Chomp by Carl Hiasson

Not realizing this was going to be such a funny book I was quite surprised to find myself smiling and laughing throughout! It will be impossible to watch reality TV without questioning the scenery and dialogue and wondering just what is real and what isn't. Although the book is long it will grab reluctant readers (especially boys) with it's non-stop action, sense of adventure and (rather mild) aspects of danger. The relationship between Wahoo and his Dad is so loving and hearfelt. The book makes me think that perhaps Julie (Wahoo's sister) has a story to be heard and for sure I would like to know more about Tuna. However none of this distracts from a very satisfying ending.

Recommended for fans of Carl Hiassen, adventure books, animal stories and action books. There is also a small romance thread. Reluctant readers could easily be drawn in especially if they enjoy any of the above situations. I won't be surprised to see this made into a movie someday. Read as an eBook arc courtesy of Random House Children's Books via Netgalley.

Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen by Donna Gephart

Olivia Bean lives with her mom, almost step-dad and little brother.  Each evening she watches Jeopardy! and does amazingly well against the other contestants.  She used to watch the show with her dad but he ran off with her best friend's mom and her best friend.  With the opportunity to try out for the kids Jeopardy! Olivia Bean wants to win not only for the money and the glory but also for the chance to fly to Los Angeles where her dad lives.

Sadly, Olivia Bean's dad is one disappointing parent.  Luckily her step-dad is the complete opposite.  He and her neighbor give her the help and guidance that she needs and I held my breath when the possibility of the dad ruining everything nearly happened.  This is a terrific story about a smart girl, an adorable little brother, love and friendship.

While reading Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen I felt as if she was one of my students.  Flashback about seven years ago when one of my students was on Jeopardy!  I knew how hard she had studied and I knew how proud her sister, parents, teachers and friends were.  We were all even invited to a party to watch the show.  Needless to say I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to fourth graders and up.

Read as an ebook arc courtesy of Random House Children's Book via Netgalley. Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen will be available March 13, 2012.

Time Voyage by Steve Brezenoff

Books about the Titanic have always been popular in my school libraries.  And as 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic a new crop of books are being published.  Steve Brezenoff, author of Brooklyn Burning for YA's and The Field Trip Mysteries series for elementary schoolers has penned a new series for elementary set.  Entitled Return to Titanic, Time Voyage is the first book in this series and thanks to Capstone via Netgalley I was able to read an arc of this first title.

Tucker and his best friend Maya are spending spring break helping Tucker's mom sort through items from the Titanic for a museum exhibit.  While handling a boarding pass for passage on the ship they are transported back in time to the day before the voyage begins.  Befriending a boy their age named Liam, set to sail on the doomed ship, they attempt to prevent him and his family from embarking.

Brezenoff has written a page turning adventure that is sure to appeal to youngsters.  The chapters are short with cliffhanging endings.  Each chapter begins with a map showing where the kids are (2012 or 1912) and some other illustrations.  Readers will also enjoy the back matter and will be begging for the next 3 books as soon as they are done with this one.  Recommended for those interested in the Titanic, fans of time travel and adventure stories grades 2 (strong readers) and up.

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Sasha lives in the USSR with his father in a communal apartment with 47 other people.  He has dreamed of becoming a Young Soviet Pioneer all his short life and serving Stalin whom he worships.  Then one night his father is arrested and slowly everything Sasha knows, loves and believes in begins to crumble. 

Written to be accessible to young readers this is a look into the Cold War that just might send readers looking for more.  Heavily illustrated and printed in a format that reluctant readers will be also be drawn to.
As an adult I can only wonder how anyone survived this time period.  Eugene Yelchin won a 2012 Newbery Honor for BREAKING STALIN'S NOSE and I am glad he did otherwise I am not sure I would have read this book.  Recommended for middle graders that enjoy historical fiction.

