JOEY FLY Freebies & Contest Reminder

I wrote about Joey Fly, Private Eye, Book 2: Big Hairy Drama yesterday and posted an awesome cool contest. Seriously, go back a post and enter... But today, I have some great masks for you to print out to add to the Joey Fly fun:

Joey Fly, Private Eye in Big Hairy Drama - Book Review, Holiday Ornaments & Super Cool Contest !!!

Joey Fly and his sidekick, Sammy Stingrear – er… Stingtail, are back again with another crime to solve!  In this case, Harry Spyderson, tarantula director of the Scarab Beetle Theatre, has asked Joey to find his leading lady, Greta Divawing. It seems Greta has gone missing and Harry can’t stage Bugliacci without her!

Joey Fly, Private Eye, Book 2: Big Hairy Drama follows the same great format as the first. I enjoyed Joey Fly, Private Eye: Creepy Crawly Crime (here) and the second one is another champion for my classroom bookshelf. Together, Aaron Reynolds and Neil Numberman have created a unique and captivating landscape. Though I’m no soothsayer, I will easily prophetize their continued success (I’ll be waiting for Joey #3!). They have a winning combo: Reynolds’ gritty wit and word play mixed with Numberman’s eye for detail and ability to paint the joke without giving away too much.

I can’t remember him doing it last time, but Numberman has added hidden characters to search for, adding even further detail to the already eye-popping panels kids will love to dissect.

Recommended for strong readers, middle school students and lovers of the graphic novel format. Also great for inclusion in science classes or during a lesson on insects.

-------------------- Resources --------------------
Genre: Graphic Novel / Crime Mystery
Age: Middle Grades (use in high school for determining literary elements also!)
Pages: 128
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Date: November 2010
ISBN: 978-0805082432
Themes: Perseverance, Patience, Humor, Friendship
Character Development: Strong & continued well from first
Plot Engagement: Strong
Originality: Very original and unique
Thank You: Mr. Reynolds & Mr. Numberman for my copy :-)
Buy Joey Fly, Private Eye, Book 2: Big Hairy Drama HERE

Just in time to complete your Christmas tree: FREE Joey Fly ornaments! 

(Click to embiggen :-)

Teaching Ideas:
Mood & Tone Literary Devices: The monochromatic illustrations will assist educators when looking at mood & tone in the story. Have students identify mood & tone by offering copied panels with the words deleted. Later, offer the words to check their assumptions. Would make a great pair or group activity.

Genre: Look at the traditional stylings of a crime mystery: Examine detectives & their gritty speech patterns. Add other examples – like old movie clips in black & white. Examine the darkness. I’m thinking a clip from the latest Batman movie will stir up some interest. Discuss how these elements create a feeling in the genre.

Making Inferences: Discuss how small details lead to making inferences about who has committed the crime. Discuss false leads the author has planted to make us think one way. Discuss how to eliminate those false leads to draw a correct conclusion. I’m visualizing a flow chart….. students in pairs…justifying their reasoning (of course do this before you let them read the ending!).

Figurative Speech: Once again Mr. Reynolds gives us a ton of great opportunities to look at figurative speech.

Kidsmomo did a great interview with the Joey Fly Guys:

DID YOU MAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE SUPER COOL CONTEST?  HERE IT IS:

MR. NUMBERMAN WILL DO A BUG CARICATURE FOR YOU. YES, YOU (and maybe you & you too)

FOR EVERY 10 COMMENTS, I'LL USE RANDOM.ORG TO SELECT ONE WINNER. 20 COMMENTS = 2 WINNERS, 50 COMMENTS = 5 WINNERS....

SO START TALKING IN THAT COMMENT BOX!

(contest ends January 1st, 2011)

Aaron Reynolds is a human, not a bug, but he often writes about bugs. He is the author of Chicks and Salsa, Superhero School, Buffalo Wings, and, of course, the Joey Fly, Private Eye graphic novels. You can read more about him and his other books on his awesome website.

Neil Numberman is a termite currently residing in New York City. Joey Fly, Private Eye is his first graphic novel, but he is also the author/illustrator of the picture book Do NOT Build a Frankenstein. Stop by his website.

P.S.: Wants some cool stocking stuffers? I'll be posting Joey Fly, Private Eye, Book 2: Big Hairy Drama masks tomorrow ..... so check back for some more Joey Fly fun!


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© 2007-2010 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com