Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game

Mr. Lemoncello's Library #0

by Chris Grabenstein

Before Mr. Lemoncello became everyone's favorite game maker, he was a kid who liked to roll the dice . . .Discover the origins of Mr. Lemoncello's Library in this PREQUEL to Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.

Go back to the START and meet thirteen-year-old, PUZZLE-obsessed Luigi Lemoncello!

Luigi has a knack for games and puzzles. But sometimes it feels like the cards are stacked against him. UNTIL a carnival arrives in town and Luigi gets the CHANCE OF A LIFETIME: the opportunity to work for the world famous Professor marvelmous, a dazzling, banana-hat-wearing barker who puts the SHOW in SHOWMAN! When the carnival closes, Professor Marvelmous leaves behind a mysterious puzzle box along with a clue. A clue that will lead Luigi and his friends on a fantastical treasure hunt to a prize beyond anything they could imagine--if they can find it!

Can Luigi crack the codes and unlock the box's secrets? Will there be puzzles? Of course! Balloons? You bet! Will it be fun? Hello! It's a Lemon-cello! BONUS! Can YOU crack the hidden puzzle inside?!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Adventure

304 pages, Library Binding

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include the LEMONCELLO, WONDERLAND, HAUNTED MYSTERY, DOG SQUAD, and SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE series, and many fun and funny page-turners co-authored with James Patterson. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.

Reviews

[Sylvia "Chivy" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun book......love it
Highly recommend it.

[Victor The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

We get to learn about the childhood of famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello in this prequel that shows him being a middle child of ten siblings living with financially strapped parents and how he has a great knack for fun. He also gets a big life changing surprise in the form of a town carnival where he meets a professor whose a master of puzzles and secret codes.

An amazing origin story about Lemoncello for how he was already a master at games and code-cracking before he gained fame and that it perfectly reflects the same feel of the other books in the series with story, characters and even some puzzles. A winner of a prequel. A (100%/Outstanding)

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not ready for this series to be over

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first discovered Chris Grabenstein when I accidentally found his adult light mysteries but going on with his children's books has been as much of a delight. Mr. Lemoncello could only be better if he was a real person, with his real imagination working wonders for us all. I thought this prequel was just a great story for all those that came before. Lots of fun and lots of life lessons combined.

[Diana N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Lemoncello is back for more fun!

This book is a prequel and takes the reader to the carnival. This book is easy to follow and a good level for elementary school readers (was a good level for my 3rd grader) . This book fits nicely into the series and is good for reluctant readers due to the fun and whimsy.

My daughter loved this book and has really enjoyed the series! She didn't want to put this book down!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for my honest review!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did Luigi get into board games and puzzles and hosting grand games as an adult? Find out how 13 year old Luigi, the 6th of 10 children in the Lemoncello family felt kind of lost and a loner. His games seemed to end up costing the family instead of helping them have fun. Everyone keeps telling Luigi his time spent dreaming up games is a waste, until that summer when the carnival comes to town and Luigi meets a carny who not only gives him a job that will really help the Lemoncello family make ends meet, but also showed him how to let his own talents shine.

This was a great prequel to the Lemoncello series. Luigi is facing some hard times during the summer when the book takes place. He feels like a loner, the town bullies have their targets set on Luigi and their fathers own the places where Luigi's dad works so he starts losing jobs which is hard for a family of 12. His siblings don't seem to appreciate his talents for puzzles and passion for games, and one of his best friends seems to be drifting away. So when Professor Marvelmous and his balloon concentration game come into Luigi's life, it is just what he needs during a tough season. Professor Marvelmous seems like a bit of a goofball on the surface, but he has some deep wisdom to impart to Luigi, and fans of the series will notice lasting impressions Professor Marvelmous has on his young protege. Luigi is a likable, if awkward kid, and handles the bullies with tact. He is kind to other ostracized kids, and tries to be a good part of the family. And he is gracious with the friend who abandons him at one point. Fans of rebus puzzles will love this book as it is loaded with tons of them since they are the basis of the balloon concentration game Luigi helps Professor Marvelmous run at the carnival, and readers always have chances to solve the puzzle themselves before it is revealed. Mr. Lemoncello fans will not be disappointed.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. The bullying is more psychological than physical, and Luigi has some wise adults to give him advice and back him up.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the review copy of Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game. I have loved the books in the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series, and was so thrilled to see the origin story of Mr. Lemoncello! It can be a little bit scary when a prequel of a favorite series comes out. This one had me a bit anxious because the last installment of the series felt a bit "new generation"gimicky. However, I did still enjoy that book, and wanted to read this one.