The Sneezy Wheezy Day by Sharon Cramer

At first glance THE SNEEZY WHEEZY DAY looks like a book written for pre-schoolers.  After reading it though it's apparent that it's aimed at an older audience.  The vocabulary is sophisticated with great words such as deduced, admirably and peered.  The illustrations are charming and bright and colorful and children will enjoy the hidden surprises.  THE SNEEZY WHEEZY DAY begs to be read aloud to get the full benefit of the rhymes.  The humor in the story will also be noticed more by older children and I admit to laughing aloud at some of the suggested remedies especially Grizzly Old Bear telling Boy cougar to shave his own body!  Not just a story about being sick, this is also a story of love between siblings.  Recommended for kindergarteners and up and for sharing in a group or with your child/children.

Read as an ebook arc courtesy of B&F Publishing via Netgalley.

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

A few years ago I introduced Scaredy Squirrel to the students in my school library. The book became an instant hit and as each new Scaredy Squirrel adventure unfolded I could barely keep up with the demand. Fast forward three years and I am in a "new" school library. Open Road offered me the opportunity to read the original Scaredy Squirrel as an ebook. Within a few days I purchased and added two copies to my school library collection. Once again, Scaredy Squirrel checks out as fast as it is returned. Whether it is the adorable illustrations or the story that delights, students are drawn to it. From first grade to sixth it is one of my most popular and most requested books. Needless to say the other Scaredy Squirrel books are now on my wish list.

Thank you Open Road via Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to be reacquainted with Melanie Watts's wonderful book via ebook and therefore sharing it with my students. Recommended for a home library whether in print or digitally and for every elementary school library.

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Written in free verse Under the Mesquite is the story of Lupe and her family not only dealing with her mother's illness and death but it is also a view into the life of Mexican-Americans.  Wanting their children to have a good education and a better life than possible in Mexico, the family moves to a border town in Texas although they visit their relatives often.  We learn about the move, the birth of more siblings, the dad working far away, the siblings relationships, the mom's illness and the aftermath of her death.  The writing is beautiful and sprinkled with spanish words and phrases.

Since I now work in a school with many native Spanish speaking students I have already introduced this book to some students.  Many have never read a book written in this style and between that and the Spanish they are lining up to check it out.  Recommended for 5th grade and up.

Read it as an arc courtesy of Lee & Low Books via Netgalley.

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami

Dini is an 11 year-old Indian American girl living in the U.S.  She and her best friend Maddie love Bollywood movies and Dolly Singh, the biggest Bollywood star.  When her doctor mom receives a grant to work in India, Dini is sad to leave Maddie but excited to spend two years in India.  Her goal?  To meet Dolly in person.

 Uma Krishnaswami has written a story that will appeal to young girls who love movies, adventure, traveling, puzzles and stories of friendship.  She plants clues to things going on around different Indian cities/villages which seem plausible to help tie the story together.  Dini creates a screenplay hoping to fix her problems and those of others.  A fun read for middle grade girls.

Mallory's Guide to Boys, Brothers, Dads, and Dogs by Laurie Friedman

Mallory has a crush on an older boy and tries to get his attention. This angers her brother who wants her to like someone her own age.  When she fails a math test because she has spent too much time dreaming of her crush she's grounded to spend more time studying. When she is home alone she bakes cookies to bring to him and gets lost looking for his house.  When her parents find her she gets in even more trouble.

Told in the first person Mallory is someone young girls will love.  She is so sweet and innocent and tries very hard to get what she wants.  Her parents are loving and kind and even though she displeases them they never lose their temper with her.  The illustrations are wonderful and cheerful and add a lot to the story.

After reading the book I can see why girls in grades 3-6 (and sometimes younger) always check out the Mallory books.  Many times I see them recommending the books to each other.  I recommend this for elementary aged girls (I already owned it in my former school library).  Read as an ebook courtesy of Lerner Publishing Group via Netgalley. 

Lily Renee, Escape Artist by Trina Robbins

World War II is one of the most requested non-fiction subjects in a school library.  Graphic novels are also quite popular.  A graphic novel about a World War II event is sure to find it's niche.

