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Take a Sneak Peek at the New Raina Telgemeier Graphic Novel!

Raina Telgemeier announced her next book titled Ghosts coming out in September, 2016.

Eleven-year-old Catrina and her family are moving to the small coastal town of Bahía de la Luna because her younger sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn’t happy about leaving her friends, but she tries not to complain because she knows Maya will benefit from the clean, cool air that blows in from the sea. As the girls settle in, they learn there’s something a little spooky about their new town . . .

Sounds good, right? Take a sneak peek inside Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier!

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD PARTS I & II TO BE PUBLISHED IN PRINT BY SCHOLASTIC IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA  AT 12:01 A.M. ON JULY 31, 2016

Scholastic will publish a script book based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the eighth Harry Potter story, will be priced at $29.99 U.S. and $39.99 Canada. The script eBook will be published by Pottermore simultaneously with the print editions by Scholastic in the US and Canada, and Little, Brown Book Group in the UK.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes darkness comes from unexpected places.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Have you ever heard stories where mythical creatures help the hero save the day? Well, the creatures at Fablehaven aren’t that nice. Fablehaven is a preserve for magical creatures, but dangerous creatures that are on the brink of extinction. The creatures usually stay in their territories, but on the equinox and solstice, the creatures run wild through Fablehaven. The caretakers, Stan Sorenson and his wife, Ruth, can usually defend themselves, but as Midsummer’s Eve nears (a.k.a. the summer solstice), Stan and Ruth’s grandchildren stay with them. Kendra and Seth have no clue when they arrive at their grandparents’ house that it is a magical preserve. Piece by piece, as Midsummer’s Eve draws near, Seth and Kendra learn more about Fablehaven and its secrets.

On Midsummer’s Eve, Kendra and Seth are instructed by Stan to go to bed immediately at sundown, and NEVER, under ANY circumstances, open the window. But of course, that rule gets broken. And bad things happen. Very bad things happen.

I think that Fablehaven is a really good book series and all of you should read it. It is a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you want to read the other four books in the series. Happy reading!

Alex, Scholastic Kids Council

Book Wars: Out of My Mind vs. Wonder

Today we will be comparing two amazing books: Out Of My Mind and Wonder. You may think that think that Out Of My Mind and Wonder are the same, but they are very different.

The two main characters Auggie and Melody both have physical disabilities. These disabilities don’t stop them from still being very bright children. They both want to be apart of the big group with so-called “normal” kids. After many attempts they were rejected.

In Out of My Mind, Melody continues to try different ways to work around her disabilities. Instead of giving up, Melody joins a trivia group with “normal” kids. Melody is then accepted. Melody accepts how she is and deals with what she can do.

In Wonder on the other hand, Auggie just gives up because he feels he is not wanted at school. He thinks about what he wants to be, not what he can do with his disabilities.

Read these books to figure out the true stories of these wonderful characters.

Michael, Scholastic Kids Council

Valentine’s Day Book Picks for Ages 8-12

February has me thinking about Valentine’s Day, and while I’m not really a mushy, love-y kind of girl, sometimes I like a good story about everyday, typical kids in real, true to life situations. Here are three not-super-mushy books to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day this year.

Sit, Stay, Love: A Wish Novel by J.J. Howard

Puppy love was never so complicated! A funny and heartwarming story about a meet-cute at a pet shelter.

The Boy Problem by Kami Kinard

From Kami Kinard comes an illustrated companion novel to The Boy Project that further explores what it’s like to be a 12-year-old girl looking for the perfect crush. The Boy Problem: Notes and Predictions of Tabitha Reddy is a laugh-out-loud peek in the life of a precocious and bubbly girl. Full of illustrations and doodles, hilarious formulas and equations, as well as lessons in life, love, friendship, and baking, this diary will have you laughing and crying at the same time.

Romeo Blue by Phoebe Stone

Secrets, spies and sleuthing abound in this follow-up to Phoebe Stone’s The Romeo and Juliet Code. When Flissy Budwig’s parents first dropped her off in Bottlebay, Maine, she hated everything about it. Most of all, she hated knowing that she was safe in America while her parents faced the guns of WWII in Europe. Especially when she discovered her parents were spies. Especially when she learned her parents were missing.

But a year has passed now, and Flissy has grown to love life in Bottlebay and grown to love Derek, the boy the Bathburns have adopted. Then a man claiming to be Derek’s true father arrives, and soon he’s asking all sorts of strange questions. Flissy has a nose for trouble. Has Derek’s new father come to take him away from Flissy forever, or is there something even more sinister afoot in Bottlebay, Maine?

What books are YOU reading this month? Tell us in the Comments!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Valentine’s Day Book Picks for Ages 8-12

February has me thinking about Valentine’s Day, and while I’m not really a mushy, love-y kind of girl, sometimes I like a good story about everyday, typical kids in real, true to life situations. Here are three not-super-mushy books to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day this year.

Sit, Stay, Love: A Wish Novel by J.J. Howard

Puppy love was never so complicated! A funny and heartwarming story about a meet-cute at a pet shelter.

The Boy Problem by Kami Kinard

From Kami Kinard comes an illustrated companion novel to The Boy Project that further explores what it’s like to be a 12-year-old girl looking for the perfect crush. The Boy Problem: Notes and Predictions of Tabitha Reddy is a laugh-out-loud peek in the life of a precocious and bubbly girl. Full of illustrations and doodles, hilarious formulas and equations, as well as lessons in life, love, friendship, and baking, this diary will have you laughing and crying at the same time.

