7 Ate 9: The Untold Story by Tara Lazar ill by Ross MacDonald
Are you ready for a mystery filled with delicious puns? If so, make room on your shelf for 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story. Private I of the Al F. Bet Detective Agency is stunned when new client 6, barges into his office, begging for help. He announces "word on the street" is that 7 ate 9. Now he fears that 7 is coming to get him. Private I is on the case. He tracks down 7, 8, 11, and even B the waitress; searching for clues as the whereabouts of 7 and 9. At the book's conclusion, the mystery is solved and all ends well. Observant readers will anticipate what is coming and quickly figure out what happened to the missing digit. "I have solved this numerical nonsense." |
It is nearly impossible to keep track of all the clever puns packed into every page. Tara Lazar hits a mother lode of them here. "I knew about this 7 fella. He was odd." "But if 7 was gone, then where was 9? It didn't add up." MacDonald's visual puns will keep readers glued to the pages, looking for more clues. (Check out waitress B in Cafe Uno, who has the scoop. Be sure to take note of today's special.) Kudos to the designer who selected the color-coded numerals sprinkled throughout the text. |
This story begs for multiple readings and is perfect for a read aloud. The tale could serve as a script for a delightful Readers Theater. Help youngsters make a few simple props to add to the frivolity. It works well for math class (make a list of all the references to numbers, create a cast of number suspects with a description of each number), a lesson on puns, and of course creating mysteries with a twist. Thanks Tara and Ross for this most entertaining picture book. Word and number play has never been so much fun! |
Tara Lazar Book Trailers: The Mysteries Continue
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