I was absolutely captivated by this book. From the beginning, Grabenstein leaves easter eggs from the series that had me constantly looking for more. I loved the role models that Luigi found and the friends he made. The connection to the library was very clear to set up the first book. I will definitely be recommending this to my students when I share this series with them.

This series is perfect for students who love puzzles, games, and reading - and is especially great for students in 4-7th grade.

[Kristi Drillien · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 / 5)

Long before Kyle Keeley and his friends played their first Lemoncello game, Luigi Lemoncello was the 6th child in a family of 10 kids, struggling to stand out from the rest in some way. At thirteen, Luigi already loves games and puzzles (maybe a little too much, according to some people), and in this book, we get to read about his "origin story." From his first and worst idea for a game to the one that started it all, Luigi gets inspiration from his family, his friends, and a unique carnival barker, whom Luigi emulates as he begins to let his own colorful personality shine through.

First of all, it's strange to think of Mr. Lemoncello as "Luigi." But that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book! It was a lot of fun and a fresh entry into a series that I overall enjoy but does tend to be formulaic. There are puzzles just like the other books in the series have—nothing groundbreaking, but it's fun to solve them alongside the characters. I particularly enjoyed the puzzle box storyline, though, especially inspiration that the professor/uncle got from Luigi, which I picked up on way faster than the kids, but I think readers of the age group this book is meant for might see it as a twist.

I loved seeing elements of the older Mr. Lemoncello from the rest of the series getting their start in this book, and at least one other character from the series also appears in this book (though I didn't connect it until I went back and scanned through Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race to remind myself of what was said there about how he got his start). One thing that bothers me a little is that there is a major character in this book who, by all appearances, seems to be connected to a major character in the main series, but I can't see any hint of that connection in any of the books. But it's too much of a coincidence for there to not be any connection, so I would have just liked to somehow know the relationship there. Overall, though, solid entry to the series. I wasn't sold on it when I first saw it announced, but that's mostly just because I would rather see a continuation of the main series, given how book #5 left off. Hopefully that's still coming, but in the meantime, I very much recommend this book for kids and those who are kids at heart!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for providing me a copy of this book to review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game is one of the best Lemoncello books! It introduces the reader to Lugi as a boy who is just coming into his own. He is a game inventor through and through, and his 13th summer is the time when he learns that being himself and helping others will get him very far in life. We learn where Mr. L gets his hat and his shoes!~ This is a prequel and can be read before the other books, but I think it is more fun after reading the other Lemoncello books. All for Fun! And Fun for All!!

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful underdog story with great humor and even better puzzles! I loved seeing the beginning of the fantastic Mr. Luigi Lemoncello. Adult me loved this book, twelve year old me would be completely OBSESSED. I’m jealous of the young readers, I wish my best friend and I could go back in time and read this through our twelve and ten year old eyes and solve all the puzzles together. I can’t wait to read the official first book of the series now.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 ⭐️

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be approved to read the ARC of this book on NetGalley. Although targeted toward a middle grade audience, I am an adult who has followed along with and enjoyed the whole Lemonchello series. Therefore, I was excited when I stumbled across this prequel which would introduce use to Luigi L. Lemonchello before he became the famous board game mogul we all love. It was fun to see how he developed from a young well meaning boy who loved puzzles into a showman, especially one who cares about his friends and fun as much as winning. And to finally know the origin of those banana shoes? Awesometastic!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite middle grade series! I would have loved these books as a kid and continue to enjoy them as an adult!

[Bernadette Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action packed, fun read aloud.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this prequel! A lot of references about being true to your unique personality and embracing what makes a person different and special. Unique is what makes our world so wonderful!

[M M H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can relate to Maggie.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Chris Grabenstein and the Mr. Lemoncello series! When I saw that there was a new book in this universe I knew I needed to read it asap.

This is the story of the famous Luigi L Lemoncello’s first game and how he got started in his big adventure that will lead to the storyline in the other books.

Luigi was a kid was such a delight to read about and this book felt essential to the universe. Seeing how he got started was fun. It really shows how the people around you and that you look up to can help shape how you continue with your dreams.

