A mystery adventure designed to teach young viewers about the dangers of alcohol.
Kids, have no fear, ace detective Johnny Clue is on the case of evil dude “Cool Al”. When Johnny uncovers unmistakable evidence that bad things are happening to the kids hanging out with Cool Al, his investigation goes into high gear. He uncovers evidence of the crime-- kids drinking alcohol, having memory problems, and even blackouts. More compelling evidence is provided by Stella Sparks, a scientist who specializes in studying the damage alcohol causes to kids’ developing brains. Also on the case is Detective Filbert, a cop who provides all the legal facts kids need to know about underage drinking. In the climactic ending, Johnny Clue unmasks Cool Al at a big bash where all the kids discover that drinking alcohol is uncool, illegal, and really bad for your brain.
Includes:
video, plus teacher’s resource book, student handouts and pre/post tests in digital format
Reviews
Johnny Clue, a young detective in a trench coat, is tracking down clues to discover why the kids in his town are suddenly acting differently. An athlete is losing races, a great actress is forgetting her lines, and children are fighting. Cool Al—a bottle of alcohol who dresses cool, plays basketball, and tries to get all the kids to drink—is new in town. Johnny Clue visits the police station where a detective fills him in on the dangers of drinking alcohol. He also gets valuable information from a scientist who takes him inside a brain to explain how alcohol distorts the messages relayed between neurons and is especially harmful to young people's developing brains. This animated story will appeal to youngsters, but the conclusion is too simplistic. It could be used to introduce a discussion about the dangers of alcohol.
- Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA
School Library Journal