Recommended Chapter Books for Read Alouds

Sixth/Fifth Grade

1. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar. The best book I listened to all summer. We have it on CD, too with a full cast audio. Scott Hudson is an overworked freshman. His homework keeps him up all night and his gym teacher is trying to kill him. He joins the paper, runs for student council, and tries out for the play, just to be near a girl he likes. He turns out to be the least athletic sports reporter in school history. Worst of all, he finds out his mother his mother is pregnant. So he starts a journal for the unborn baby—a very sarcastic journal. I can’t remember when I’ve laughed so much.

2. Dunk also by David Lubar. We also have this on CD. This is a bit darker than the above book. The summer crowd hasn't quite arrived on the boardwalk in a Jersey shore town when Chad becomes entranced by the comments of the Bozo-the clown in the dunk tank. It occurs to him that if he can become a Bozo, then he can take out his anger on people without anyone knowing who he is. His best friend becomes seriously ill, he discovers that the irritating upstairs renter is the Bozo he admired, and the girl he has a crush on who worked on the boardwalk last summer hasn’t shown up—all these quandaries he needs to come to terms with. The voice in this novel is outstanding.

3. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. Twelve-year-old Moose moves to Alcatraz in 1935 so his father can work as a guard . His sister is autistic before there was a term for her condition. Moose and the rest of the kids on the island have to take a boat to the mainland to go to school. It is a time when the federal prison is home to notorious criminals like gangster Al Capone. Moose is depressed because he’s had to leave his friends behind, his father works all the time, and his mother spends all her time with his sister. Again, the novel’s voice makes it worthwhile reading, and your students will learn a little history, too.

4. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt. This story is based on an actual occurance. In 1912, the white people destroyed an island community of blacks, whose ancestors had lived on the island for at least a hundred years. When Turner Buckminster arrives in Phippsburg, ME, it takes him only a few hours to start hating his new home. He is the son of the newly hired minister, and every mistake he makes is either commented on or reported to his father. Turner was a brilliant baseball player in Boston, but they throw the ball differently in Phippsburg, so his one strength turns to yet another weakness in the eyes of the town and the town boys bully him. He is miserable until he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, the first African American he has ever met and a resident of Malaga Island, an impoverished community settled by freed slaves. This is a very powerful book.

5. Tadpole by Ruth White. Carolina Collins, ten years old, feels like the "runt" and "nobody at all," in comparison with her three older sisters until her orphaned cousin, Tadpole, comes to stay. Running away from an uncle who beats him, Tadpole hides with Carolina’s family. Everyone in the neighborhood who meets him, finds him absolutely charming. He awakens in the sisters an appreciation for their hard-working mother, and their surroundings. This story takes place in Appalachia in the 1950’s, and will have you wishing you were related to Tadpole, too.

6. Hoot by Carl Hiasson. This was a Newbery runner-up. New kid, Roy hooks up with a teenage runaway and his sister to protect the nesting ground for burrowing owls, which are threatened by construction. I loved this book. Flush was good, too, but not as good as this book. 7. 12 Again by Sue Corbett. I wrote a test for this and the author e-mailed Judy because we were the only site in the entire universe that had a test for her book!!! Irish fairies meet the computer age in this fantasy. Patrick’s mother goes to her dead mother’s house on her 40th birthday and wishes she were younger. She awakes the next morning, and she is—she is 12, and has to go to school with her son. Another great book.

8. Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff. Another runner-up for the Newbery. Twelve-year-old foster child Hollis Woods has run away from the foster family to whom she has related. The mystery of why she left is told through flashbacks. You keep wondering why she would leave a home where she was loved and wanted. Yeah, I loved this one, too.

9. Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay. This won a bunch of awards in England. Saffy’s parents who are both painters, spend all their time in separate studios. The four children are left to themselves. Then Saffy finds out that she is actually a cousin and niece of the people she thought of as her family. Then Grandfather dies and leaves her an angel in his will—only problem is, it’s in Italy. There are two more in this series about Saffy’s siblings, Indigo’s Star and Permanent Rose.

10. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. The chapters in this book alternate between the hero and heroine. The girl falls in love with the boy in second grade and he totally ignores her for 6 years, and then decides that she’s not so bad, but by this time he has been such a jerk that she’s not sure she can even stand him anymore. It’s a lot better than I’m describing, and it won the School Library Journal Award.

11. No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman. The hero cannot tell a lie. So, when his teacher asks him to write a book report on the teacher’s favorite book report, our hero tells the truth—that it stinks. This leads to detention until he can write a glowing report, which he refuses to do, ultimately being the cause of the football team’s loss. The dead dogs refers to the book he was supposed to review. There aren’t actually any dead dogs in this. It is a delightful comedy.

12. A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements. New student Mark Chelmsley is branded a slacker by his science teacher. On the school’s annual “Week in the Woods” camping trip, Mark and his teacher become separated after Mark runs away and his teacher chases after him.

13. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. There are five books in this series. We have tests for all of them. They are about Alex Rider. He lives with his uncle, and one day he is told that his uncle has been killed in a car accident. It turns out that his uncle worked for MI5, and they now want to recruit Alex. Action-packed. The movie is coming out in October.

14. Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. This is a series of seven books of The Edge Chronicles. The first three are about Twig ,who was abandoned at birth and brought up by woodtrolls. Twig longs for adventure and heads for the Deepwoods, which begins a heart- stopping series of “strange creatures, bloodthirsty enemies and a destiny in the skies” with the skypirates. The illustrations and imaginative characters make these books amazing. I highly recommend this series. Still one of my favorites three years later! Littlerock book of the year-- 2005

15. Lionboy by Zizou Corder. Charlie comes home one day and finds his scientist parents have been kidnapped. So he goes off to rescue them. Charlie has an amazing ability—he speaks “cat”. He teams up with some circus lions to try and rescue his parents, which didn’t happen in this book, while being chased by an evil character who will get a hefty sum if he can deliver Charlie, too. This is the first in a trilogy. 16. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. One night Meggie’s father reads aloud from Inkheart and the cruel Capricorn escapes from the book and wreaks havoc on the world. At the same time, Meggie’s mother disappears from the living room. Meggie and her father have to put an end to Capricorn and find their wife and mother.

17. Hidden Talents by David Lubar. Martin gets sent to an alternative school. This school is full of problem students. He figures out that each of his new friends has a certain psychic power. I love everything I’ve read by David Lubar!

18. A Teacher’s Funeral by Richard Peck. Peck’s books have great voice, and this one is no exception. It’s 1904 and Russell’s teacher has just died before the start of school. He and his brother, Lloyd are hoping that they’ll shut down the one room school because there’s no hope of finding a teacher this close to the start of school. But the boys’ hopes are dashed when their bossy older sister takes the job. I laughed at their misadventures all the way to the end.

19. Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse. Did you know that the Japanese bombed the Aleutian Islands during World War II? I didn’t either. This book is told in the voice of a teen-aged Aleut. All the Aleuts from the outlying islands had to be evacuated a thousand miles to the mainland because of these bombings. This is a heart wrenching yet very informative book.

20. Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. This was my favorite book of the summer 2005—next to Harry Potter 6! Percy Jackson has been kicked out of every school he’s been in. When he finally figures out that he is the son of a Greek god, all hell breaks loose. The premise of this book is that the Greek gods have ruled since the beginning of time. Now, the Greek gods can be found in the 60th floor of the Empire State Bldg. and Hades is in—Los Angeles. A brilliant book, which will have sequels. I think this book will pique student’s interest in Greek myths, so I’m beefing up easily accessible Greek myths in the library. There is now a sequel—The Sea of Monsters. Tied for Littlerock book of the year--2006

21. After by Francine Prose. Tom Bishop and his friends start to feel that their freedoms are disappearing in their high school because students at a neighboring high school were shot by another student. High school starts feeling like a prison. Then students who don’t follow the rules start disappearing…and dying. This is a powerful novel!

22. Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White. Gypsy, the 12-year-old narrator, is all excited when her cousin Woodrow moves in with their grandparents next door. Woodrow's mother, has disappeared without a clue, and Gypsy hopes that Woodrow can tell her what really happened. Instead, like Ruth White’s other title character, Tadpole, Woodrow charms everyone with his down-to-earth witticisms and sense of humor. This is more of a self-discovery book than a mystery, but it’s beautifully written.

23. Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach. Hero, named after a character in a Shakespearean play isn’t as pretty or popular as her sister, and immediately gets teased in her new school, and she never tells her parents about her difficulties. Then her next door neighbor, Mrs. Roth, tells her about the enormous diamond rumored to be hidden in Hero's new house, which leads Hero into a fascinating journey into the history surrounding 15th century England, and a present day missing diamond.

24. Whittington by Alan Armstrong. From Booklist Gr. 5-8. "So what do you want, Mr. Whittington?" "A place to live," the cat replies to Lady, the take-charge duck asking the questions, as Whittington attempts to sell his skills as a ratter and all- around useful fellow. Once he does and becomes part of the community of outcast animals who look after one another in softhearted Bernie's old barn, readers will settle in with him for a tale of charming animal bravura. Whittington entertains the group daily with the tale of his ancestor, Dick Whittington's cat, and relates the story of Whittington's fourteenth-century escapades as a rags-to-riches British merchant and far-traveling adventurer. The story works beautifully, both as historical fiction about medieval street life and commerce and as a witty, engaging tale of barnyard camaraderie and survival. A third strand, about Bernie's grandchildren, particularly Ben and his troubles and eventual success with learning to read, seems forced and didactic in what is otherwise a very strong story. Final illustrations not available. Anne O'Malley Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

25. First Boy by Gary Schmidt From School Library Journal Grade 5-8–While not as richly layered as Schmidt's Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (Clarion, 2004), this novel touches on similar themes. When Cooper Jewett's beloved grandfather, whose endearment for the 14-year-old is, You're my first boy, dies suddenly, the teen finds himself completely alone. He's never even seen a picture of his parents. Cooper is determined to stay on the New Hampshire dairy farm that he loves, although school, cross-country practice, and endless chores make that decision nearly impossible. The Big Men in black sedans who begin to follow him, ransacking the farm and setting fire to a barn, set off a series of events that ends with him being kidnapped and meeting the president. Senator Wickham, a candidate for the Democratic nomination, wishing to smear the incumbent, uncovers a scandal and believes that the President and the First Gentleman (yes, that's right: a woman president and a nice touch) are the boy's parents. However, since the president refuses to take a DNA test, readers are never certain whether or not Cooper is indeed the First Boy. He just wants to be home with his friends who love him and, in the end, he is able to stay. Cooper's grief, solitude, and loneliness are poignantly and realistically drawn, and secondary characters add humor to this fast-paced tale. At times, but not nearly as often as in Lizzie Bright, the writing reaches the lyricism so compelling in that novel. Like Turner in that book, Cooper learns how memories keep loved ones alive.–Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

*26. Listen! by Stephanie Tolan. Gr. 4-7. The approaching summer looms bleakly over 12-year- old Charley. Her best friend has left for tennis camp, her father's 80-hour workweek ensures he never has time for her, and she still mourns the death of her mother, a nature photographer who died in a plane crash two years earlier. Charley, who is recovering from a recent car accident, is frustrated with the long hikes she must take to strengthen her injured leg. But on one such walk she meets Coyote, a shy, intelligent stray, and through the process of taming and opening her heart to the dog, Charley learns to feel again and comes to terms with her mother's death. The pacing is slow and thoughtful, the descriptions of nature are evocative, and a touch of magic realism in Charley and Coyote's relationship will charm readers who imagine their own mystical connections with pets. Jennifer Hubert Copyright © American Library Association.

*27. NO Talking by Andrew Clements. Gr. 5-6. From School Library Journal Starred Review. Grade 3–6—Dave Packer's fifth-grade classmates are so boisterous and difficult to quiet down that the teachers have dubbed them "The Unshushables." Dave has just read about Mahatma Gandhi and learned that the man practiced silence one day a week to bring order to his mind. Though Dave likes to talk nonstop, he's determined to give the idea a try. An encounter with Lynsey, another chatterbox, sparks the boys and girls into challenging each other to a no- talking contest for 48 hours. They can answer direct questions from adults with three-word sentences but must otherwise remain silent. The teachers are bewildered at the extreme change in the kids until several of them figure out what's going on. Principal Hiatt demands that the quiet students return to their normal behavior. When the children continue with their silent ways, Dave finds himself at the center of the controversy. This is an interesting and thought-provoking book, similar to Clements's Frindle (S & S, 1996). The plot quickly draws readers in and keeps them turning pages. The author includes the viewpoints of both the students and the teachers, and the black-and-white pencil drawings add immediacy to the story. This lively offering would make a great book-group selection or classroom discussion starter.—Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

*28. Far North by Will Hobbs. From Publishers Weekly Those insatiable fans of Hatchet are the likeliest audience for this winter survival tale, which weds its adventure-seeking thrills to education about Dene Indian culture. Fifteen-year-old Gabe, a Texan, enrolls in a boarding school in Canada's Northwest Territories to be near his father, whose love of the wilderness has become infectious. But Gabe gets more than he bargained for when an airplane accident leaves him and his roommate Raymond, a Dene, stranded near the fierce Nahanni River at the start of a long winter. Guided by their fellow survivor Johnny Raven, a Dene elder, Gabe and Raymond learn to hunt beavers, trap rabbits and make snowshoes and mittens from animal hide. More significantly, they learn respect for ancient Dene beliefs. When Raven dies of the cold, the two boys must struggle out of Deadmen Valley on their own. Predictably sentimental, Hobbs's (Beardance) fast-moving tale nonetheless delivers breathless action and an inspiring sense of Canada's vast landscape. Ages 10-up. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

*29. Thunder Cave by Roland Smith. From Booklist Gr. 5^-8. After his mother is killed in a jogging accident and his stepfather decides to ship him off to live with relatives in Nebraska, 14-year-old Jacob Lansa opts to travel to Kenya in search of his father, a wildlife biologist tracking elephant herds. While crossing the Kenyan bush, Jacob meets Supeet, a young Masai on a quest to end the drought, and the two join forces. On their trek they encounter a dangerous ring of poachers, whose greed threatens Africa's wildlife with extinction. Although the novel is longer than most for this age group, the action never flags, and Smith's focus on local color and vivid attention to detail will make readers feel they are participants in Jacob's experiences. Reminiscent of Gary Paulsen's survival novels, this will appeal to adventure buffs. Eric Campbell's A Place of Lions (1991) provides a related look at east equatorial Africa. Kay Weisman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Fourth Grade

1. Beastly Arms by Patrick Jenner. Nickel has to move to a cheaper apartment, and he thinks that The Beastly Arms is creepy as is the landlord. But his mother moves there anyway because it’s cheap. He hears strange noises all night, and when he finally goes to investigate… This is an amazing book—one of my favorites!

2. Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath. This was a Newbery honor book. Primrose Squarp’s parents have been lost at sea, but Primrose refuse’s to believe they’re dead. Her uncle, Jack comes to take care of her. Primrose loves to go to the local restaurant where the owner serves everything on waffles. There is a recipe at the end of each chapter. This is a funny, bittersweet story.

3. Notes from a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko. Another bittersweet, realistic novel about Ant MacPherson who lies to her parents all the time. The only one in her family who understands her is her dog, Pistachio. Ant is convinced that she was adopted, and is always trying to find her real mother. This is a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. 4. Ravine by Janet Hickman. A dog is the link between the present world, and the medieval world. Jeremy chases his dog down a ravine and enters a medieval world about to be embroiled in a war.

