The Jelly Bean Experiment

Adler again displays his versatility with this empathic first book in the Danny’s Doodles illustrated chapter book series. Bighearted fourth-grader Danny Cohen cheerfully plays along when new kid Calvin Waffle makes him the subject of a mysterious experiment and fills Danny’s pockets with jelly beans. Quirky and scientifically minded, Calvin wears two different socks because his right foot is “very serious,” the left “often silly,” and he answers, “Tallahassee is the capital of Florida” in response to a math problem. “I didn’t hear the question,” he explains. “And most teachers like capitals and everyone loves Florida.” Adler also tempers the story’s humor with some poignant moments: Calvin says his father is a traveling spy when he has actually abandoned the family, and the jelly bean experiment is really about making friends. Squiggly cartoon line drawings (mostly character portraits) that appear throughout are purportedly Danny’s work; they look authentically kid­like but add little to the story. The novel delivers laughs as well as a clear message about friendship and acceptance, even when one’s friend is “100% weird.” Ages 7–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Sept.)