"How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book."
-Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
Title: Jasper John Dooley: Not in Love (series, volume 3)
Author: Caroline Adderson
Illustrator: Ben Clanton
Ages: 5-8
Man what is a guy to do when a girl targets you, is in love with you and even wants to marry you? It sure can mess up your life if you are an early grade schooler. All you want to do is play with your best friends, Ori, Leon and Paul C., slaying dragons at recess not be dragged into marriage.
Jasper has a real girl problem on his hands and is trying to find a way to solve it. Isabel, a classmate, is smitten by him and wants to play babies with him a recess and is even planning their wedding. Poor Jasper gets further sucked into the relationship when his mom accepts a playdate on his behalf at Isabel's house. After hair brushing and jam eating Isabel finally invites him to jump on her trampoline and Jasper gets the trampoline-bug and thinks maybe she is not so bad after all. These conflicting feelings make him feel frustrated and embarrassed but he decides that marriage is not for him and he must concoct a way to end this overbearing girl from stocking him and trying to control his life.
The cast of characters are appealing and recognizable. The storyline is hilarious and I am sure many kids will be able to identify with it. Will Jasper be able to hatch a plan to put this crisis behind him? Will he succeed in convincing Isabel that he is not in love with her but just wants to be left alone with his friends? With the help of his loving parents, his grandmother and his friends his world is finally reconfigured and he does get his life back to normal. Whew! Love can make life complicated can't it?
About the author:
About the Illustrator:
'm Ben. I'm a story-scribbler, picture-squiggler, book aficionado, child advocate, dragon tamer (someday), and avid sock wearer (especially of the striped variety). I have spent most of my time on this planet reading, drawing, sleeping, gardening and eating chocolate. I live next to a pond in an old brick mill with my wife, Kelsey (a photographer and designer!), and a wild goldendoodle named Gigi.
Ben Clanton
clantoons.ben@gmail.com
Represented by:
My Books:
REX WRECKS IT - fall 2014
Jasper John Dooley: Not in Love - spring 2014
MO'S MUSTACHE - fall 2013
The Table Sets Itself - fall 2013
Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind - spring 2013
Max Has a Fish - fall 2012
Vote for Me! - spring 2012
REX WRECKS IT - fall 2014
Jasper John Dooley: Not in Love - spring 2014
MO'S MUSTACHE - fall 2013
The Table Sets Itself - fall 2013
Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind - spring 2013
Max Has a Fish - fall 2012
Vote for Me! - spring 2012
Book Review Rating: 8 (Fantastic!)
Read on and read always! Hope your weekend was amazing and the week ahead even better.
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