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I absolutely love this. Lego is coming out with a new series of characters, “Women of NASA.”
Check the link for more details.
Of course, part of the inspiration for the new Jigsaw Jones, The Case from Outer Space, comes directly from the female astronauts who work at NASA. I’d give more details on that, but don’t want to ruin any of the book’s surprises by including spoilers here.
The real women pioneers who inspired the Legos.
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To be honest, I haven’t fully embraced Skype visits in the past. I’m not great at technology and I’ve had some headaches with it. I’m kind of an “old guy” in that respect. But at the same time, I’ve had some really nice experiences, too.
So I’ve decided: Yes.
However, there are stipulations . . .
I will agree to a 20-minute, book-specific Q & A session with any classroom where the students have all read the same book. For example, the class reads The Courage Test, or Bystander, or Better Off Undead, or The Case from Outer Space. That kind of thing.
If you are all in, if you have enthusiasm for sharing a particular book, then I’d love to Skype with your students, answer questions, connect. I’ve decided not to charge anything in the hope that schools might use that money, if they have it, to purchase books for the classroom.
Please email me at jamespreller@aol.com, type “SKYPE” in the subject heading, and we can figure out the next step.
Or not!
dear mr. Preller,
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa
I replied:
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Dear Jake,
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A favorite moment from the series, when Jigsaw goes toe-to-toe with Bigs Maloney. Illustration drawn by R.W. Alley.
NOTE: I ran this contest last year (2016), and I’m doing it again. AND ALSO: The odds of winning are not as hard as you might suspect. HINT: Nobody reads blogs anymore!
Welcome, Fearless Readers! Here we are nearing the ghostly season when things go bump, and squish, and hooowl in the night.
I wish remind educators and young readers that the books in my “Scary Tales” series will make your life better by upwards to 63% or less.
No one gets murdered in these stories, everybody comes out okay, but the suspense might rattle your cage. Here’s how you can win a free book.
Yes, free book.
I’ll show six illustrations below by the great Iacopo Bruno, one from each of the “Scary Tales” titles in random order. Beneath that, I’ll list the titles. You or (hopefully) your students or children need to match the illustrations with the correct titles. Then send an email to me at Jamespreller@aol.com under the subject heading SCARY TALES. Entries must be received by October 20th. On that date, I will send a signed book to six randomly-selected fearless readers who respond with their best answers. (Don’t have to be right!)
Please feel free to share this page with friends and foes and fish and fowl alike.
Illustration A:
Illustration B:
Illustration C:
Illustration D:
Illustration E:
Illustration F:
Now match the illustration to one of these six titles:
1. Home Sweet Horror
2. I Scream, You Scream
3. Good Night, Zombie
4. Nightmareland
5. One-Eyed Doll
6. Swamp Monster
THANKS & GOOD LUCK!
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For the first time, I’ll be signing books and speaking at the Morristown Festival of Books. I’ve heard great things about this event. Please click here for full details.
What makes it a little unusual is that this festival features authors for adults as well as children’s books. And unlike many festivals, boasting 75 authors and illustrators, or “more than 90 authors and illustrators,” Morristown does not appear to be focused on quantity. Check the list and you’ll find an impressive array of names. From the children’s side:
I’ll be featuring my new Jigsaw Jones book: THE CASE FROM OUTER SPACE, and many others.
Libba Bray, Scott Westerfeld, Emmy Laybourne, Kate DiCamillo, Tracey Baptiste, Ame Dyckman, Lauren Tarshis, Wendy Mass, and more. Best of all, I believe that all of us will get an opportunity to speak.
Oh yeah, I’m invited, too. Somehow I slipped through their defenses. I’m hoping I have time to hang out and just be a fan, because I love authors, too.
Take heart, Westchester, NY, folks: Please note that the wonderful Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival will be happening the same weekend. I’ve been fortunate to be invited to that one for years — since the old Sunnyside days — but I’m not attending this year because of a mix-up. Meaning: I got mixed up. Oh well, the festival will be perfectly fine without me — and, hey, I landed on my feet with this trip to Morristown.
If you love books, it’s going to be a great weekend!
