Happy Book Birthday, Bite the Bagel by Joel Ross!

 Well...it's almost a book birthday. Today's read was released on the 27th, but I'm all about celebrating for as long as possible. And trust me, the characters in this series would agree with me (and probably take it 100 steps farther).

I did read the first book in this series...and I remember being very skeptical thanks to the 

guy in the bunny suit on the cover, but this pair won me over. So, I was more than happy to get my hands on book two and see what they were up to next.

Ready for some fun? Because that is exactly what this duo is about.

BITE THE BAGEL

Alley & Rex, Book 2

by Joel Ross

Illustrated by Nicole Miles

Atheneum Books

Middle Grade Humor

160 pages 

ages 8 to 12

Loveable prankster Alley and bunny-suited brainiac Rex team up again, this time to help each other survive PE and save breakfast, one mutant bagel at a time in this hilarious story that’s perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Wayside School!

Rex can rock a bunny suit like no one else. But his PE teacher insists that all students must wear gym clothes—or face a punishment worse than dodgeball. Alley vows to help his pal Rex. And to save the free breakfast cart that was closed due to budget cuts. Everyone knows that kids can’t learn on empty stomachs!

From a heist in the principal’s office to a bake sale featuring mutant bagels, Alley tries everything he can to bring back the food cart. And Rex tries everything he can to turn Alley’s bad choices into good solutions. They will stop at nothing in their quests for justice!

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60320587-bite-the-bagel

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bite-the-bagel-joel-ross/1140975546

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1534495479

INDIE BOUND: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781534495470

MY TIDBITS

Packed with heart and wonderful intentions, this duo causes problems every where they go and has the reader wishing they could be right there with them to witness every situation.

Alley can't believe it—the breakfast cart is gone! The school is wrestling with tight funds, which means the morning free juice, cereal, and bagels for kids in need of a good breakfast has been chopped from existence. But Alley is determined to find a way to bring it back. Rex, of course, is at his side but has his own troubles to face thanks to the PE dress code, which does not allow for bunny suits. Both problems are going to be difficult to tackle, but together, they hope to find a way.

Alley and Rex are as different as different can be, and I'm not sure which one I like more...although Rex is quite a bit more tame if you can handle his bunny suit. Alley's good intentions shine on every page as he takes on every person's problem with 100% sincerity and determination. There's not an evil bone in his body, although there aren't many pranksters out there who could out-do him, thanks to his backward thinking. Still, it's impossible not to love him and cheer him on...more or less. Rex, on the other hand, is awesome with his high-level speech and thoughts. He adds the right amount of assistance Alley needs to create perfect balance and hilarious situations, which somewhat steer in the right direction. Simply said, these two are made for each other.

While laughs are guaranteed, there is tons of goodness wrapped in, too. Readers get a glimpse at the idea of budgets, fundraising, and working together for a goal (Alley's and Rex's classmates do get involved). The acceptance and friendship is inspiring as well as the idea of having each other's backs. Mix in the principal's amazing attitude, and it's a read with tons of warmth, too.

Reluctant readers will enjoy the quick read, which never leaves any wiggle room for boredom. Alley's ideas are always churning from one ridiculous situation to the next, ensuring a smooth glide. The text is short, and thanks to Rex, does offer some advanced vocabulary every now and then to strengthen reading skills, too. Add the illustrations, which pop in with extra emotion and humor, and it's a fun read from start to finish. 

And here they are...

Joel Ross is the author of The Fog Diver, Beast & Crown, and Alley & Rex series. He’s never worn a school uniform, but he did try a spoonful of calves’ foot jelly once. The taste lingers. Visit him at TheJoelJoel.com.

Nicole Miles was born in the United States but grew up in the Bahamas where all schools have uniforms but nobody eats calves’ foot jelly (as far as she is aware). She feels this is a fair compromise. She now lives in the United Kingdom, and her tiny place on the internet is NicoleMillo.com.

Review: Alley & Rex by Joel N Ross

Happy Sunday! We're supposed to finally see a few drops of rain the next days, and the temperatures are thankfully dropping (I'm not a hot weather friend). Today's book is perfect for rainy weekends or a few evenings of reading. It's  a chapter book on the verge of the middle grade novel border and is packed full of fun humor.

Ready for a few laughs?

ALLEY & REX

by Joel N Ross

by Nicole Miles

Atheneum Books

Chapter Book / Lower Middle Grade

144 pages

ages 7 to 10

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 28th!!!

Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Wayside School will love this first book in a new, off-the-wall middle grade series about two boys—one with the heart of a lion and the test scores of a baked potato, the other a shy boy genius in a bunny suit—finding their strengths and true friendship.

Sixth-grader Alley Katz is innocently trying to help a bunch of kindergarteners when the burrito hits the fan. Literally. A burrito. A ceiling fan. A hail of beans. Now he has to get an A on his science test or he’ll be transferred to the dreaded Steggles Academy.

An A seems impossible! Alley is kind, intrepid, and well-liked, but for some reason he doesn’t get graded on any of that. So the principal assigns a peer mentor to help: Rex, a fourth-grade genius who wears a bunny suit.

Alley is totally in favor of both bunnies and fourth graders, but he doesn’t need Rex. He has his own foolproof plan to ace the test. Still, Rex is determined to fulfill his duty as Alley’s mentor—and he may need some help of his own. One boy needs to stay in school, the other needs to get through it. Can this odd couple save the day—and each other?

GOODREADS   /   B&N   /   AMAZON   /    KOBO   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY TIDBITS

Silly pranks and laugh-worthy humor make this trouble-maker one to adore, and that before he discovers real friendship with the most unlikely of people.

Alley (aka Alex) has a super-ton of ideas and loves to put them into practice. Unfortunately, not all of them are good ideas, not even close. As the new school year begins, so does a last chance for him to prove that he can behave...or else, it's off to the private school and living with his impossible grandma. Forced to complete the ridiculously-never-going-to-happen goal of gaining an A on the next science test, he's given a Host to help him through. It's no one else than the new, younger kid, who dresses up  like a bunny every single day. 

Alley is a character to love. He's a huge trouble-maker but not out of spite. His curiosity and experimental friendliness get him into trouble time and again. He has a heart of gold and is never mean. His thoughts wander all over the place as he explains everything in an open honesty, which also calls for giggles and even a 'huh' at the warped, yet innocent, logic. He's the kind of kid to root for and wish you could be watching him, when he attempts all the ridiculous things. He definitely will grab the attention of the intended age group and keep them reading until the very end.

The writing is age appropriate and keeps a simple enough vocabulary, while also building a few more difficult terms in. Rex, the bunny-boy, is great on this end. The font is easy to read and the chapters are kept relatively short. Add the lovely illustrations, and it's a nice paced, more advanced chapter book, which doesn't easily scare readers away.

Friendship and finding it in unexpected places is one of the key themes. There is a little bullying from one of the side characters, but this is kept light and doesn't overtake the main plot of Alley and his own issues. The characters are, generally, kind to each other and offer help, when needed. It's a tale with tons of humor and laughs, and I do hope to see more of this pair in the future.

And here they are...

Joel Ross is the author of The Fog Diver, Beast & Crown, and Alley & Rex series. He’s never worn a school uniform, but he did try a spoonful of calves’ foot jelly once. The taste lingers. Visit him at TheJoelJoel.com.

Nicole Miles was born in the United States but grew up in the Bahamas where all schools have uniforms but nobody eats calves’ foot jelly (as far as she is aware). She feels this is a fair compromise. She now lives in the United Kingdom, and her tiny place on the internet is NicoleMillo.com.