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The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut #1
Bowling Alley Bandit: The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut
As Mr. Bing's new pet "doughnut dog," Arnie couldn't be happier. When Mr. Bing joins a bowling league, Arnie gets to go along to practices and competitions. But then Mr. Bing starts rolling gutter balls. Someone or something is behind the madness. Arnie, together with his team of goofball friends, must sort through the shenanigans and solve the mystery. Get ready for some sleuthing and even some magic.
Full of Laurie Keller’s winning charm and silly humor, this chapter book—the first in the series—is sure to please her many fans.
Full of Laurie Keller’s winning charm and silly humor, this chapter book—the first in the series—is sure to please her many fans.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2013
8 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Keller
39 books118 followersLaurie Keller grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. She always loved to draw, paint and write stories. She spent much of her time performing in a local dance tour company and dancing in and choreographing some civic theatre shows.
She graduated several years later with a BFA in Illustration. She also got a job as a greeting card illustrator at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the author and illustrator of many children's books.
She graduated several years later with a BFA in Illustration. She also got a job as a greeting card illustrator at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the author and illustrator of many children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 13, 2021
This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.
If you're following along, there has been significant improvement on the lists, and they seem to be running more or less correctly. I have plenty more reviews coming, thanks to the marvelous people @chpublib and @ocplibraries who are keeping me supplied.
9 June 2021
These are mostly goofy with flashes of absurdism. Having long enjoyed Keller's picture books, I'm nonetheless impressed by the ease with which she appeared to move into a different format.
The original review, below, isn't so much wrong as no-longer-true. Maybe I've just gotten better at enjoying humor even if it isn't normally my cuppa? Fart jokes aren't my thing, for example, but I can appreciate the pleasures of Nacho Libre.
The lack of female representation is still weird though.
***
8 Aug 2013
As fond as I am of Keller's picture books, and the original Arnie the Doughnut, this never quite worked for me. The jokes are corny, which is fine. But the story felt kind of all over the place. The PandaBat only read a couple of pages before putting it down. It's hard to do early readers with engaging characters on a limited vocabulary. So, I hope Keller finds the magic and can produce books for this age. But this Arnie just gets a "meh."
And why is there only one female character in the whole thing?
Library copy.
If you're following along, there has been significant improvement on the lists, and they seem to be running more or less correctly. I have plenty more reviews coming, thanks to the marvelous people @chpublib and @ocplibraries who are keeping me supplied.
9 June 2021
These are mostly goofy with flashes of absurdism. Having long enjoyed Keller's picture books, I'm nonetheless impressed by the ease with which she appeared to move into a different format.
The original review, below, isn't so much wrong as no-longer-true. Maybe I've just gotten better at enjoying humor even if it isn't normally my cuppa? Fart jokes aren't my thing, for example, but I can appreciate the pleasures of Nacho Libre.
The lack of female representation is still weird though.
***
8 Aug 2013
As fond as I am of Keller's picture books, and the original Arnie the Doughnut, this never quite worked for me. The jokes are corny, which is fine. But the story felt kind of all over the place. The PandaBat only read a couple of pages before putting it down. It's hard to do early readers with engaging characters on a limited vocabulary. So, I hope Keller finds the magic and can produce books for this age. But this Arnie just gets a "meh."
And why is there only one female character in the whole thing?
Library copy.
June 18, 2013
Things were tense, but it all worked out in the end.
July 12, 2015
Would be good for third grade. Just starting SSYRA. Will be very quick read for 5th grade. Fairly high exile 690 -- which makes me think keep. Silly book but has some meaning to it.
February 12, 2013
The world's friendliest doughnut is back and expanding his skinny-armed reach from picture books to chapter books! In this delightfully absurd, charmingly offbeat, fully illustrated mystery -- a "Who-Donut" -- Arnie attempts to figure out why Mr. Bing, an accomplished bowler, is rolling gutter balls during the big bowling championship. Kids seeking a straightforward, linear narrative may find this book challenging, as Arnie is a chatty, easily distracted host and the central plotline is almost secondary to his random asides, but that's part of the book's charm. You never quite know where Arnie is taking you, but his company is so good (and his jokes so adorably bad) that you're happy to sit back and enjoy the ride. Fans of silly jokes and witty wordplay and/or fans of quirky illustrated chapter books like Fashion Kitty, Bad Kitty, and Captain Underpants will devour this one. (SORRY, Arnie!! I meant your book! They'll devour your BOOK! Metaphorically!! *whew*)
August 8, 2013
A quirky romp. Great for kids just transitioning to chapter books, early elementary reluctant readers, and kids who like heavily illustrated longer titles.
