The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels Vol. 5: The Case of the Escaping Elephants

The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels Vol. 5: The Case of the Escaping Elephants

Back for more misadventures, Michael has really made an elephant-sized mess of it this time! Michael McMichaels is a spirited, carefree third grader who enjoys adventure. Michael and his best friend, Kenny, like to build forts, play video games, and ride their bikes through the neighborhood. When Michael convinces a family friend to join in some video game fun (instead of focusing on his important job at the local zoo), distractions lead to poor decision making and the domino effect is nearly disastrous as elephants escape and explore a neighborhood. Fortunately, most of the elephants are recovered promptly and peacefully. But one elephant remains elusive! Convinced that his addiction to technological devices was the cause of the chaos, Michael goes to extremes in his commitment to solving the case of the escaping elephant - even if that means working with smarty-pants frenemy Harriet! A series of misadventures plague Michael and his posse as they search for the missing elephant, ranging from failing to keep promises, borrowing without permission, trespassing, accusing others, and even winding up center-ring in a circus act! These misbehaviors and poor choices add to the guilty feelings that threaten to eat Michael alive. Tony Penn delivers another engaging chapter book for students who are sure to laugh and enjoy Michael and his friend’s misadventures as they learn about using judgment and moderation, the importance of following rules and procedures, and recognizing the talents and goodness of others. This is a great read for young kids. Michael learns that being distracted by electronics can have consequences that are not great. Maybe you will lose your job, or allow elephants to escape their enclosures, risking their safety in an unfamiliar city. He ultimately tells his parents how much he disobeyed them and comes clean on everything because he can t live with the guilt. He truly learns the importance of being honest and following direction. We need more stories like this in our evolving society. --Amber MacDonald, blogger at Dragonfly Sweetnest Tony Penn teaches French at an arts high school in New York City. He has an MA in Education and an MFA in Creative Writing. You can learn more about Tony on his social media channels, including facebook.com/tonypennauthor and TonyPennWriter.com.