I think that kids will find this book and the entire series so valuable. If you need books to add to your school library, child’s at home library, or just want them for yourself I highly recommend getting this and reading it!

4.5 stars

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I really liked this book, but several times I got confused and started thinking of Maggie as Kyle, seriously!

Also... I FIGURED OUT THE COOL PUZZLE AND EMAILED THE AUTHOR! It was very fun so in May 2023 my name will go into the raffle and I am now, ahem, eligible for autographed and personalized copies of all six Lemoncello books. And may there always be balloons in my future.


Sounds fun

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game is the perfect prequel to the fantabulous Mr. Lemoncello series. It has it all: fun-loving Luigi as a young teen, puzzles, wordplay, misled bullies, family feuds, fun foods, quotable quotes, timeless wisdom, character lessons, and even balloons.

Chris Grabenstein has created the perfect blend of fun and learning with this series, and he really knocks it out of the park with Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game. He traces Mr. Lemoncello’s witticisms, character traits, and unique style back to his thirteenth summer and shares how they were each formed. This makes for a fun story, but the thoroughness and signature flair with which he does so is awesome. The story is tight, the characters true to the series, and there’s depth that can really be mined in multiple ways.

Which is one thing I really love about Grabenstein’s stories in this series. Many authors writing for the middle-grade audience and younger water down the content or resort to lame jokes that involve bodily functions or sound like something from a locker room – but while he definitely has a unique sense of humor, he clearly respects kids enough not to talk down to them. He pays attention to issues that kids have at this age and writes stories that address them while still being fun – and that can’t be easy. Grabenstein writes with strong sentence structure and good vocabulary while keeping the stories easy to read, as well – it’s obvious that he’s a good writer in both skill and content.

Each book in the Mr. Lemoncello series has a ‘moral of the story,’ if you will: some type of life lesson wrapped up in fun, puzzles, and balloons. Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game takes that concept a few steps further, however, and shows how Luigi L. Lemoncello’s character is formed during that all-important thirteenth summer – and then how those lessons shape the man that he becomes and the lessons he teaches in the other books. This not only shows off Grabenstein’s character, but it makes these lessons accessible for the kids reading these books – and gives adults everywhere the opportunity to have fun sharing these with kids.

These are crucial character lessons like:
- What do you do when you don’t fit in?
- How should you handle bullies?
- How far should you go to help a friend – or your family?
- What is a gift – and how can you identify it?
- How can you tell where your future path leads?
- How should you handle betrayal?
- What things in life are valuable?
- How can you tell truth from lies – or jealousy?

