The Spelling Bee Before Recess

The students were squirming
but none made a sound,
as the spelling bee entered
its championship round.

It’s right before recess, and the annual school spelling bee is down to just three spellers: Cornelius the Genius, Smart Ruby, and The Slugger, who never strikes out. Round after round, the words whizz at them, but with one minute left until recess, there’s still no winner. Who will triumph? It all comes down to one final word, and a curveball that no one sees coming!
Deborah Lee Rose’s clever rhyming text packs a laugh-out-loud wallop with words that young readers will enjoy spelling and reading aloud again and again. Fun and whimsical illustrations by Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis provide the perfect balance of humor and suspense as readers find out whether The Slugger will hit a grand slam or finally strike out.
The book includes three spelling lists that can be used for spelling bees at home, in school, at the library, or for community events. An author’s note describes why and how words were chosen.

Deborah Lee Rose is an internationally published author whose award-winning books are among the New York Public Library’s 100 Books to Read and Share. She is the author of Abrams’ Twelve Days series, All the Seasons of the Year, and Someone’s Sleepy. She lives with her family in Walnut Creek, California. Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis has illustrated Ten Creepy Monsters and the Twelve Days series. She lives with her family in Cape Neddick, Maine. Visit her online at slugworksrocks.com.