How can a sauerkraut fart possibly solve a mystery? Fifth Grader, Allison and the Five Amigos think it just might! The Five Amigos… who are Allison and her four BFs; Melanie, Tyler, Tally and Chello…all feel it might be a stinky caper, yet they find themselves following the aroma filled clues to solve it! Allison decides to help her Iowa elementary school to become a Green School. She got the idea when she made a summer visit to her grandparents’ who live on the Oregon Coast. She learned a lot about taking care of the Earth from them, and wants to be part of keeping the Earth green. So... back home and back in school, Allison brings her excitement to The Five Amigos. Allison tells them about Green Schools, and with their help, as well as their teacher, fifth grade class, and eventually the entire school, they all set out to become Green by Earth Day. A school Green Team is formed with Allison leading it. As the team is working on becoming Green, they are slowed down when cans, the team recycles and gets money for, go missing! The Amigos follow clues and leads to solve the mystery... Along the way there are many LOL moments and fun... as well as lessons learned!
*********** AND HERE IS A REVIEW OF THE BOOK By: Elizabeth Ohringer-Mom of 4 (West Des Moines, IA USA)
THE GREEN SCHOOL CAPER is such a fun and entertaining story. The characters are smart, and diverse. Their friendship is the kind kids wish for. The book is full of information about the environment and being green. Along with entertaining and educating, it empowers readers to help the environment. It shows that when kids care about something and work together they have power to make a difference. The Green School Caper not only educates, entertains, and empowers, but I know it will inspire many readers in many different ways. It is a rare kind of book that greases the wheels of young readers minds. My kids and I have had great discussions, about litter, animals, recycling, and pollution because of this book. I can't wait for future adventures of the 5 amigos!
Allison writes to the readers of the book where she is the main character... Here is what she wrote...
Dear Readers,
I am so excited that you are going to read about my friends and me, The Five Amigos, that I thought I would write you a bit of an introduction to us…so you can get to know us better before you start into our first adventure.
My name is Allison. I am ten years old, going into 6th grade and live in Des Moines, Iowa. Iowa is pretty much right in the middle of the United States. Des Moines is surrounded by big farms, and rolling hills. There are lots of farmers and their families, but Des Moines itself is a pretty big city; where all of my friend’s parents work. I have a big brother Jack who starts High School soon and a little sister, Lexi who is going into 4th grade.
My best friends are Melanie, Tyler, Tally and Chello. We call ourselves The Five Amigos. Amigos means friends in Spanish… in case you don’t know that. I bet you might have some friends like this. We all live near each other, go to the same school and have been mostly in the same classroom. At least for this adventure you are going to read about, we were all in Mrs. Elliot’s 5th grade. It was a great year at school and you are about to share it with me.
Before you start, I wanted you to know a little bit about me and The Five Amigo’s adventure. After I spent a week at my Nana and Pop Pop’s in Oregon, on the Oregon Coast… which is about as far West as you can get… I came home wanting to do something to help the Environment. I imagine, like me, you have heard a lot of talk about “Being Green”, and not like Kermit the Frog, being more aware of our Earth and taking better care of it. I learned, while I was in Oregon, that a lot of things aren’t so good right now with our environment. Our air is not good, lots of animals are endangered, and our waters and soils are becoming polluted. But the good news is that people are beginning to take notice and they care! I found out at my Grandparent’s that if people all do their small parts, we could change all of that….. and “people” includes kids, who can help too! So I went back to school and got my school to be interested in becoming a Green School, which means it’s environmentally friendly. The Five Amigos, our 5th grade class, and our whole school, start to do just that. That’s what my story is about, with a mystery and a bit of an adventure thrown in. You will find out all about these things as you read The Green School Caper.
I am hoping, Dear Readers, that you will learn in my story about how you, your friends, family and school can help the Green Movement that is so important! At least you can find out how we did it and decide if you want to help too! So, hold on… you are in for a fun reading ride, and welcome to the first adventure and mystery of THE FIVE AMIGOS! Thanks for stopping by!
Your friend…Allison PS...You can find out more about us at The Five Amigos Blog on the Internet at this address: www.adventuresof5amigos.blogspot.com
About Lynn Tragesser McCollum
Lynn McCollum is retired from 30 years of teaching. She brings to her books an understanding of young people and what they enjoy reading. Young readers can see themselves and their peers in each character, as well as identify with their everyday worlds. She also understands their sense of humor, bringing many LOL moments to the story, and the love of solving a mystery! Her characters come alive and young readers want to know more. Their curiosity will be satisfied because The Green School Caper is just the first in the FIVE AMIGOS ADVENTURES. Lynn’s own work to help save our environment, and helping the world keep Green is a big part of her stories. She lives and writes in the great Northwest, with her husband and two dogs.
How can a sauerkraut fart possibly solve a mystery? Fifth Grader, Allison and the Five Amigos think it just might! The Five Amigos… who are Allison and her four BFs; Melanie, Tyler, Tally and Chello…all feel it might be a stinky caper, yet they find themselves following the aroma filled clues to solve it! Allison decides to help her Iowa elementary school to become a Green School. She got the idea when she made a summer visit to her grandparents’ who live on the Oregon Coast. She learned a lot about taking care of the Earth from them, and wants to be part of keeping the Earth green. So... back home and back in school, Allison brings her excitement to The Five Amigos. Allison tells them about Green Schools, and with their help, as well as their teacher, fifth grade class, and eventually the entire school, they all set out to become Green by Earth Day. A school Green Team is formed with Allison leading it. As the team is working on becoming Green, they are slowed down when cans, the team recycles and gets money for, go missing! The Amigos follow clues and leads to solve the mystery... Along the way there are many LOL moments and fun... as well as lessons learned!
*********** AND HERE IS A REVIEW OF THE BOOK By: Elizabeth Ohringer-Mom of 4 (West Des Moines, IA USA)
THE GREEN SCHOOL CAPER is such a fun and entertaining story. The characters are smart, and diverse. Their friendship is the kind kids wish for. The book is full of information about the environment and being green. Along with entertaining and educating, it empowers readers to help the environment. It shows that when kids care about something and work together they have power to make a difference. The Green School Caper not only educates, entertains, and empowers, but I know it will inspire many readers in many different ways. It is a rare kind of book that greases the wheels of young readers minds. My kids and I have had great discussions, about litter, animals, recycling, and pollution because of this book. I can't wait for future adventures of the 5 amigos!
Lynn McCollum is retired from 30 years of teaching. She brings to her books an understanding of young people and what they enjoy reading. Young readers can see themselves and their peers in each character, as well as identify with their everyday worlds. She also understands their sense of humor, bringing many LOL moments to the story, and the love of solving a mystery! Her characters come alive and young readers want to know more. Their curiosity will be satisfied because The Green School Caper is just the first in the FIVE AMIGOS ADVENTURES. Lynn’s own work to help save our environment, and helping the world keep Green is a big part of her stories. She lives and writes in the great Northwest, with her husband and two dogs.