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game is a book that belongs on every bookshelf in America – along with the rest of the series. We need more examples of wisdom, kindness, and understanding. In a culture that tries to shove everyone into the same box of expectations, we need more people who understand that everyone has different gifts and talents and that it’s okay to be good at your own thing. We need people who are good at solving problems and good with people and good at building things and good at critical thinking and good with literature and good with kids and good with business – and nobody can be good at everything. The Lemoncello series shines through with scientifically researched, educational wisdom with a Superman-sized dose of character and wisdom, and I highly recommend that parents, teachers, and librarians snag their own copies of this series and read it with the kids in their spheres – starting with Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
It’s nice to see a young protagonist without any superpowers using his imagination to create games. His determination is evident as he continues to pursue new, fun ideas despite negative comments from his older brothers and sisters. He has dreams of becoming the world’s first “bajillionaire” even though his family currently struggles to pay rent for their apartment. He’s motivated by a desire to help his hard-working father financially, and he hopes to prove to his older sister that there’s more to games than just having fun. When Luigi gets frustrated or depressed (which is very rare), it’s nice to see him get inspiration from the words of his mentor, Professor Marvelmous, at the traveling carnival.
Luigi’s family lives in an Italian neighborhood in Alexandriaville, Ohio, in 1968, and Luigi faces common social problems. Socio-economic prejudice is at the forefront, as more affluent characters call Luigi and his friends “riffraff” and flaunt their wealth. This includes adults who try to control the town. Two high-school bullies frequently insult Luigi and wave their money around to display their self-importance, and their disdain for Luigi becomes more personal. Their fathers own the bank and many businesses in town, and the boys use that as a weapon against Luigi. Luigi and his friends call themselves the three musketeers, but Bruno lacks Luigi’s enthusiasm for games. Luigi most enjoys the process of problem-solving, while Bruno thinks prizes are most important. Events strain the boys’ bond and have unexpected consequences.
The book will appeal to game lovers, as that’s the central theme of the whole story. Luigi is obsessed with them, and he has a talent for inventing new ones and for solving puzzles. The pages are filled with his innovative ideas for new games, as he tries to create one that will become widely popular. In addition, Luigi gets a temporary job at a summer carnival when Professor Marvelmous hires him to help with his booth called Balloon-Centration. The game combines throwing darts with solving rebus puzzles, so readers will have many opportunities to solve picture messages. Luigi also enjoys playing a local radio station’s daily contests that pose questions for listeners to answer. This gives readers additional chances to practice their thinking skills before Luigi reveals the solutions.
What didn’t work as well:
Luigi is almost too positive and kind to be true. He diffuses confrontational situations with the bullies by using humor and wit, which quickly drops the tension. Actually, it postpones the tension until later in the book when the bullies make it their mission to stifle Luigi’s plans.
The Final Verdict:
All for fun, and fun for all! This book is a prequel to the “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” series, so it’s not necessary to have read all of the previous books. Overall, this is a light-hearted story that allows kindness and creativity to persevere over meanness. If you’re looking for a fun book to read, I recommend you give this one a shot.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a 3.5 for me, and in some respects, I liked it even more than the other books featuring the adult Lemoncello. Just as it's always interesting to learn about the origins of superheroes, celebrities, and even members of our own family, it's a cool idea to provide readers and fans of the Lemoncello books with background on the game-maker. Like so many other youngsters, thirteen-year-old Luigi Lemoncello would like to stand out in his large family--or at the very least, have his talents acknowledged. Instead, he seems to always be in trouble or causing problems for them. His older sister Mary in particular is always denigrating him and disinterested in his games. When he and his best friends, Bruno and Chester [the Three Musketeers] spend the day at the carnival, he meets Professor Marvelmous, who runs Balloon-centration, a game quite similar to the television show Concentration with puzzles and rebuses to solve. Luigi loves puzzles and easily solves one. Professor Marvelmous takes him under his wing, teaches him about showmanship, and hires him to help out while the carnival is in town. As the story unfolds, Luigi gains self-confidence, and readers are treated to a nice selection of puzzles for them to solve. He also comes up with some possible games and variations to try out in his neighborhood, and readers see hints of the puzzles and games he will eventually concoct when he is older. Of course, there are a couple of villains determined to put the boy in his place, and an ally or two, most notably Maggie, the professor's niece, as well as some rewards for being kind to others. Literary types will love the references to various children's books as well as the many tributes to libraries and librarians and their helpfulness. The author really knows how to spin a plot, develop tension, and then leave his readers satisfied and with a feeling of hope that good triumphs over evil and that being true to oneself is the key to happiness. I smiled all the way through this story and appreciated the heart and humor at its core.

[Sara Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

** “Keep striving to do things for other people. Not because of who they are or what they might do in return. Do it because of who you are!” **

Take a journey to where it all began with “Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game,” a prequel to Chris Grabenstein’s Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series.

Thirteen-year-old Luigi L. Lemoncello’s creativity and love for games always seem to get him in trouble. When he meets the fabulous Professor Marvelous at the summer carnival, his life is forever changed.

With the help of his best friends Bruno and Chester, as well as Professor Marvelous and his niece Maggie, Luigi discovers his true self and the path he wants to take in life — creating fun for everyone, no matter who they are — all while matching wits with the town bullies.

Grabenstein does a great job of revealing how the story of Mr. Lemoncello began and what made him the quirky adult he became. Using fun puzzles and riddles, he reveals great characters full of courage, compassion and pluckiness.

He also filled “Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game” with a lot of great themes, like families grow in different directions, but common roots remain; the importance of doing good things for others; showing compassion (“We must have compassion for those who have not yet journeyed as far as we have along this twisty, turny path we call life”); the importance of libraries and knowledge (“Knowledge not shared remains unknown. A public library’s mission is to democratize information. To make it available to all who walk through our doors seeking it”); and to be who you are meant to be.

Children of all ages will enjoy this book, which is due out May 3, as well as fans of authors like Lemony Snicket. You could read this book as a standalone, but I highly recommend checking out the rest of this seriously fun series!

Five stars out of five.