June 27, 2019
Funny. I read this on the 27th.
August 23, 2022
Arnie is Mr. Bing's "doughnut-dog" now and goes with him to his bowling tournament. Mr. Bing's is rolling strike after strike until his streak stops all of a sudden, and it's up to Arnie to find out what's happening. I love Keller's illustrations; they are perfect for a world with anthropomorphized food and bowling equipment! A spin-off series from the Arnie picture books. For fans of Chicken Squad and Fabio the World's Greatest Flamingo Detective.
December 24, 2017
I actually saw this graphic novel chapter book before I was aware of the picture book. It is quite fun with quirky humor and good illustrations. It is rated at a 690 lexile read level. Not many words on a page. A good bowling rivalry with a mystery tossed in. Will your young reader catch the clues that point to the culprit?
May 14, 2019
Arnie is Mr. Biggs "doughnut dog." With a witty personality Arnie helps solve the mystery of what happened to the lucky pink sprinkle at the bowling alley. This adorably silly early chapter book will be a favorite among students. Who wouldn't love a book with the main character being a doughnut?
July 5, 2017
This had me laughing the whole way through! I love the illustrations and it was so fun to read - can't wait to read the other ones!
January 13, 2019
very funny
April 29, 2019
Apparently, I am not "into" talking doughnuts and battling bowling balls...who knew!
August 19, 2019
Enjoyable
October 22, 2020
More funny adventures with Arnie the Doughnut and his friend Peezo the slice of pizza
December 5, 2020
Silly and fun. Elementary school children are the target audience (I believe) and I think they would find it very enjoyable.
February 15, 2021
So funny, I like the varied text for reading development. It is great for paired or mentor buddy reading.
April 17, 2021
Funny and Creative
September 2, 2024
arguably the most important book i have ever read
November 13, 2024
"I liked it but it wasnt that good because it was talking about bowling a lot of the time and not that much story. Amen"
April 27, 2021
It is hilarious it is fun if I could meet Arnie I would
March 8, 2017
This book was ridiculous, and I was immensely entertained. A really nice reading level for a beginning reader, although quite American in jokes and style.
March 6, 2017
I really loved the first Arnie the Doughnut book but was a bit disappointed in this one.
January 1, 2020
BCFL checkout. Second read by me.
February 19, 2017
Great suggestion for a kid's book club! Quirky humor and off-beat storyline, (pet donut anyone?), I think this mixture of silly artwork, goofy jokes, and bowling alley lingo will be popular with kids.
Go for it Carlotta!
Go for it Carlotta!
August 26, 2013
* I got this copy from the publisher in exchange of an honest review
Fresh out of the baker and into Mr. Bing's life comes Arnie the Doughnut how is half of the time a regular doughnut and the other half just a chocolate covered sprinkle doughnut.
This time we follow Arnie the Doughnut in his life at the bowlling alley where he goes from karaoke enthusiast to crime solving doughnut. Follow Arnie as she show's us why he loves the bowling alley so much and how he tries to keep it a safe place.
If you like to read books from the first book and then mover from there then you might want to check out the first Arnie the Doughnut book by Laurie Keeller, but if you don't mind I don't think it would be hard at all to feel up the holes in the story.
This story is more limited on the age range, I like middle grade books that both me and my little cousins can enjoy but this one is more for the little little ones and even if it was amusing to see a doughnut survive a bowling alley it was really obvious at times.
Little kids, in my opinion, will enjoy this story it is accompanied by good art work that makes the story more dynamic and I can imagine little kids having a blast during a little reading time accompanied by a great narrator.
The thing that made this book shine for me is that it doesn't paint Mr. Bing as an old man without energy, no Mr. Bing goes out for walks with Arnie, he bowls and enters tournaments. Mr. Bing is by no means the primary character yet I love the fact that he is in a children's story and that he breaks the old man mold.
Rating for adults: 3 stars
Rating for kids: 4 stars
Fresh out of the baker and into Mr. Bing's life comes Arnie the Doughnut how is half of the time a regular doughnut and the other half just a chocolate covered sprinkle doughnut.
This time we follow Arnie the Doughnut in his life at the bowlling alley where he goes from karaoke enthusiast to crime solving doughnut. Follow Arnie as she show's us why he loves the bowling alley so much and how he tries to keep it a safe place.
If you like to read books from the first book and then mover from there then you might want to check out the first Arnie the Doughnut book by Laurie Keeller, but if you don't mind I don't think it would be hard at all to feel up the holes in the story.
