2014
Books & Technology: Friends or Foes?
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Chris Grabenstein
Audience:
Ages 8+, Grades 3 - 7
How do you get out of the library when you’ve been locked in? Our hero Kyle loves winning. He plays with his brothers all of the time. Kyle wants to meet a world famous game maker and he has his chance when Mr. Lemoncello comes to town to open the new library that he designed – with technology like no one has ever seen! Kyle has to use all his smarts to make his way and this game is the most important one of his life. A book with a good puzzle, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is a laugh out loud fun time.
About the Author
Chris Grabenstein is the co-author (with James Patterson) of the #1 New York Times Bestseller I Funny as well as the New York TimesBestseller Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library. He is an award-winning author of more than 20 other books for children and adults, a playwright, screenwriter, and former advertising executive and improvisational comedian. Winner of two Anthony and three Agatha Awards, Chris wrote for Jim Henson's Muppets and co-wrote the CBS-TV movie The Christmas Gift starring John Denver. Chris lives in New York City with his wife, three cats, and a rescue dog named Fred who starred on Broadway in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
“I am thrilled and honored to be asked to participate in this year's Silicon Valley Reads. The theme "Books and Technology: Friend or Foe" is one I had fun exploring in my book for young readers ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY, in which I created a technological marvel of a library -- all in the service of books and the sharing of knowledge. As Mr. Lemoncello says, "Knowledge not shared remains unknown." Technology and books both help us share what we know with those who'd like to know it, too. Put me in the friend column!”
- Chris Grabenstein
BOOKLIST REVIEW
“Here’s an instantly engaging and wildly creative mystery that is sure to have readers looking at their humble local library in a new light. Mr. Lemoncello is an eccentric game designer who has just funded a very special new library in his hometown. In honor of the grand opening, Lemoncello has selected a dozen 12-year-olds to participate in an overnight lock-in event at the library. But when the kids wake up, they discover a new and unexpected game is afoot: whoever can find a way out of Mr. Lemoncello’s library will win the grand prize. Avid readers will get a kick out of the references to classic and current children’s literature as the kids solve clues to escape and win the game. Main character Kyle Keeley works hard to beat his nemesis, the conniving bully Charles Chilington, who constantly reminds everyone that he is always successful. As Lemoncello says, knowledge not shared remains unknown, and the group learns that working together just might be the key to solving the mystery. An ode to libraries and literature that is a worthy successor to the original madman riddle master himself, Willy Wonka.”