Random House Books for Young Readers provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game is a prequel/flashback to the popular Mr. Lemoncello middle grade reader series by Chris Grabenstein. Due out 3rd May 2022 from Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

This is such a richly imagined world with a cast of colorful and engaging characters. Despite the fun and fast paced action, the author manages to convey some really important points about honesty, loyalty, integrity, family, friendship and generosity without ever once sacrificing fun or being preachy.

The writing is accessible and warm with a lot of humor and carefully engineered plot arc. The resolution and denouement were satisfying and well done. It's enhanced by the inclusion of puzzles and rebus illustrations which are integral to the plot and move the story along.

This would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition as well as for the home library. It would also make a fun choice for book club discussion or buddy read.

Four and a half stars. Definitely one for fans of the series and can be read as a standalone.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceeded expectations, although I'm not sure what my expectations were for this prequel. My expectations are always high for the Mr. Lemoncello books, so it even went beyond exceeding my expectations and has forced me to expand my expectations so I don't get too blown away.

12 balloons instead of five stars.

The prequel to the much beloved (at least by me) Mr. Lemoncello's Library series was unique to the other books with different characters and a different setting, but begins to tell the story before the story begins. I mean, Mr. Lemoncello didn't just pop up (although I'm sure he could have. He pops a lot). He has a history of how he became the mysterious Mr. Lemoncello and gives a peak into what led this "trouble making" kid into the world's most beloved game maker and a huge, fun library where playing games and solving puzzles are key to winning the overall game.

As with the sequels, there are a lot of puzzles, games, and clues to be discovered throughout. There are lessons...yes, I said lessons, but don't let that deter you. They are good and happy lessons which are so critical!

I listened to and read the book on release day. I always buy two versions. I buy the audio version to hear the excellent narration, and the book to see the text and puzzles. I will bet you one copper penny if you don't think at least one version scores!

It certainly seems like the prequels aren't done, woohoo, as he left some openings where there could definitely be more content, plus...perhaps a suggestion at the end?

So, surround yourself with balloons, get a cake made out of jellybeans, and forget about your surroundings for a few hours. Consider necessary bathroom breaks to be commercial breaks for TV, only more exciting to return to and it will wait for you.

[Maranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game by Chris Grabenstein is a prequel to the Mr. Lemoncello series.

Before Mr. Lemoncello was the famous game maker and philanthropist he is today, he was a dreamer and one of ten children in a poor household in Ohio. In this story, we meet thirteen-year-old, puzzle-savant, Luigi Lemoncello. Luigi is always looking for way to have fun and creates games for his family and friends to play. But his siblingings, especially his older sister, wish he would be more practical and serious. But that just isn't Luigi.

So, he is excited when he gets the chance to work a summer job with the carnival that lets him earn money while pursuing his passion. But life can sometimes knock a dreamer down and bullies, failed attempts and all around bad luck seem to get in Luigi's way.

Can Luigi be true to himself, find the missing pieces, crack the codes and reach the end of the game?

This was a fun read, as all Grabenstein's book are. My mind is spinning with activities to do and what discussion questions to ask if I were to choose this book for my 4-6th grade book club.

As with all of the Lemoncello books, the reader is encouraged to be true to who they are and get in on the fun and play the game along with the main characters. And if you have read the other books, there are so many nods to the original series that is fun to see. Lots of familiar names and places.

I don't have too much else to say about this book. It was a fun read, as I expected it to be. Probably good for your 4th grade + readers. This one gets 4 stars from me.

That's all for now!
-M-

[Rachel Kokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game was written by Chris Grabenstein, and is the sixth book in the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series. It is a prequel to the previous five books, but I wouldn’t recommend reading it before the others.

Summary: This book follows Luigi Lemoncello as a child, and brings the reader along as he discovers his love for games and showmanship. He meets amazing people along the way, and learns how to rely on his quick wits and personality to escape bullies, solve puzzles, and become the greatest game designer of all time.

My Thoughts: I read this book aloud to my kids. At first, we were disappointed at the idea of reading a different story line. Book five was a bit of a cliffhanger, and we wanted to know what happened. A prequel didn’t sound nearly as fun.

But BOY, were we wrong.

This book is delightful, and our new favorite from the series. We learned about Luigi’s past and what influenced him to do what he does as an adult. We kept stopping the book and saying, “Oh, THAT’S where that came from!”

