The Power of Poppy Pendle

What a wonderful story!!!  The main character is a young girl who is a witch, but she doesn't want to be.  She pleads with her parents to let her be what she wants...a baker.  When they say "no", her magic goes tragically wrong.  This book has fantasy and magic, friendship and adventure.    It also has a wonderful theme of following your passion and being true to who you are, not what others wish or expect you to be.

Little Dog, Lost

What a terrific little story about three characters in a small town who all hope for something.  It was a very quick read, in the form of a poem, but it read like a story.  Heartwarming and delightful, I loved it.

The Saturday Boy

This is a big-kid fiction book by a new author.  The main character is an 11-yr-old boy whose father is a soldier in Afghanistan.  He loves comic books and cartoon as most young boys do, and yet he is forced to deal with grown-up issues when he turns on the TV one day and witnesses his worst nightmare.  It is certainly a story for mature readers in both its content and in its language, but a story worth reading.

Sun and Spoon

Kevin Henkes is a popular children's picture book author.  He has recently written several big-kid fiction books as well including Olive's Ocean.  This was a short story about greiving.  Spoon has lost his Gram and in an effort to remember her, he takes something from her house without asking his Pa.  It was a sweet, touching story.

Fortunately, the Milk

Neil Gaiman is a Newbery-winning author and the illustrator that he chose is brilliant.  The images are gorgeous. This short story is a very unique time-travel story that a Dad relays to his children when he comes home late with the milk.  Did it really happen or is he just making up a story?  You decide.

The Year of Billy Miller

This chapter book is written by Kevin Henkes, a popular picture book author. Billy is a second grader who is nervous about his year.  It is a big early chapter book, or a short big-kid fiction book. (FIC HEN)  It is a quick, easy read about a sweet boy and the people who mean someting to him.

Athlete vs. Mathlete

This is a great story of twin brothers who have very different interests.  One is a jock and popular while the other is a very successful student and not very popular.  When the smart brother makes the basketball team, things change.  Roles and stereotypes are challenged.  Why shouldn't they be?  Why can't a smart kid play hoops?  Why can't a jock be smart?  You can be anything you want!

One for the Murphys

I absolutely loved this book!  A girl who grows up in a less-than-perfect household ends up hurt and in the hospital with her mom.  When she is put in foster care, she sees a world she never knew existed...a world with a stable, unconditionally-loving family.  Because of her foster mom, she realizes she is worthy of love and care and that she can be anything she wants to be.  It was a beautifully written story that touched my heart and made me bawl.  (FIC HUN). A caution, though:  some references to domestic abuse make this a read for older, mature kiddos.

Monster Manor #1 Von Skalpel's Experiment

Paul Martin (FIC MAR) has created a winner with this series for kids who like silly voices, monsters, and random oozing body parts.  The first book introduces us to a mad scientist who creates monsters.  He doesn't like the scars, so he tries a glue and things go wrong.

Miss Daisy is Crazy

This early reader, which is first in a series called My Weird School (E GUT) is super popular.  It is funny and keeps kids interested.  Although it uses words I do not condone, like dumb and hate and stupid, I think a child can read this and enjoy it and understand that those are words that should not be used when speaking of others.  I love how his teacher pretends she doesn't know things to trick the kids into learning!

Magic Kitten #1 A Summer Spell

This is the first in a new series by Sue Bentley (E BEN) .  It is written at close to a 4th grade reading level, but I think it will be very popular for eager readers in grades 2 and 3 as well.  A young lion prince is in danger and magically transforms into a kitten and hides from those who wish to claim his throne.  A young girl named Lisa finds and befriends him.  The adventure and the magic will keep young readers entertained and wanting more.

Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade

This first book in this early reader series is delightful.  It is a great beginner book for emerging readers.  It has chapters, but they are very short and manageable.  The storyline will resonate with little ones.  I am a Posey fan!

Paperboy

I enjoy historical fiction stories.  As I was a history teacher, that should not be surprising.  This story is set in the segregated south in the 1950's.  A white boy who has a black nanny takes over his friend's paper route for the summer.  He struggles with his speech impediment and the racial problems at the time.  But he grows up that summer and learns a lot about who he is and who he wants to be with the help if the people he meets on his route.