Book Review: Joe Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill- Case # 2 Mineral Mischief

The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill


Case # 2: Mineral Mischief

Author: Renee Hand

Illustrated By: Jake Karwoski

ISBN 978-0-87839-415-9

Pages: 74

Publisher: North Star Press

Author Bio:

Renee Hand writes because it is a passion in her heart. She is a homeschooling parent and likes to create books that educate and inspire the children of today. She was born in Michigan and still lives there with her husband and two children. She has a degree in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry. Renee is the author of the amazing mystery series known as the Crypto-Capers Series that encourages children to read by incorporating several topics of interest. The reader participates into the story by solving cryptograms and puzzles to solve the case. She is also the author of the Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series, which focuses on animal detectives. This series is a great way to teach children about animals in a fun and interesting way that captures the reader's attention and yet fills them with knowledge they will be learning about in school. All books are great to use in a classroom setting to supplement various topics or to just enjoy. Renee is an award-winning author, receiving awards such as a Best Book Award, a National Literary Award and a Preferred Choice award for her children's series and adult books. She has just recently won a Seal of Excellence award in Storytelling for her Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series. She has been writing for over twenty years and when she is not spending time with her family or participating in author events, she is coaching and playing tennis, as well as doing research for her books and many other things that keep her busy. Not quite sure what a cryptogram is and want to learn more? Visit the author's website at http://www.reneeahand.com// to learn about cryptograms and how to solve the ones that are in the books.

Joe-Joe Nut 2 : Summary

In the midst of having her friends visit her rock collection, Maple Moo’s rare mineral goes missing from underneath her large cow nose. She instantly turns to Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, the most famous detectives in Acorn Valley, to find it. They didn’t know the task was going to be an impossible one. The suspects were hard to figure out. Was it Candy Cardinal, who committed the crime? She collects various gemstones to make jewelry. Brutus and Betty Blue Beaver also collect minerals and have a fancy quartz collection. Liam the Llama looks suspicious with his igneous rocks and exploding volcano, or was it Huckleberry Moose with his sedimentary rock collection? Joe-Joe and Biscuit find themselves at a loss until some bullies roar into town. Will the detectives be able to find the missing mineral? Or, will this be a case they won’t be able to close? Find out in case #2 in the Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series-Mineral Mischief. Look for the various activities in the back of the book concerning rocks and minerals for added learning. Bubbling rocks, anyone?


My review: I found this book fun with a sense of true mystery. It will keep kids reading because of the story but it also has some teaching principles threaded throughout the story which provides science learning without being boring. The experiments at the end of the story and the extra activities offer fun ways for parents and teachers to enhance the learning standards while providing a fun environment. I think Ms Hand has done an amazing job of capturing characters that kids will love. She entertains and teaches in a way that kids will be hooked on. Kids will return again and again to get the next book in the series.