Jasper John Dooley: You’re in Trouble! by Caroline Adderson

Jasper John Dooley: You’re in Trouble! by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Ben Clanton. Kids Can Press, 2015. 124 pages.

Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8

Recommended for: Ages 4-8

Bottom Line: Jasper John Dooley drinks a high energy drink that makes him “Bad” in this funny, illustrated chapter book; early elementary students everywhere will relate!

After the weekly soccer game, Jasper John Dooley is so very thirsty. Dad sends him to the drink machine for a drink, and Jasper John ends up with…a Torpedo High Energy Drink! Jasper John has little experience with carbonated, caffeinated beverages, much less an energy drink. Oh, the sensation of the bubbles on the tongue! But Jasper knows he really shouldn’t have gotten this particular drink so he attempts to hide the drink, sipping it in secret. The rest of this charming, funny chapter book follows Jasper’s experiences of soaring energy followed by predictable crashes. After sneaking the unfinished drink into the back of the fridge, he (unsuccessfully) fights the temptation to keep taking sips throughout the week. Parents of high-energy children (with or without extra sugar and caffeine) will chuckle over Jasper’s antics, and children will readily identify with what counts as “Bad” in Jasper’s mind. One day, he wickedly puts on yesterday’s jeans and wears them to school!

The Jasper John Dooley chapter books stand out as beacons of childlike-ness against a sea of childish chapter books targeted to boys. Instead of bathroom humor and superhero actions, Jasper John is an ordinary kid facing ordinary problems. In this book, while the evil, sugary caffeinated beverage is blamed, Jasper still demonstrates how we all struggle with temptation, wanting to do what we shouldn’t do and not wanting to do what we should. Sounds a lot like Paul’s struggles in Scripture to me! Jasper John Dooley: You’re in Trouble! is a great book to hand to newly independent readers or to read aloud to the kindergarten crowd whether you use it as a jumping-off point to discuss temptation, sin, and grace, or just enjoy it for its own funny merits.

Cautions: none

Overall Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

• Worldview Rating: 4
• Artistic Rating: 4.5

Categories: Chapter Books, Humor, Realistic Fiction, 4 stars and up
Cover image from Amazon.  A copy of this book was received via Netgalley for a fair review.