This is the first in a fun series reminiscent of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books in format and style.  The unique angle of this book is that it incorporates and defines words which begin with the letter “A”.  Each book in the series focuses on a subsequent letter in the alphabet with definitions in the back.  The second book is titled Bogus while the third is titled Cahoots.  Artsy-Fartsy is written in the context of a mystery, in which the main character, 10 year-old Aldo, receives a red letter sketchbook from his Grandmother so he can draw in it as a summer activity.  Aldo and his buddy Jack discover a great big tree with boughs which hang low and make it a great “fort”.  They fill their new fort with comforts and Aldo hide his notebook there.  Pretty quickly he finds that his notebook had been discovered as mystery drawings appear.  The boys spend most of the story trying to figure out who is getting into their fort and drawing in the notebook.  There are sketches throughout the book which comically illustrate the entertaining antics of the characters.  Written at AR level 3.8, it’s an easy read that could appeal to a wide range of ages from mid-elementary through middle school.