Lily Renee lives a comfortable life in Vienna enjoying all the culture the city has to offer.  Told in accessible language that young readers can understand, Trina Robbins  tells the story of Hitler's rise to power including how friends turned their backs on the Jews, the beginning of ghettos, and Kristtelnacht, the night of broken glass, the event that led to Lily's parents sending her out of the country.  Lily is shown on the train and boat as one of the 10,000 children saved by being sent out of Nazi rule.  While not so lucky with the family she was sent to live with in London Lily leaves them and becomes a nurse's assistant surviving the bombings.  Finally Lily makes her way to America to be reunited with her parents. She dines in an automat ( I have too!)and gets a job which ultimately leads her to be a successful comic book artist.

Throughout her life Lily overcame the horrific obstacles dropped in her way but this book is written so young children get just enough information about the situation and perhaps be inspired to seek more. Lily is an admirable girl and I would recommend this book for a biography report, a non-fiction report or casual reading.  While the illustrations by Anne Timmone may not be as eye popping as manga or anime they work well with this story. Read as an ebook arc courtesy of Lerner Publishing Group via Netgalley.

The Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies

In "The Lemonade Crime" by Jacqueline Davies Jessie and Evan are sibling fourth graders in the same class. However, Jessie has skipped third grade and Evan is not too happy about having his little sister in his class. When fellow classmate and bully Scott announces he has purchased a brand new video game console Jessie suspects he has stolen the money that Evan and Jessie made over the summer with their competing lemonades stands. She sets out to prove it by putting Scott on trial. Each chapter opens with a term relating to crime or the law and it's definition. "The Lemonade War", also by Davies focused on marketing and making money. In "The Lemonade Crime" readers will not only get a glimpse into a courtroom but also see what it's like to have siblings that really do care for each other. I read this advanced readers copy as an e-book courtesy of Houghton Harcourt Mifflin via Netgalley. The Lemonade Crime will be published in May 2011 and I highly recommended it for elementary school students.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

At the start of Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt I almost put the book down. Doug Swieteck (a character from The Wednesday Wars)is beaten up by his brother for a signed Joe Pepitone baseball cap (the first thing Doug ever owned that was not a hand-me-down)and quietly admits to his other brother beating him up before he's drafted into the army and to his dad having "quick hands." However I kept going and proceeded to read the book in one day. Doug moves to a small town in the Catskill Mountains and has life changing experiences. He befriends a girl and a librarian/artist, gets a job, finds caring teachers and develops an appreciation of the art of John James Audobon. The librarian helps Doug understand Audobon and the plates of paintings of birds on display in the library. His job delivering groceries introduces him to the townspeople including a writer who owns one of the Audobon paintings sold out of the book in the library (Doug begins a mission to have all the plates returned). Doug's brother is accused of robbing a hardware store and the grocery store and Doug needs to deal with the changing attitudes of the townspeople and school staff as they assume he is guilty by association. There is so much going on here and Schmidt had me rooting for Doug throughout the book. There are twists and turns (spoilers I can't discuss) and you too will root for Doug. This is an amazing book and I love it. If you haven't read THE WEDNESDAY WARS read that one now as this one is not being published until April. Read as an ebook arc courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via Netgalley.

P.S.  OKAY FOR NOW is now available.

Yum Yum by Catherine Hnatov

This is a charming board book for babies and toddlers. The illustrations are bright & lovely. Each animal/food gets a different color treatment with black & white common in all of them. Pre-schoolers will be able to "read" this book.  My kids would have loved Yum Yum when they were babies. It's short and sweet and yummy!  Read courtesy of Star Bright via Netgalley.

