Jack and Noah's Big Books

It's an election year.  The Brexit vote, the presidential elections, the Omaha mayoral elections.  If you want the real scoop on how politicians are elected, check out 'Jack and Noah's Big Election.'

Jack has a dog, Greta has a pig, Noah has chickens, and Crazy Luke smells like a combination of all three.  It's great to be a kid!

Thanks to all of you who visited my book signing event yesterday at the Bookworm.  Copies continue to be available at The Bookworm, Amazon and my basement.  If you'd like a signed copy, I can ship directly to you.  Today's t-shirt winner is Bob Kohout, who shared yesterday's post.  There are six days left in the 'I Love Crazy Luke' t-shirt contest.  You can enter a drawing for a free t-shirt by reviewing my books on Amazon or Goodreads, by sharing my Jack and Noah posts, or by following the Jack and Noah facebook page.

Let's face it, it's only June 17 but your kids are already getting on your nerves - just a little bit.  Really, you just want an hour a day where you can enjoy your latte and put up your feet.  Jay's book signing event is Saturday, June 18 at the Bookworm from 12:00-1:00.  The Bookworm is located just north of 90th and Center.  Free gifts for the first sixty purchases!

I'm a little embarrassed by all of the talk about whether 'Jack and Noah's Big Election' is in the running for the next 'great American novel,' joining the ranks of 'The Scarlet Letter,' 'Moby Dick,' and 'The Grapes of Wrath.'  I'm mostly embarrassed because I'm the only person in the world who's having this discussion about 'Big Election.'  I have had some great feedback from the Bausch and Hobday families, whose children giggle non-stop while reading the book.  Anyway, my viewpoint is that any book that kids will read over a lazy summer is a great American novel.  Let's make American great again by avoiding summer mush brain!

For those of you who are new to the Jack and Noah series, Crazy Luke is a four-year-old neighbor who tends to cause a lot of trouble -- like getting-thrown-in-jail-kind-of trouble.  This character is very loosely based on my neighbor and godson Luke, who was four years old when I started writing 'Jack and Noah's Big Day.'  Crazy Luke is most often cited as readers' favorite character, but he almost wasn't in the book.  He wasn't even mentioned in the first draft of 'Big Day,' but my editor told me how important it was to have failures and disasters in children's books.  Crazy Luke came to life during that second draft, and he's got even more tricks up his sleeve in 'Jack and Noah's Big Election.'  Who knew he'd be such a popular villain?

I know politicians say a lot of things they don't mean to do, but Mayor Fudrock seems pretty serious about closing Elmwood Pool when he shows up with an army tank.  Can Jack and Noah save their favorite swimming pool?  Why does the mayor own a tank?  Are the kids wearing clean underwear?  All this and more in 'Jack and Noah's Big Election.'

With the presidential primaries wrapping up, isn't it time to focus on an election that holds intrigue, corruption, flawed candidates and 24-hour press coverage? Yes, it's time to focus on 'Jack and Noah's Big Election.'

Ditch the video games and go-kart tracks.  Jack and Noah's Big Election is the most exciting option for kids this summer.