Danny's Doodles: The Squirting Donuts

Gr 2–4—Fourth-grader Danny and his eccentric friend Calvin have a mystery to solve. Mrs. Cakel, their terrifying and dictatorial teacher, has been replaced by a clone who allows them to slouch and chew gum. Unheard of! Confused by such an abrupt change in behavior, the two decide to snoop around and get some answers. In the midst of their investigation, both boys experience abrupt changes in their lives. Danny's father loses his job, while Calvin's mother, who is just as peculiar and flighty as her son, lands a new job making doughnuts. Despite their own familial issues, the two boys discover the key to Mrs. Cakel's personality shift and set out to return things to normal. The story has likable characters and a well-paced plot. It is filled with Danny's doodles, which will appeal to some readers and make a first chapter book less intimidating. While an easy read, Adler deftly incorporates deeper issues, such as Mrs. Cakel's solitary life and Calvin's father abandonment of his family. Hand this one to kids who've graduated from Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's "Nate the Great" series (Random) but aren't quite ready for a lengthier, weightier read.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI