PATRICK CARMAN

Last fall when I had the incredible opportunity to sit and chat with author Patrick Carman, he talked about two new books -- Floors and 3:15, Things That Go Bump in the Night. I already know about his series books -- Land of Elyon, Skeleton Creek, Trackers, Atherton, and his participation in the 39 Clues series. I immediately purchased 3:15 because I thought it would make a great Halloween book. 3:15 is a short story collection where you listen, read, and watch. For each story there is a short audio introduction online, then you read the story in the book, then you watch the video conclusion online. I had great fun giving chills to the 6th grade Language arts classes on Halloween with that book.

Now we are adding Floors to the collection. Floors takes place in the Whippet Hotel, a most usually designed place where each floor has its own wacky design and wacky secrets. Leo and his father take care of the hotel and its residents who are as unusual as the hotel itself. One day four mysterious boxes are left for Leo. If he can solve the puzzles the boxes lead him to, perhaps he can prevent money-hungry Bernard Frescobaldi from taking over the hotel and tearing it down.

Patrick Carman is a strong believer that reading and the Internet go hand-in-hand. There is always an online connection to his books. Check out his website at http://www.patrickcarman.com/.