Till Death Do Us Bark

Posted on March 29, 2013 by admin Leave a comment

Written by Kate Klise

Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

This is book three in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Book one introduced the readers to the main characters – a family that is two-thirds human (Iggy and Seymour) and one-third ghost (Olive). This book adds a perpetually barking dog named Secret to the mix. Does Secret hold the secret to the mystery of the vanished fortune?

We’ll find out. The author has strewn puns along the way for a fun-filled ride. It starts with the names of the characters: M. Balm, Fay Tality, Shirley U. Jest, Mac Awbrah, Mike Ondolences, Kay Daver – in this list of ghastly names Seymor is the only ray of hope! The editor is Cliff Hangar, Rita O’Bitt is the Attorney-at-Law (what a hit that is). Grown-ups will enjoy the book as much as second grade readers will.

The story is told through a series of letters and newspaper articles lavishly illustrated with black-and-white line drawings that add to the fun, and enrich the reading experience.

Noah Breth’s will is poetry in the form of three limericks that point to where his fortune now resides.

And that’s when this very rich man

Decided he needed a plan

To make sense of his wealth

While still in good health

Now go find it if you can.

How readers will enjoy solving the mystery! Of course some of the clues may require deciphering the pun, reading the word in all its meanings. A great opportunity to improve reading skills.

Noah knows his children well and his lesson to them is gently delivered. No spoiler here, but small coins keep turning up all over town. “I wanted to remind people that sometimes small change can be extremely valuable.”

Enough with the puns already! Let us scatter Noah Breth’s ashes over County Limerick, Ireland, (as he desires) and wait with baited breath for the next book in this punny, funny, groan-inducing, roll-your-eyes-till you almost lose them series. Happy Reading.

Additional Resources:

Interview with Kate and M. Sarah Klise: http://www.harcourtbooks.com/ImagineHarry/interview.asp

Bios: http://www.kateandsarahklise.com/about.html

Kate Klise’s Top Ten Tips for Becoming a Bestselling Writer: http://www.kateandsarahklise.com/uploads/1/0/3/3/10335273/kates_top_ten_tips.pdf

Sarah Klise’s Top Seven Drawing and Writing Tips: http://www.kateandsarahklise.com/uploads/1/0/3/3/10335273/sarah_top_ten_tips.pdf