Book excerpt: A brand-new, monster-filled, action-packed, early chapter book series from the bestselling author-illustrator of The Notebook of Doom! Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!Alexander Bopp is the leader of the Super Secret Monster Patrol, a club whose members are sworn to protect the town from monsters. But there haven't been monsters to fight for months... Alexander misses his best friends -- and fellow club members -- Rip and Nikki. Then he starts finding weird old-timey objects, cake crumbs, and creepy monster cards all over town! Could the monsters be back? The Super Secret Monster Patrol will have to get back together to find out! Fans of The Notebook of Doom are going to devour this exciting new series from bestselling author-illustrator Troy Cummings!