What middle grade reader doesn’t want to read a book in which the hero in a true-to-life disaster is his own age? The popular I Survived series has been a huge hit among reluctant and not-so-reluctant middle grade readers. Packed with fast-paced action, fascinating information about terrifying disasters around the world, and – at the… Read more »
Book Room
The Templeton Twins Make A Scene
The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner, illustrated by Jeremy Holmes (Chronicle Books, 2013) This sequel to The Templeton Twins Have an Idea finds brother and sister team, John and Abigail, at TAPAS (the Thespian Academy of the Performing Arts and Sciences), where their father, Professor Templeton, has been hired to create another of his brilliant one-of-a-kind… Read more »
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas
GOLDY LUCK AND THE THREE PANDAS by Natasha Yim, illustrated by Grace Zong (Charlesbridge, 2014) In this spirited retelling of the classic fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goldy doesn’t go looking for bad luck on Chinese New Year. But she finds it anyway. Not only does Goldy ruin the turnip cakes she delivers… Read more »
Two hilarious picture books the youngest readers can read by themselves.
AH HA! written and illustrated by Jeff Mack. Two letters. That’s all this delightful book uses to tell a humorous story about a frog in a pond and what starts out as a relaxing day. Ahhh! the frog thinks as he sits in the sun on his rock. But then, along comes a boy with… Read more »
Pinkbeard’s Revenge (The Adventures of Jo Schmo)
The Adventures of Jo Schmo: Pinkbeard’s Revenge by Greg Trine, art by Frank W. Dormer (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013) Fourth Grade Superhero, Jo Schmo, speeds through the streets of San Francisco with her dog Raymond ready to take-on trouble at a moment’s notice. This time around, the nasty Dr. Dastardly, his accomplice Numb Skull, and a… Read more »
Little Red Writing: An Interview with Joan Holub
LITTLE RED WRITING by Joan Holub, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet (Chronicle Books, 2013) In Little Red Writing, Red is tasked by Ms. 2, her teacher, to write a story. In fact, all the students in pencil school are, but what should they write about? The birthday pencil wants to write a happy story,… Read more »
Meet Author Rhonda Gowler Greene
NO PIRATES ALLOWED! Said Library Lou author Rhonda Gowler Greene has written a clever picture book founded on comedic contrasts. And illustrator’s Brian Ajhar’s play with proportion and expression is simply delightful. The story is about bombastically boisterous Pirate Pete’s search for treasure, and petite and powerful Library Lou’s insistence that he make some changes before… Read more »