*5. Rules by Cynthia Lord. This was a Newbery Honor book for 2007. The narrator’s voice is fabulous. Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings about her younger brother, David, who is autistic. While she loves him, she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected by their parents. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherine creates rules for him (It's okay to hug Mom but not the clerk at the video store). Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots more are interspersed throughout the book. When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but is anxious about her reaction to David. Then Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of pictures to communicate, she begins to understand that normal is difficult, and perhaps unnecessary, to define. Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others. Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME From School Library Journal

6 Belle Prater’s Boy. See #26, Five/Six

7. Keeper of the Doves by Betsy Byars. This got the highest rating in Horn Book Magazine. This takes place at the turn of the century. There are five sisters and the story follows them through their daily life where they encounter birth and death. Horn Book says that this is “Byars at her best.”

8. Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. See Sixth/Fifth grade

9. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment and lands in the underworld—there are giant cockroaches, giant rats and humans on the brink of war, and Gregor has been prophesied to be the humans’ savior. There are three other books in this series—all good!

10. Lionboy by Zizou Corder. See Sixth/Fifth

11. Hitler’s Daughter by Jackie French. Three Australian children of varied ages start telling stories to pass the time while they are waiting for the school bus. Most of the stories are about kings and queens and fairies, but when Anna starts telling her story it is about Heidi, Hitler’s daughter. I’ve done this with Literature Circles groups, and they had some great insights.

12. Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell. This is a brilliant book about Sahara Jones who was placed in special ed because she won’t do any of her work, but at home, she’s secretly a writer. This is about Sahara building back her self-esteem with the help of an understanding teacher.

13. Dog by Daniel Pennac. The canine narrator, Dog, relates the story of his life so far, from a refrigerator falling on the dog who is his protector in the dump, to getting adopted by a little girl who only pick him because her parents say not to. Dog’s view of the world is clever and descriptive.

14. The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley. Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, two sisters related to the famous Brothers Grimm, and abandoned by their parents, have been brought to live with a grandmother whom they thought was dead. The girls are immediately involved in a mystery that includes giants, pixies, fairies, and witches. The humans and fairy-tale creatures live together but mistrust each other. Some of the characters the girls encounter are – Prince Charming, Jack-the-Giant-Killer, the Three Pigs, the Magic Mirror. There are two more books in the series.

15. North by Donna Napoli. Sixth-grader Alvin, nicknamed "Dwarf" by classmates, is overwhelmed by his mother’s smothering protectiveness. When his teacher gives an assignment to select a famous African American to study, Alvin is intrigued by Matthew Henson. After his mother decides to put the money he’s saved for a bicycle in the bank for his college, and delegates the neighbor lady to walk him to school and back every day, Alvin decides to run away. Using his money, he leaves his Washington, DC neighborhood on a train bound for New York, then heads to Toronto, then on to Winnepeg. I was fascinated by this book. I really learned a lot about life with the Inuits and Matthew Henson while cheering Alvin on through the whole book

*16 Jackie’s Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs. Gr. 5-8. Fourteen-year-old Shannon and her kid brother, Cody, are staying with their uncle Neal, an animal rescuer for a shelter called Jackie's Wild Seattle. When Neal is hurt, Shannon steps in, putting herself in danger to save the animals. Shannon is a welcome relief from the angst-ridden heroines prevalent in much of today's teen literature, and, as is usual in Hobbs' books, this story is packed with action. Each character has a storm to weather, which is ultimately confronted in a way that seems a natural part of the overall plot. Authentic detail, especially about the rescued animals (Jackie's Wild Seattle was inspired by an actual shelter), prevents the book from becoming too sentimental, and adding to the realism is Hobbs' acknowledgement of 9/11 and its impact on various characters. An especially good choice for reluctant readers. Traci Todd Copyright © American Library Association.

*17 The Liberation of Gabriel King by K. L. Going. From School Library Journal Grade 4-7–In a small town in Georgia in 1976, Gabe King, who is white, and his friend Frita Wilson, who is African American, take on a special project. Gabe is determined not to go to fifth grade in the fall, in the "big kids" wing of the school where he will be one of the smallest students and at the mercy of bullies Duke Evans and Frankie Carmen. Frita, however, has determined to use the summer to liberate her friend from his fears and make sure he moves up with her. Gabe's narrative voice is open, direct, sometimes comic, and maybe a little hysterical: he has many fears, including Frita's teenage, body-building brother, Terrance. However, he agrees to Frita's plan, which includes liberating herself from her much shorter list. Going deftly balances the ugly face of racism with the more powerful forces of understanding, friendship, and family, which run broadly through the novel. Both Gabe and Frita come from loving homes that fully support the vision of brotherhood and equality of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and soon-to-be President Carter, and are committed to making that vision a reality.–Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX

18. A Dog’s Life by Ann Martin. From School Library Journal Grade 4-6–From the comfort of her new home, a dog provides a retrospective narrative of her 10 years as mostly a stray. Squirrel's voice is consistently gentle, even as she describes her surroundings and life-changing events. She describes the circumstances of her birth, and conveys sadness and grief upon the disappearance of her mother, separation from her brother, and fear when fighting mean, starving dogs. Perhaps it is her sweet nature that makes her complacent about life on the run.–Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

*19 Phineas L. McGuire…Erupts! by Francis O’Roark Dowell. From Booklist Gr. 3-5. Phineas Listerman MacGuire, known as "Mac," considers himself quite a scientist, but his plans to win the fourth-grade science fair may be ruined when Mrs. Tuttle assigns new kid "Mac R." as his partner. Though the boys share the same name, they aren't alike; obnoxious Mac R. has already alienated the whole class. But to his surprise, Mac discovers that the new boy (whose real name is Ben) is really a gifted artist and decent guy, and he finds a way to help the kid start fresh. Using repetitive phrasing and lots of lists (from project ideas to facts Mac learns about science and Ben), Dowell brings to life a likable, nerdy kid who thrives on scientific thinking. Budding scientists will find instructions for their own experiments at the end of the book. Nancy Kim Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money

Third Grade

1. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. This is a darling story about a boy who hates to write poetry. The book consists of his journal writing to his teacher, and, of course, by the end of the book he loves writing poetry.

2. Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles. Ruby and her beloved grandmother, who have been inseparable, have to spend the summer apart, and Ruby is sure she’ll be lonely. She makes a new friend, saves the school play and finally stops blaming herself for her grandfather’s death. An ALA Notable Children’s Book.

3. Stories from the Lonesome Café by Judy Cox. This is a cute book. A girl and her uncle open a café in the middle of the desert, and all these strange characters stop by like Elvis, Bigfoot, and the local television station just misses them.

4. Fergus Crane by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. I really liked this book, and it sounds like there’s going to be a sequel. Fergus gets sent to school on a ship, but then a mysterious flying box appears at the window of his house, thus starting an exciting adventure of kidnapped children, pirates, and treasure.

5. Smart Dog by Vivian Vande Velde. Amy Procenko finds Sherlock a laboratory dog who can talk. Sherlock ran away because the evil professor was going to operate on him to study his brain. So Amy has to find a way to hide Sherlock from the authorities.

6. Clemency Pogue, Fairy Killer by J. T. Petty. Clemency shouts, “I don’t believe in fairies”, which she learned from reading Peter Pan, and kills the wicked fairy who is attacking her. A hobgoblin appears and tells her that she’s just killed six other fairies. So she sets out to rectify her mistake in a hilarious adventure.

7. Corby Flood by Paul Stewart. Corby Flood and her family are on the broken down cruise ship, the S.S. Euphonia. Corby spends a lot of time eavesdropping. She overhears some strange whisperings from a group of men in bowler-hats who call themselves The Brotherhood of Clowns. There's also wailing sound coming from the hold of the ship. It's strictly out of bounds but Corby can't help investigating. This isn’t quite as wonderful as Fergus Crane, but it’s very good. Third in this series, Hugo Pepper—my second favorite…..

*8. Phineas L. McGuire…Erupts! by Francis O’Roark Dowell. From Booklist Gr. 3-5. Phineas Listerman MacGuire, known as "Mac," considers himself quite a scientist, but his plans to win the fourth-grade science fair may be ruined when Mrs. Tuttle assigns new kid "Mac R." as his partner. Though the boys share the same name, they aren't alike; obnoxious Mac R. has already alienated the whole class. But to his surprise, Mac discovers that the new boy (whose real name is Ben) is really a gifted artist and decent guy, and he finds a way to help the kid start fresh. Using repetitive phrasing and lots of lists (from project ideas to facts Mac learns about science and Ben), Dowell brings to life a likable, nerdy kid who thrives on scientific thinking. Budding scientists will find instructions for their own experiments at the end of the book. Nancy Kim Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Second Grade

1. Little Wolf’s Book of Badness by Ian Whybrow. I read this to the second graders two years ago, and they loved it. There are five books in this series. Little Wolf’s parent send him off to his Uncle Bigbad’s academy because they think he’s too nice. The story is told through letters from Little Wolf back to his parents. You will really enjoy this book. There are about six books in this series.

2. Tria and the Great Star Rescue by Rebecca Kraft Rector. “This entertaining future-set action/adventure hits the ground running and doesn’t stop until Tria and her friends have saved the world and rescued Tria’s kidnapped mother.” (Horn Book Magazine)

3. Judy Moody—five books in the series.—by Megan McDonald. Sort of Junie B. but older and not as wild. The book about her brother, Stink, is #8.

4. Annabel the Actress--a series by Ellen Conford. Annabel is feisty—not as much as Junie B. She really wants to be an actress. We have three tests. Annabel the Actress…Gorilla My Dreams, Starring in Hound of the Barkervilles, and Starring in Just a Little Extra.

5. Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda. This is a series about a boy that the third grade boys went crazy over last year. Rowan is the wimp of the village, but he has been selected to be one of the group who is going to climb the mountain and figure out what is stopping the water from flowing into the village. During the journey, he overcomes many obstacles and gains confidence. Well written and interesting.

6. Lily Quench series by Natalie Jane Prior. There are seven of these. We have tests and books for six. This series is about Lily who is the last in her family of dragon slayers. There is an evil count, dragons, and plenty of adventure in all of these.

7. Stink the Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald. Stink is Judy Moody’s younger brother. This is only 101 pages in large print, but the author did a good job of maintaining a believable plot in such a short book. Every morning, Judy measures Stink, and his height never changes. But, one day, the ruler shows that he’s lost a quarter of an inch, and he’s just sure that he’s shrinking.

8. Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry. There are two in this series. The first is the best so far. Gooney is new in class, and she tells all these outrageous stories, but she’s very captivating. And she says that she never lies. Does she or doesn’t she. This is one of the lowest reading level books on the Weally Oughta Wead list because it’s so charming and full of voice. There are now two more—Gooney Bird Greene and the Room Mother and Gooney the Fabulous.

*9. Charlie and Lola by Lauren Child. In this fabulous series of about 20 picture books, Charlie helps his little sister Lola through the trials and traumas of being three/four. I like Lola’s “voice” better than Junie B.’s. It’s more realistic. They have been made into videos, so the kids recognize the characters, but the reading aloud of these books is bliss! First Grade/Kindergarten

K/1st 1.Junie B. First Grader Series by Barbara Park. There are six in this series. It takes Junie into first grade. The books are shorter than when she’s in Kindergarten. Not as great as the Kindergarten series, but the kids still love them. We have all of them and tests, too.

1st 2. Amber Brown Series—when she’s in second grade. There are three in this series, It’s Fair Day, Amber Brown, Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown and It’s Justin Time, Amber Brown. We have all three and tests.

1st 3. Horrid Henry books by Francesca Simon. I found these in London. He is SOOO bad. We have tests for all of them. He’s like Junie B. but worse. Read one, you’ll love him!!!