This story is more limited on the age range, I like middle grade books that both me and my little cousins can enjoy but this one is more for the little little ones and even if it was amusing to see a doughnut survive a bowling alley it was really obvious at times.
Little kids, in my opinion, will enjoy this story it is accompanied by good art work that makes the story more dynamic and I can imagine little kids having a blast during a little reading time accompanied by a great narrator.
The thing that made this book shine for me is that it doesn't paint Mr. Bing as an old man without energy, no Mr. Bing goes out for walks with Arnie, he bowls and enters tournaments. Mr. Bing is by no means the primary character yet I love the fact that he is in a children's story and that he breaks the old man mold.
Rating for adults: 3 stars
Rating for kids: 4 stars
May 7, 2015
Arnie is a chocolate frosted doughnut with sprinkles and he lives with his friend, Mr. Bing. Though Mr. Bing previously tried to eat Arnie, Arnie now acts as his “doughnut dog”, leash and all. Arnie loves accompanying Mr. Bing to the bowling alley, where he cheers on the Bingbats, sings Karaoke and fights with his frenemy, Peezo, a slice of pizza. On the day of the championships, Mr. Bing starts rolling gutterballs, and it up to Arnie and his friends to figure out who is sabotaging the Bingbats. Is it Peezo, rival bowlers, or a neglected bowling ball?
Arnie the Doughnut is back, now in a series of easy chapter books. This first book is still heavy on pictures, at times seeming more like a graphic novel than a traditional chapter book. It is full of silly humor: a call for makeup shows hands spreading frosting and adding sprinkles, Arnie’s karaoke songs are full of doughnut puns, and Arnie seriously explains that he cannot bowl because bowling balls are too heavy for doughnuts. There are numerous tangents and hilarious details incorporated into the illustrations, as well as some useful information on rules and scoring in bowling. The only drawback is that the illustrations are rendered entirely in black and white, and on graphic-heavy pages, a pop of color would liven things up. Booklist recommends it, “for young students and anyone with a sense of humor” and it is best suited for 7 to 10-year-olds.
Arnie the Doughnut is back, now in a series of easy chapter books. This first book is still heavy on pictures, at times seeming more like a graphic novel than a traditional chapter book. It is full of silly humor: a call for makeup shows hands spreading frosting and adding sprinkles, Arnie’s karaoke songs are full of doughnut puns, and Arnie seriously explains that he cannot bowl because bowling balls are too heavy for doughnuts. There are numerous tangents and hilarious details incorporated into the illustrations, as well as some useful information on rules and scoring in bowling. The only drawback is that the illustrations are rendered entirely in black and white, and on graphic-heavy pages, a pop of color would liven things up. Booklist recommends it, “for young students and anyone with a sense of humor” and it is best suited for 7 to 10-year-olds.
May 11, 2013
*Actual rating 3.5 stars
This book sounded so fun and cute, so I was really excited to read it. Besides, how fun is that cover? So being that it's a short book, this review will be short too. It was great for the age group it's intended for, though probably on the younger side of it. I would consider this more of a children's book, than middle grade.
Arnie is a doughnut that Mr. Bing decides not to eat and instead becomes his pet "dog-doughnut" and is treated like he's a companion. Artie is fun and entertaining, and goes wherever Mr. Bing does. His favorite is bowling. He is determined to help the team, and all of his friends when things seem to be a bit strange.
This is a fun, short book about friendship and doing what's right, put in the form of a talking doughnut, bowling balls, pizza, and other wacky things. It's a great book for young children who love cheesy humor. It was a very quick read and had some good lessons in it. The illustrations were entertaining and the characters were fun. The age recommendation is 7-10, but I would say that 10 year old's might find it a bit too young for them.
*This book was provided by the publisher for review.
This book sounded so fun and cute, so I was really excited to read it. Besides, how fun is that cover? So being that it's a short book, this review will be short too. It was great for the age group it's intended for, though probably on the younger side of it. I would consider this more of a children's book, than middle grade.
Arnie is a doughnut that Mr. Bing decides not to eat and instead becomes his pet "dog-doughnut" and is treated like he's a companion. Artie is fun and entertaining, and goes wherever Mr. Bing does. His favorite is bowling. He is determined to help the team, and all of his friends when things seem to be a bit strange.
This is a fun, short book about friendship and doing what's right, put in the form of a talking doughnut, bowling balls, pizza, and other wacky things. It's a great book for young children who love cheesy humor. It was a very quick read and had some good lessons in it. The illustrations were entertaining and the characters were fun. The age recommendation is 7-10, but I would say that 10 year old's might find it a bit too young for them.
*This book was provided by the publisher for review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews