Andy Shane and the Barn Sale Mystery

Gr 1—3—Andy Shane devises a plan to get his Granny Webb the perfect un-birthday gift—a case for her well-loved binoculars. However, since he doesn't have much money, he and his friend Dolores decide to gather cast-off items from around the neighborhood and hold a barn sale. When the binoculars are accidentally sold during the sale, the pair cleverly tracks them down. The clues that Andy and Dolores collect and the lists they create are read in a softer voice by narrator Rachael Lillis so that listeners become detectives right along with the children. Andy can't afford both the binoculars and the case, so he adds his trusty, but well-worn bike to the deal. The plot has a cute twist, reminiscent of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"—at the un-birthday party we learn that Granny has traded her binoculars for a seat and horn for Andy's bike. Lillis expressively reads Jennifer Richard Jacobson's story (Candlewick, 2009), giving a unique and appropriate voice to each character. Sound effects such as the voices of buyers at the barn sale, a dog barking, and wrapping paper crinkling give the feel of a radio play. Page-turn signals are optional. Another fun early-chapter book in the series that can be enjoyed by emergent readers who are ready for a longer book with a more complex plot.—MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY