case of the Buried Treasure (Grade level: K-2)
Jigsaw is hunting for clues when he finds a mysterious treasure map. It¹s a wintry Jigsaw Jones mystery!
Case of the Christmas Snowman (Grade level: K-2)
It's nearly Christmas and the class is bustling with holiday excitement. But Lucy is not happy at all. She's lost her father's
rare coin. Jigsaw is sure he can solve the mystery, even if it means interviewing a tough suspect, Bigs Malone, the biggest
kid in the second grade.
Case of the Class Clown (Grade level: K-2)
Jigsaw and Mila investigate when someone in Ms. Gleason's class plays practical jokes.
Case of the Disappearing Dinosaur (Grade level: K-2)
Now you see it, now you don¹t! Danika is doing a magic act at Big¹s birthday party. For her biggest trick, she makes Big¹s
favorite toy disappear. Poof! It¹s gone! But where did it go? Even Danika doesn¹t know! Time for Jigsaw and Mila to use
their own tricks to fix this mixed-up magic!
Case of the Food Fight (Grade level: K-2)
FOOD FIGHT! When someone starts a food fight in the school cafeteria, everyone points a finger at Joey Pignattano,
notorious milk-snorter and all-around gross-out. But Jigsaw knows Joey has a good heart. Joey would never throw food he
could eat instead! Now Jigsaw has only twenty-four hours to clear Joey's name before the evidence gets mopped up--and
Joey gets permanently banned from the school cafeteria! Luckily, no case is too big---or too messy---for Jigsaw Jones and
his partner Mila Yeh, the best detectives in the second grade!
Case of the Groaning Ghost (Grade level: K-2)
When ghosts start haunting Jigsaw's classmates close to Halloween, there's a new ghost-buster in town -- Bobby Solofsky!
He's stealing Jigsaw's clients right and left. Now that's spooky! Can Jigsaw prove that Bobby's ghosts are nothing to be
afraid of?
Case of the Kidnapped Candy (Grade level: K-2)
The best detective in second grade is back -- and this time, he's cracking a Valentine's Day mystery! When the class's
Valentine's Day candy stash disappears, it's up to Jigsaw and Mila to figure out who stole it. But there's more than one
person with a sweet tooth in Ms. Gleason's classroom, so solving the mystery won't be easy. This case is no sweet treat!
Case of the Marshmallow Monster (Grade level: K-2)
On a camping trip, Jigsaw and Mila investigate the area around a nearby lake to determine if the Marshmallow Monster
haunts it.
Case of the Secret Valentine (Grade level: K-2)
Second-grade sleuth Jigsaw Jones loves to solve puzzles--and mysteries. Valentine's Day promises classroom fun, cards,
treats, and a case only Jigsaw can solve.
Case of the Snowboarding Superstar (Grade level: K-2)
Jigsaw and his family bond during a wintry weekend getaway complete with snowboarding and sledding -- but a real
detective, like Jigsaw Jones, is never truly off-duty. When trouble hits the slopes, Jigsaw gears up to solve a puzzling
mystery, and all without the aid of his partner, Mila. Can Jigsaw solve the case before his family packs their bags for
home?
Case of the Spooky Sleepover (Grade level: K-2)
Jigsaw Jones finds himself investigating the perfect case and piecing together all the ghostly clues, when Ralphie Jones
cannot sleep at night because something is making scary noises in his room.
Hiccups for Elephants (Grade level: K-2)
None of the other animals can sleep because Elephant has the hiccups.
A Pirate’s Guide to First Grade (Grade level: K-2)
Told entirely in pirate lingo, this story follows a boy and his entourage of ethereal salty dogs through the first day of
school. “Me great scurvy dog slurped me kisser when I was tryin' t' get me winks!” The protagonist's fruitful imagination
turns ordinary routine into a high-seas adventure complete with a small, skirted buccaneer walking the plank during
recess. In the end, where does X mark the spot? School Library Journal
Justin Fisher Declares War (Grade level: 4-6 )
Justin Fisher is lonely. Last year, he was the class clown; now, in fifth grade, he's somehow turned into the class jerk. His antics
in school and out are not getting him laughs–they're getting him in trouble. As he is sent to the principal again and again, he
becomes more and more desperate to fit in. Fortunately, with the help of an understanding teacher and a new friend, the boy
learns how to be funny without being mean and saves the day at the school talent show. This quiet, universal story about a
regular kid acting out who just needs a hand will make a good classroom read. Preller handles sensitive issues with dignity, and
kids will identify with Justin's eagerness to be liked and his snarky jokes. School Library Journal
Along Came Spider (Grade level: 3–5)
Fifth-grader Spider Stevens is athletic and friendly, causing his social star to be on the rise. His longtime friend and
neighbor, Trey Cooper, is less accepted by their peers due to his odd personality. Several of the traits that Preller describes
could be associated with autism spectrum disorder, but Trey's condition is never stated outright. Throughout the story,
Spider tries to include Trey and be friendly with his other classmates, but it proves increasingly difficult. Other characters
include a quirky school librarian ready to reach out to Trey and Ava, a smart and strong classmate. This is essentially a
story of doing what is right instead of what peer pressure dictates and accepting people as they are. The fact that Trey and
Ava are extremely self-aware and kindhearted is a redeeming quality, but the book could prove too uneventful for its
intended audience. That's too bad because Trey is a sweet character and Preller's message is a good one. School Library
Journal.
Bystander (Grade level: 6–9)
Eric Hayes has moved from Ohio to Long Island, NY, with his mother and younger brother. His schizophrenic father left long
ago. Eric soon meets Griffin Connelly, a handsome kid with natural leadership, lots of charisma, and a real mean streak. While
Griffin is the perfect bully, David Hallenback is the perfect victim: beaten down and willing to do anything to get Griffin's
approval. At first, Eric is a bystander, not participating in the bullying but not doing anything to stop it. However, several events
move him out of this passive role: Griffin steals from him and reveals Eric's confidences about his father; adults at school
address bullying; and Mary, a girl he likes, takes a stand against it. Eric realizes that his silence makes him complicit and speaks
out, only to become Griffin's next victim. Preller has perfectly nailed the middle school milieu, and his characters are well
developed with authentic voices. The novel has a parable-like quality, steeped in a moral lesson, yet not ploddingly didactic.
The action moves quickly, keeping readers engaged. The ending is realistic: there's no strong resolution, no punishment or
forgiveness. Focusing on the large majority of young people who stand by mutely and therefore complicitly, this must-read
book is a great discussion starter. School Library Journal