The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin

In Doreen Cronin's THE TROUBLE WITH CHICKENS, J.J. is a retired search and rescue dog enjoying a quiet life in the country. Unfortunately his doghouse does not have a door and so when Millicent (Mooosh) the chicken asks for help in finding her two kidnapped chicks J.J. can't hide from helping to solve the mystery. All his training and experience will really come in handy when the inside dog, Vince the Funnel's scheme comes to light. There are some very laugh out loud funny lines which made me laugh out loud. For instance, When J.J. informs Moosh that the inside dog, Vince the Funnel has the chicks "She was running around like a chicken without a head." The illustrations are adorable and young readers will enjoy the mystery and animal antics. Be sure to read this if you enjoyed THE DIARY OF A WORM or THE DIARY OF A SPIDER or any of Cronin's other books, or if you like mysteries or animal fiction. I read this as an e-book ARC through netgalley and the book will be published in March 2011.

The Dead Boys by Royce Buckingham

Teddy has moved into a new house in a new town and since school doesn't start for a month his mother sends him out to make new friends. As he meets boys his age he realizes something creepy is going on. The boys are not actually alive or living in the present day. A tree, suffering from the effects of nuclear waste is using the boys for energy and it wants Teddy as it's next victim. This is an adventure, fantasy and mystery all rolled into one scary book perfect for boys and reluctant readers. Fans of DEMONKEEPER and GOBLINS! will devour this one up.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan illustrated by Peter Sis

From a young age Neftali Reyes loved to read and write and would see and hear words everywhere. He was a collector of objects of nature and a daydreamer and when caught by his father would be ridiculed and verbally abused. After his father burned Neftali's entire spectrum of written words he relized in order to be a writer he'd need to change his name and so gave birth to Pablo Neruda. This is a fictionalized biography of one of the world's best known poets and it is a beautiful book with lovely illustrations.

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

Set in England this book is about the three Hardscrabble children who lost their mother 5 years ago when she disappeared. One sibling narrates the story although he/she never admits to which one it is. The dad sends the kids to visit with a cousin in London but she is not there. And so begins an adventure in which they travel to a seaside town, stay in a castle, face a dragon and try to solve a mystery as it unwinds right before them. While I did enjoy it I did not love THE KNEEBONE BOY. However, it will appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket and other eclectic fantasy or adventure books.

Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

Reading BINK & GOLLIE made me smile. When I sat down to read it I didn't know what to expect. The book is a graphic novel and easy chapter book rolled into one and yet so much more. Bink & Gollie show that with compromise true friendship survives. I loved the b & w illustrations with splashes of color and the humorous text filled with luscious vocabulary. Children will want to use their gray matter for adventures of their own.

A Long Walk to Water : Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park

A LONG WALK TO WATER by Linda Sue Park is based on a true story and what an incredible story it is. In 1985, Salva, an 11 year-old boy in Sudan fleas his home village when it is attacked and walks through desert and lion country, crosses a crocodile filled river and spends years in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. Laced between Salva's travels is Nya's story set in Sudan in 2008. Just as riveting we see Nya walk each day for 8 hours to bring water back to her home. Both stories are haunting and beautiful and I could not put this (e)book down. Both Salva and Nya are strong and resilient. It is amazing to me how much I can learn from a children's historical fiction book. Read as an advanced readers copy from netgalley I have ordered 2 copies for my school library.

View video with author and Salva.

The Year Money Grew on Trees by Aaron Hawkins

In THE YEAR MONEY GREW ON TREES by Aaron Hawkins Jackson accomplishes more than most teens could ever imagine possible. Jackson is challenged by his next door neighbor to monetize the apple orchard which has been ignored since her husband passed away and prove he is the true heir. Although she has swindled him before Jackson is determined to make the $8000 she wants plus a profit to share with his sisters and cousins for helping him. With a little help from a library book, a Sunday school teacher, a charge card at the local supply store, his dad and uncle, Jackson and his work crew spend a year pruning, fertilizing, spraying, picking and selling. Will Jackson succeed and inherit the orchard? You'll have to read this book to find out. Hawkins has written a wonderful book where kids really shine while adults take a back seat. Read as an e-book arc through netgalley.com (without illustrations).