There are also lots of fun rebus puzzles spread throughout the book that kids can actually solve as they read-such a clever addition to a book, and really upped the interactive nature of the story.

This book is well-written, highly entertaining, has wonderful characters, and will have you quoting Lemoncello sayings in your daily life.

This is one of the best children’s books I have read in a long time, and my kids agree. I really couldn’t recommend this book more highly.

If you are looking for a series to hand to your kid, or choose as a read aloud for the whole family-this is the one. Why? Because, it’s a Lemoncello! (You will get that once you read the books.)

I would like to thank Random House Children’s for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

[Alley W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game was a thrilling adventure. In the book the reader is introduced to thirteen year old Luigi Lemoncello one of the ten Lemoncello children. All his siblings have lofty dreams one wants to be a lawyer another a doctor and Luigi is the odd one out. None of those things interest him his imagination is fascinated with games and puzzles, how to solve them and how to create them. He has two best friends, Bruno and Chester, who accept his friend for who he is and are also fascinated with their friend’s lively out of the box character. Luigi’s older sister Mary sees no value in Luigi not pursuing interest of education her point is all the more proven when Luigi’s game antics bring misfortune to the Lemoncello household. Luigi’s life is changed forever when he decides to go to a carnival where he happens to meet an eccentric barker named Professor Marvelmous. The professor offers Luigi a job but in doing so also helps Luigi hone his showman abilities and encourages Luigi to be who he is and not hide his true self to fit in. Loved the back story of Mr. Lemoncello, there are a lot of moments in the book that connect to the previous Lemoncello books from his top hat to his rhyming which make this book a fun read all around. The man Luigi Lemoncello becomes is shown in the character development that takes place in this book. Luigi learns that games need rules, winning is not everything and working together as a team makes the game and life better..

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As far as prequels go, I thought this was an excellent one. It really set the stage for the series, introducing some of the predecessors of our favorite families, like the Keeleys and the Chiltingtons. I also loved the insight into the younger Luigi's family and how they influenced his puzzle-solving and game creation. There are also great tie-ins to the series, such as the librarian, Mrs. Tobin, who we only know in holographic form in the series, but is a really-life person in this prequel, and some of the events from Alexandriaville's history, which we learn about in the series, but which actually take place in the prequel. It had everything that a fan of the series has come to expect - good guys and bad guys, friends working together, fun puzzles to solve, and a zany game-maker who heavily influences and inspires the person Luigi Lemoncello is to become. There were a couple of unexplained storylines that I wish had been expanded upon, such as the attitudes of both Luigi's sister, Mary, and his friend, Bruno, but overall, this is a great addition to the Lemoncello series that I think kids will love.

[Ms. Garr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle school and up; sweet and fun prequel to the Mr. Lemoncello library series that documents an important summer in 13 year-old Luigi Lemoncello’s life. Themes of choosing kindness, comparing yourself to others (especially within a family) and being true to yourself run throughout the story in ways that are clear enough for young readers to pick up on. All of the characters appear to be Caucasian and able-bodied, and range from blue collar to wealthy. The gentle nature that characterizes all the books in the series is here as well: the bad guys aren’t too scary, and the good guys are so earnestly good. It’s another fast-moving, short-chapters book, filled with fun bits of foreshadowing information that any fan of the series will enjoy - for example, we meet the mentor who inspired Luigi, the origin of the banana squeaky shoes, and we even get to meet the actual librarian Mrs. Tobin! I read this with a group of incoming sixth graders in a book club this summer, and even though most of them had not read the other books in the series they absolutely loved this one. At this point in the series, that’s the biggest value for me: kids LOVE to read them! Recommended.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for an eARC of Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game in exchange for an honest review.

Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game is the prequel to the Lemoncello series. The story follows Luigi Lemoncello as a middle schooler as he navigates school bullies, new and current friendships, his family and their financial situation, and discoving his true passion and path in life.

This book has everything in it you love from the original books: rebus puzzles, marvelmous word combinations, and amazing onomatopoeias. The reader has the pleasure of learning of Luigi Lemoncello's childhood and how he became the amazing game inventor readers fell in love with in the original books. There are even some names readers of the other books will remember, including Chiltingon and Keeley, that make the universe of Alexandria, Ohio feel so realistic and familiar. 

Learn how Luigi Lemoncello got his start, from his amazing ideas to his wacky banana shoes. This book has everything from the original, and yes, there are balloons.