Tag Archive for Jigsaw Jones The Case of the Secret Skeleton

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #350: Amelia Sends a Summer Code!

June 15, 2026 / / No comments
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Often when I receive letters from readers, I am aware of an adult’s presence somewhere in the background. Perhaps suggesting the letter, helping to make this connection happen, going out and buying stamps, and mostly just sharing and fostering an enthusiasm for reading. I’ve been there. We want so desperately for our children to love books, to love reading. Usually that adult is invisible. But I can sense there’s a great teacher at work in there somewhere, gently guiding, or an entire family that celebrates books and reading and writing. I see them at book festivals. Mom, Dad, three kids with big eyes and bagful of books. On rare occasions, I hear from them directly. 
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Hello James,
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My daughter, Amelia, just finished 2nd grade and finished all of your jigsaw jones books. She wrote you a letter but we’re having trouble finding what address to send it to. Could you please let us know so we can mail it to you? Thank you!
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And, from an appreciative Mom, thank you for the very entertaining, wholesome and educational book series! We started reading them out loud a year and a half ago for our bedtime stories and they were perfect as Jigsaw was learning about the same things as my daughter and she LOVES anything detective related! It’s hard to find a great book series that’s age appropriate and encourages reading at a young age and we found your stories so much fun! Thank you!
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A few days later, I received a letter and a secret code in the mail. I’ll type out the letter, as the pencil is tough to read in this format: 
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Dear James Preller, 
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Thank you for writing the Jigsaw Jones books. My name is Amelia and I have just finished 2nd grade. My favorite part was when he solved the mysterys. My favorite character is Jigsaw and Mila because my short name is Mila. 
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I have read them all!
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Thanks again for writing them. 
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From Amelia (Mila)!
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And Amelia, a detective herself, included a brain-busting Summer Code and a nifty illustration!
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I replied . . . 

Dear Amelia,

Wow!

I love your Summer Code — thank you for that — and your illustration of Rags. You are so talented.

When I was your age, and even younger, I used to draw all the time. And then came horses.

I could not draw a horse to save my life. They all looked like sick water buffaloes. Ack! And in response, I did the worst thing anyone can do: I gave up. I stopped drawing.

Defeated by a horse.

I can’t believe you read ALL the Jigsaw Jones books. Are you sure?

I’m going to include one in the mail for you, since I think it’s hard to find. It originally came with a mini tape recording device that played six snippets of dialogue from the book. It was a special deal with the Scholastic Book Club. Crazy, right?

But even without it, the book stands on its own. Hopefully you’ll like it.

And if it’s true that you’ve read that hard-to-find book, too, then I’ll gladly give you one bazillion dollars!

(No, not really.)

I’m happy I helped you along on your reading adventure. You are just beginning and there are so many great books out there fo you to discover. Even now, I feel that same excitement every time I read a new book. The world is a vast and beautiful place —- we are so lucky to be alive to enjoy it —- and books are part of that pleasure.

I love trees and birds and mountains and ice cream and readers like Amelia and librarians and music and dogs and . . .

On and on and on it goes.

Have an amazing summer!

Wait.

Do they even have summers in Minnesota? I’ve heard about your winters. Brrr!

My best,

James Preller

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Category: Fan Mail, Jigsaw Jones / Tags: , , ,
 
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