Jack the Tripper
Grade 1–3—A zany story line spins out a tale of escalating behaviors at Benjamin Dizzie Elementary that begins with a single lie: "'I got tripped!' [Polly] cried as she stumbled into the classroom. 'I was minding my own business…just thinking about my book report—myextra longbook report—when out of nowhere, there he was!'" One thing leads to the next, as child after child is tripped by The Tripper, bringing attention to themselves and, in some cases, providing a convenient excuse for missing candy or having a day off school. But clever Dr. Dizzie, the school's founder, who "combed his hair with a fork and his best friend was a monkey," is on to their tricks. The watercolor illustrations feature hilarious expressions, unique perspectives, and distinctive use of color to separate each child's story from the background scene. Kids will enjoy finding visual clues to help them figure out what is going on.—Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.