West Meadows Detectives: The Case of the Snack Snatcher

caseofthesnacksnatcher

West Meadows Detectives: The Case of the Snack Snatcher
by Liam O’Donnell (Author) and Aurélie Grand (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

Meet Myron: a third-grade detective who loves logic, facts, and solving mysteries. He does not love new things. Unfortunately, everything is new this year: Myron has a new baby sister, his family has moved across town, and now he’s starting his first day at a new school. But when the school kitchen is burgled, leaving the morning snacks nowhere to be found, Myron gets his chance to crack the case with help from his classmates from Resource Room 15.

Myron’s unique perspective from the autism spectrum makes him a top-notch sleuth. Similarly, the other kids in his resource room demonstrate creative problem solving and unique talents that come in handy for the case. Together with his detective partner, the hyper-energetic Hajrah, and tech-savvy Danielle, known as “Glitch,” Myron gets to the bottom of the mystery — all while trying to avoid the school bully, Sarah “Smasher” McGuintley, who’s intent on sabotaging their efforts.

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

In chapter 2, Myron meets his new resource room teacher. After his mother leaves, Myron looks around the resource room:

Mr. Harpel smiled at me.
“Welcome, Myron. Come in.”
“Four,” I said.
“Sorry?” Mr. Harpel said.
“You said ‘welcome’ four times,” I said. When someone says something over and over, it’s called repeating. People repeat themselves when they are really serious or really nervous. Good detectives always notice when people repeat themselves.

The dialogue reveals Myron’s personality:

Mr. Harpel smiled at me.
“Welcome, Myron. Come in.”
“Four,” I said.
“Sorry?” Mr. Harpel said.
“You said ‘welcome’ four times,” I said.

Myron’s inner monologue provides context for the reader:

When someone says something over and over, it’s called repeating. People repeat themselves when they are really serious or really nervous. Good detectives always notice when people repeat themselves.

Copyright © 2016 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Little Shaq

littleshaq
Little Shaq
by Shaquille O’Neal (Author) and Theodore Taylor (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

When Little Shaq and his cousin Barry accidentally break their favorite video game, they need to find a way to replace it. That’s when Little Shaq’s science project inspires a solution: a gardening business. They can water their neighbors’ gardens to raise money for a new game! Little Shaq and Barry make a great team both on and off the basketball court, but will their business be as successful as they hoped?

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

There are three chapters in this early chapter book. Chapter one ends this way:

“But what about the video game?” Little Shaq asked. “It’s still broken.”

“Well,” said Dad. “If you boys want a new game, you’ll have to work together to earn it.”

Little Shaq looked over at Barry. He didn’t know how they were going to do that.

At the end of this “set up” chapter, the story problem is quite clear:

“But what about the video game?” Little Shaq asked. “It’s still broken.”

Notice that the adult does NOT solve the problem:

“Well,” said Dad. “If you boys want a new game, you’ll have to work together to earn it.”

As the chapter ends, the main character has a new goal, but no idea how to reach that goal.

Little Shaq looked over at Barry. He didn’t know how they were going to do that.

Copyright © 2016 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.