The Football Fumble

Posted on by David Kelly

My 4th book this year (and there’s still one more to go!) goes on sale today. The FOOTBALL FUMBLE is the third book in my new MVP sports series of chapter books, great for boys and girls in grades 2, 3, and 4 who love sports and action.

MVP series book #3
MVP series book #3

The MVP chapter book series is about a group of kids at an elementary school who play different sports and have mysteries and adventures. If you like the BALLPARK MYSTERIES, you’ll like my MVP series! THE FOOTBALL FUMBLE is a perfect book for fall, with lots of football and even an ice cream cone to the face for one of the characters! Don’t worry–there are plenty more BALLPARK MYSTERIES books on the way, but it’s been a real change and lots of fun writing about other sports (track and field, soccer, football, and basketball) for the MVP series. If you know a reader in grades 2, 3, or 4 that likes sports, action, mystery, or adventure, consider THE FOOTBALL FUMBLE or one of the other MVP books!

The cover, which is great, features Max, the book’s main character, who has to also confront a bully before his team has a chance to win the big football game. Another amazing cover by Scott Brundage, who did a great job capturing Max’s dilemma and showing all the exciting on-field football action. I’m thrilled that Random House Children’s Books is behind the MVP sports series and can’t wait for next year’s basketball-themed release! More sports chapter books on the way. Pick one up at your local bookstore or online – http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780553513257

Scholastic Interview

Posted on by David Kelly

My childhood dreams have been achieved! I loved the Scholastic Book Club when I was in elementary school, and now a Scholastic kid reporter has interviewed me. Scholastic Kid Reporter Maxwell Surprenant interviewed me at a signing for my MVP sports series. Maxwell asked some great questions, and got lots of good details on how I write the Ballpark Mysteries and MVP series. Click the link to read the full Scholastic David A. Kelly interview.

Scholastic Interview. Copyright Maxwell Surprenant
Scholastic Interview. Copyright Maxwell Surprenant

The Soccer Surprise

Posted on by David Kelly

The Soccer Surprise, the second book in my MVP sports chapter book series was just released today! This book continues the adventures of the MVP Club (Nico, Max, Alice, Kate, and Luke) as the kids play different sports and solve mysteries.

The Soccer Surprise, the second book in the MVP Series.
The Soccer Surprise, the second book in the MVP Series.

In The Soccer Surprise, the MVP club wants to save an old field house close to their school. They could turn it into their very own sports center! Luckily, a famous soccer star is coming to town and wants to help. Can the kids and their all-star friend raise enough money for the field house? And will practice with a pro help them score big at their next soccer game? (And don’t miss bonus back matter filled with cool sports soccer facts.)

Booklist Review of “The Gold Medal Mess”

Posted on by David Kelly

Booklist Online, a website for librarians and other book lovers, reviewed the THE GOLD MEDAL MESS (the first book in my MVP sports chapter book series), stating:

“The combination of athletics and mysteries is always a winner, and the friends are a diverse group in terms of race and talent, who swiftly recognize their potential when working as a team. After saving the Olympics they create the MVP club.[…] Illustrations break up the text, and the book ends with several pages of “MVP Stats” about the Olympics. An energetic series opener.” – Booklist

The Gold Medal Mess - The first book in the Most Valuable Players series.
The Gold Medal Mess – The first book in the Most Valuable Players series.

 

Publishers Weekly Review of THE GOLD MEDAL MESS

Posted on by David Kelly

Publisher’s Weekly just reviewed the first book in my new MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS series from Random House, THE GOLD MEDAL MESS, and gave it an amazingly good review!

The Gold Medal Mess - The first book in the Most Valuable Players series.
The Gold Medal Mess – The first book in the Most Valuable Players series.

THE GOLD MEDAL MESS features five kids who are trying to save their school Olympics from someone who’s trying to sabotage them.  Publisher’s Weekly cited:

“Kelly branches out from his Ballpark Mysteries books with this opening title in the MVP series, in which a multiethnic group of elementary school students try to figure out who is threatening their school’s Olympics-style sports competition.”

“Lively dialogue, athletic action, and smart thinking among the kids should keep interest levels high, and Brundage’s black-and-white cartoons mix playfulness and suspense as they depict various acts of sabotage, such as an oil-soaked relay race course”

Kirkus reviews the MVP series

Posted on by David Kelly

The first review for my new chapter book series from Random House is in, and it’s good! Kirkus reviewed the first book of my Most Valuable Players series, THE GOLD MEDAL MESS, in their March 15th edition.

The book, set at an elementary school, features five friends who are getting ready for their school’s Olympics field day. There will be relay races, archery contests, and more! But not everyone wants to play fair—someone is trying to ruin the events! Can the kids in the Most Valuable Player club solve the mystery, save the Olympics, and take home the gold?

THE GOLD MEDAL MESS by David A. Kelly
MVP #1 – The Gold Medal Mess

You’ll have to read the book to find out if the kids win a medal, but from the Kirkus review of THE GOLD MEDAL MESS, it looks like the book takes home the gold! Kirkus declares:

“This series opener is a promising venture into early Matt Christopher territory.”

“Along with plenty of sports action and sterling detective work to appreciate, Kelly offers readers a chance to ponder the contrast between the priorities of the culprit, a multimedalist from the previous year jealously unwilling to be upstaged, and Nico, who abruptly quits a race he’s about to win when he spots the saboteur at work. A quick set of facts and photos from the official Olympic Games cap this series opener.”

Stay tuned for more. The GOLD MEDAL MESS comes out May 24th, 2016.

The Rangers Rustlers!

Posted on by David Kelly

Woo-hoo! Giddy up! Head to Texas with Mike and Kate in my latest Ballpark Mysteries book (#12) THE RANGERS RUSTLERS! Like the rest of the Ballpark Mysteries series, THE RANGERS RUSTLERS is great for reluctant readers, baseball fans, or Texas Rangers fans. The book is set at the Texas Rangers stadium. Mike and Kate have to track down a gang of rustlers stealing Texas Rangers merchandise. Hop on your horse and gallop off to Texas with them to help solve the mystery!

Ballpark Mysteries #12 - The Rangers Rustlers
Ballpark Mysteries #12 – The Rangers Rustlers