Madormo’s mystery series for young readers gains wide appeal with educators

John Madormo, North Central College assistant professor of broadcast communication and general manager of WONC-FM 89.1, continues to receive wide acclaim and various opportunities to speak about his “Charlie Collier, Snoop for Hire” series of three mystery books for middle-grade readers.

Naperville Community Unit School District 203 announced its list of books for the district’s Battle of the Books competition for the 2013-2014 school year. Madormo’s first Charlie Collier book, “The Homemade Stuffing Caper,” was added to the elite list.

He was chosen to speak at the annual Illinois Reading Council’s Illinois Statewide Young Authors Conference at Illinois State University May 17-18. The conference provides opportunities for young K-8 writers to meet published authors and hear how they created the characters and stories that became their books.  

The books’ publisher, Penguin Books for Young Readers, invited Madormo to join its list of authors who conduct video chats with school kids through their “Skype in the Classroom” project. The online visit includes a brief personal background, short discussion of the “Charlie Collier, Snoop for Hire” series, interactive presentation, some Q&A and a series of Charlie Collier brain teasers for the students.

“The Homemade Stuffing Caper” has been included in a special brochure for educators by Penguin that features the publisher’s list of great book choices for teachers in grades 5-8. The brochure is a response to a new nationwide initiative called Common Core, a common set of educational standards from state to state. Publishers like Penguin have created brochures for teachers that recommend books that address common core needs.

Also, the Bankstreet College of Education in New York City has included “The Homemade Stuffing Caper” in its recently released list of the Best Children’s Books of 2013.

Madormo and his book series will be featured in a TV broadcast interview at 7:10 a.m. Thursday, June 13, on WCIU (The U) Channel 26 in Chicago.

Click here to view that interview with hosts of The U program, “You and Me in the Morning.”