K/1st 4. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green by Keith Baker. This is the first in a series of Mr. and Mrs. Green books. Mr. and Mrs. Green are alligators. In this book, they go camping, eat pancakes and go to the county fair. There are two more books in this series—Lucky Days with Mr. and Mrs. Green, On the Go with Mr. and Mrs. Green, More Mr. and Mrs. Green.

K/1st 5. Agapanthus Hum books by Joy Cowley. There are three books in this series, Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses, Agapanthus Hum and Major Bark, and Agapanthus Hum and the Angel Hoot. In the first one, she gets glasses and has to figure out how to keep them on during cartwheels, in the second, she is sure that her dog, Major Bark is a dog show winner, but how can she convince the judges of that? And in the third, she’s lost her first tooth, and her trademark humming has turned into an “angel hoot”, and her dog, Major Bark, has joined into the “hoot-and-howl.

K/1st 6. Mr. Putter and Tabby books by Cynthia Rylant. From Publishers Weekly This series is about the companionship. Elderly Mr. Putter decides that a cat will keep him from feeling lonely. Only kittens are available at the pet store (" 'Oh, no one wants cats, sir,' said the pet store lady. 'They are not cute. They are not peppy.' Mr. Putter himself has not been cute and peppy for a very long time"). At the animal shelter, however, he finds Tabby, a decidedly old yellow-and-white cat who needs a friend, too. Rylant's texts, each broken into three short chapters, reflect admirable concern for brevity and meticulous consideration of every word. They are in perfect sync with Howard's expressive sketches, which slip abundant visual jokes into sunny, transparent watercolors and gouaches, and fluid pencil and pastel scribbles. Because the animals aren't strongly anthropomorphized, a sense of realism prevails, and the overall effect is sweet but never schmaltzy. Winsome and warmhearted, these books could become instant favorites. Ages 6-10. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

K/1st 7. The Mole Sisters books by Roslyn Schwartz. Here is a review for two of them. They’re very short, but wonderful. From Booklist Reviewed with Roslyn Schwartz's The Mole Sisters and the Blue Egg. Ages 3-5. The adorable Mole Sisters are back in new adventures that illustrate how exciting the world can be. In Blue Egg, the sisters are looking for something, but they don't know what: "We'll know it when we see it." In the meantime, they have a grand time exploring a hollowed-out tree and playing in a bird's nest. When they spot a blue egg, broken just about in half, they know they've found their special something. The closing scene shows the happy twosome using their newfound treasure in a unique way--as a swing. Moonlit Night finds the sisters canoeing. When they spy a shooting star, they push their furry snouts together, make a wish--and wind up on the moon! Schwartz packs a lot of fuzzy warmth into these small, square packages. The delightful colored-pencil illustrations are even smaller, but the Mole Sisters' enthusiasm and zest for life shine through in a big way. Their ability to find joy and excitement in their everyday surroundings will motivate preschoolers to do the same. Lauren Peterson Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

*K/1st 8. Minnie and Moo series by Denys Cazet. This is a series of about 15 books, some of them better than others, but the kids love them. There are two cows, Minnie and Moo, and they are constantly getting into trouble. The farmer suspects it’s them, but can never catch them, and the farmer’s wife keeps telling him that they’re “just cows”.

*K/1st 9. Charlie and Lola by Lauren Child. In this fabulous series of about 20 picture books, Charlie helps his little sister Lola through the trials and traumas of being three/four. I like Lola’s “voice” better than Junie B.’s. It’s more realistic. They have been made into videos, so the kids recognize the characters, but the reading aloud of these books is bliss!

*K/1st 10. The Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant. What makes H&M books so wonderful are the bright, simple illustrations that mirror the text and the easy realism of Mudge the dog. Unlike other fictional dogs, Mudge doesn't talk, walk about on his hind legs or save the universe: he is just a big, happy, loving pooch who, like dogs everywhere, is totally dedicated to his pal, Henry. He's like a real dog... a real BIG dog, but a real dog nonetheless. He falls asleep when he's bored, he follows Henry everywhere and is unhappy when Henry's not around, and occasionally he eats things he's not supposed to. Practically any child would love to have a companion like Mudge. * New on the list