Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Million-Dollar Mystery

By James Preller

Featuring friendship, school, family, and a diverse community, these early illustrated chapter books from James Preller have it all.

Got a mystery to solve? Jigsaw Jones is on the case. Eddie Becker has the idea of a lifetime, and creates plans for what he promises is going to be a million-dollar invention. Then the plans get stolen. Worst of all, after Jigsaw does some digging, he suspects the principal may be the thief! Now Jigsaw has to invent a gadget of his own to find out the truth.

James Preller's wry, witty, Jigsaw Jones books are once again available to inspire the next generation of young readers, featuring both new titles and classroom classics!

This title has Common Core connections.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Nov 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781250110947

James Preller

James Preller is the author of the popular Jigsaw Jones mystery books, which have sold more than 10 million copies. He is also the author of Bystander, named a 2009 Junior Library Guild Selection, Six Innings, an ALA Notable Book, and the Scary Tales series of mystery-horror stories for children. James lives in Delmar, New York with his wife, three children, cats, and dog. Visit him at www.jamespreller.com.

Book preview

Chapter

1

Joey Eats Over

Joey Pignattano blinked nervously. The game was up, and he knew it. I took a deep breath and said, I accuse Colonel Mustard … in the study … with the lead pipe.

Joey searched hopelessly through his playing cards. Finally, he tossed the pile onto the game board. You win again, Jigsaw, he said with a sigh. That’s two in a row.

Three, I murmured. But who’s counting?

My mother knocked and came into the bedroom. Would Joey like to stay for dinner? she asked.

Joey was thrilled. After all, it involved his favorite activity—eating. We stuffed the Clue game board under my bed, washed our hands, and raced into the kitchen.

Inviting Joey to dinner was like asking a pro baseball player over for a game of catch. When it came to eating, Joey was a Hall of Famer. He’d gobble down anything—even food I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot hockey stick. Take broccoli, for example.

In fact, take it far away. Let’s face it: Broccoli looks funny, it smells funny, and it tastes funny—but no one’s laughing. Except for my mom, who acts like broccoli is the greatest invention since Velcro.

"I love broccoli, Joey proudly announced from his seat at the corner of the table. It’s yummy in my tummy."

I nearly spewed my milk. Hey, you can’t trust Joey’s opinion, I advised my parents. He once ate a worm for a dollar.

My father stopped cutting into his chicken breast. You ate a worm? he repeated.

It wasn’t so bad, Mr. Jones, Joey answered cheerfully. Three chews and a swallow. I’d do it again for a quarter, he offered.

No, please! my mom quickly stated. That won’t be necessary.

What did the worm taste like? asked my brother