Kate Klise

From the creators of the award-winning Three-Ring Rascals and 43 Old Cemetery Road series! Is the sweet town of Appleton ripe for scandal? Consider the facts: Appleton Elementary School has a new librarian named Rita B. Danjerous. (Say it fast.) Principal Noah Memree barely remembers hiring her. Ten-year-old Reid Durr is staying up way too late reading a book from Ms. Danjerous's controversial "green dot" collection. The new school board president has mandated a student dress code that includes white gloves and bow ties available only at her shop. Sound strange? Fret not. Appleton's fifth-grade sleuths are following the money, embracing the punny, and determined to the get to the funniest, most rotten core of their town's juiciest scandal. Don't miss this seedy saga!

Don't Check Out This Book!

Candyce Kirk

The unique format was the first things that caught my eye with this book. Don't Check Out This Book is told through e-mails, text messages, written notes and newspaper articles! I really enjoyed that each aspect was unique and looked really cute. The few illustrations throughout the book were a really nice touch. It's simple, but it really works!

Don't Check Out This Book! is a cute and fun book filled with a lot of puns that made me laugh. I especially love the names that were definitely chosen carefully (Rita B. Danjerous, May B Danjerous, Reid Durr, Ivana Beprawpa) and fit this story. Even though it took me a bit to realize they were puns, haha.

Rita is the new librarian in a small town and starts a library. Her "green dot books" have been getting popular and have students staying up past their bed time! It's even greater when the adults start joining in. Our "villain" Ivana Beprawpa isn't having this and tries to stop everyone from not being proper citizens.

Don't Check Out This Book! is an introduction to more serious subjects as censorship, banned books and even corruption. I loved how the right to read and the joy of it was very clear. At times though this book felt a bit too serious for this age group. Also, the beginning was a bit abrupt and I felt like I needed just a little more backstory. All in all, this was a really fast and fun read. I think children will enjoy this book!

Don't Check Out This Book!

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