Solomon Snow and the Stolen Jewel

STOP!! Have you read the first book in this series, Solomon Snow and the Silver Spoon? If you have, then you are cleared to proceed, but if you haven't, please go back to the beginning of book one and start there. . . . . Okay, now that we've gotten rid of the newbies for the moment, let me tell you about book two in this series of books by Kaye Umansky, the "not-quite Dickens, but ever-so brilliant anyway" author from the UK. We last saw Solly Snow receiving a reward for services rendered to a wealthy couple during the business of the spoon, and by now of course, it's all gone, squandered by Ma and especially Pa Scubbins. He had however managed to make one business investment before going bust, and now he's got wheels. Unfortunately, said wheels are on a cart attached to a donkey named Betty, whose start button is linked to Solly singing about drunken sailors. Anyway, wheels are wheels, and before you can say "Sea Chanty" he's linked up with his pal Prudence of proboscis fame, and they're off to Seaport to stage a rescue operation for Pru's poacher pop, who's about to be deported. As lousy luck would have it, they are reunited with Rosabella, the overly precious cherubic little brat known as the Infant Prodigy, and she's got a new blue bunnikins in tow. This installment tells of a missing jewel known as the Firestone of Toj; a celebrated jewel expert named Calamari, a very jealous Mr. Skippy, and a little ole Shawty who just can't get the canons of being shot out of cannons. Once again, Kaye Umansky has dreamed up a winning tale of fun and adventure, highly recommended as suitable for young readers everywhere. Amanda Richards, August 20, 2007