Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game is a new prequel to Chris Grabenstein’s amazing Mr. Lemoncello series. Here’s what it’s all about:
Luigi has a knack for games and puzzles. But sometimes it feels like the cards are stacked against him. UNTIL a carnival arrives in town and Luigi gets the CHANCE OF A LIFETIME—the opportunity to work for the world famous Professor Marvelmous–a dazzling, banana-hat-wearing barker who puts the SHOW in SHOWMAN! When the carnival closes, Professor Marvelmous leaves behind a mysterious puzzle box along with a clue. A clue that will lead Luigi and his friends on a fantastical treasure hunt to a prize beyond anything they could imagine–if they can find it!
Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game is the perfect prequel to the fantabulous Mr. Lemoncello series. It has it all: fun-loving Luigi as a young teen, puzzles, wordplay, misled bullies, family feuds, fun foods, quotable quotes, timeless wisdom, character lessons, and even balloons.
Chris Grabenstein has created the perfect blend of fun and learning with this series, and he really knocks it out of the park with Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game. He traces Mr. Lemoncello’s witticisms, character traits, and unique style back to his thirteenth summer and shares how they were each formed. This makes for a fun story, but the thoroughness and signature flair with which he does so is awesome. The story is tight, the characters true to the series, and there’s depth that can really be mined in multiple ways.
Which is one thing I really love about Grabenstein’s stories in this series. Many authors writing for the middle-grade audience and younger water down the content or resort to lame jokes that involve bodily functions or sound like something from a locker room – but while he definitely has a unique sense of humor, he clearly respects kids enough not to talk down to them. He pays attention to issues that kids have at this age and writes stories that address them while still being fun – and that can’t be easy. Grabenstein writes with strong sentence structure and good vocabulary while keeping the stories easy to read, as well – it’s obvious that he’s a good writer in both skill and content.
Each book in the Mr. Lemoncello series has a ‘moral of the story,’ if you will: some type of life lesson wrapped up in fun, puzzles, and balloons. Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game takes that concept a few steps further, however, and shows how Luigi L. Lemoncello’s character is formed during that all-important thirteenth summer – and then how those lessons shape the man that he becomes and the lessons he teaches in the other books. This not only shows off Grabenstein’s character, but it makes these lessons accessible for the kids reading these books – and gives adults everywhere the opportunity to have fun sharing these with kids.
These are crucial character lessons like:
- What do you do when you don’t fit in?
- How should you handle bullies?
- How far should you go to help a friend – or your family?
- What is a gift – and how can you identify it?
- How can you tell where your future path leads?
- How should you handle betrayal?
- What things in life are valuable?
- How can you tell truth from lies – or jealousy?
Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game is a book that belongs on every bookshelf in America – along with the rest of the series. We need more examples of wisdom, kindness, and understanding. In a culture that tries to shove everyone into the same box of expectations, we need more people who understand that everyone has different gifts and talents and that it’s okay to be good at your own thing. We need people who are good at solving problems and good with people and good at building things and good at critical thinking and good with literature and good with kids and good with business – and nobody can be good at everything. The Lemoncello series shines through with scientifically researched, educational wisdom with a Superman-sized dose of character and wisdom, and I highly recommend that parents, teachers, and librarians snag their own copies of this series and read it with the kids in their spheres – starting with Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
BUT WAIT!
If you’re going to use this book with your students, family, or book club, I have just the thing for you! I’ve created reading guide with discussion questions, creative writing prompts, and vocabulary words, all designed to make the most of the fantastic themes in this book. Check it out here – and stay tuned because there’s more in the works!