Romeo Blue by Phoebe Stone

Secrets, spies and sleuthing abound in this follow-up to Phoebe Stone’s The Romeo and Juliet Code. When Flissy Budwig’s parents first dropped her off in Bottlebay, Maine, she hated everything about it. Most of all, she hated knowing that she was safe in America while her parents faced the guns of WWII in Europe. Especially when she discovered her parents were spies. Especially when she learned her parents were missing.

But a year has passed now, and Flissy has grown to love life in Bottlebay and grown to love Derek, the boy the Bathburns have adopted. Then a man claiming to be Derek’s true father arrives, and soon he’s asking all sorts of strange questions. Flissy has a nose for trouble. Has Derek’s new father come to take him away from Flissy forever, or is there something even more sinister afoot in Bottlebay, Maine?

What books are YOU reading this month? Tell us in the Comments!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Introducing a hilarious new comedy of prehistoric proportions!

Welcome to West Woggle, home of woolly mammoths, fruitafossors, and the Oodlethunk family!

One day, Oona Oodlethunk finds a mysterious—and very special—egg. She doesn’t know what’s in it, but she does know one thing: she’ll do anything to protect her egg until it hatches. But it looks like everybody in West Wog wants a piece of her treasure, including her little brother Thunk and that smelly kid Bruce Brute. Oona will do whatever it takes to safeguard her egg—no one will get their grimy, Cro-Magnon hands on it! Oona can’t wait to find out what’s inside her egg—even though it might just gobble her up!

Want to learn more about the Oodlethunks? Watch the series trailer!

I Survived True Stories: Nature Attacks

Picture this: You’re at the beach and you hop into the ocean for a little swim when all of a sudden you are attacked by a giant jellyfish! Ouch! This actually happened to 10-year-old Rachael in Australia. Read the true story here.

Are you a fan of the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis? Which book is your favorite? Tell us in the Comments.

Ranger in Time #3: Long Road to Freedom

Everybody’s favorite time-traveling dog is back in the newest installment of Ranger in Time! Ranger has traversed the Oregon Trail and escaped the Roman Colosseum, and now he’s back to help two kids navigate the Underground Railroad!

In this adventure, Ranger travels to a Maryland plantation during the time of American slavery, where he meets a young girl named Sarah. When Sarah learns that the plantation owner has plans to sell her little brother, Jesse, to a plantation in the Deep South, it means they could be separated forever. Sarah takes their future into her own hands and decides there’s only one way to run—north.

Will Sarah and Jesse make it to freedom? Anything is possible with Ranger at their side! Start reading an excerpt from Ranger in Time #3: Long Road to Freedom!

Race the Wild: Rain Forest Relay by Kristin Earhart (for ages 7-10)

On a once-in-a-lifetime race through the animal kingdom, it takes smarts, strength, and skill to win!

When Russell entered the race, he knew it was going to be a wild ride. Especially the first race course! He’d been studying up on the Amazon’s animals and culture forever. But nothing could prepare him or his teammates for what they’d find in the rain forest: raging rapids, poisonous venom, and sneaky competitors who’d do anything to win.

Can the red team work together to make it to the finish line in one piece? Each chapter in this action-packed adventure series is bursting with totally true facts about wild and wonderful creatures, dangerous habitats, maps, and more!

Book Wars: Avengers vs. Guardians of the Galaxy

The superheroes of comic books have been capturing our minds and our hearts for many years, so I am going to be comparing two great superhero teams: Avengers vs. Guardians of the Galaxy.

Let’s compare the leader of each team. In Avengers, our leader is Captain America. In Guardians of the Galaxy, the leader is Starlord. Both of these characters are American human beings trapped in the wrong place or time. The main difference between them is their attitude. While Captain America is a natural do-gooder who always strives to help people, Starlord is an ex-thief whose primary concern is himself. He is witty, unlike Captain America, who is constantly serious. Despite their differences, in the end, both heroes lead their teams to save the world.

Secondly, we have Iron Man from Avengers and Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy. Each is a technology genius with a quick wit and a high ego. However, Iron Man is a human in a suit of armour, whereas Rocket is an anthropomorphic raccoon. Each of these two heroes is often a diffuser of tension when his team is struggling to find the fun in the world.

Next, Avengers’ Black Widow and Guardians’Gamora also have some similarities. Both of them serve as spies and sometimes as double agents. They are trained warriors and very strong female characters. Of course, Black Widow is a fiery, red-haired human and Gamora is a green-skinned, purple-haired alien, but both women take their jobs very seriously and are the best at what they do.

On to Thor from Avengers and Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy. Both of them are very skilled in combat, and would do anything to save their loved ones. They are very different from the other members of their teams as they have different customs and sayings. I suppose the only difference would be that Thor is a dashing, good-looking Norse God, and Drax is a multi-colored alien.

Lastly, we have Avengers’ Hulk and Guardians’ Groot. Both are super-natural beings that are incredibly strong but do not understand much English or how to communicate with other people. However, the Hulk is a human who transforms into a raging beast, and Groot is a living tree.

Although the characters have some definite similarities, the settings are very different. Avengers comic books usually take place in New York, whereas Guardians of the Galaxy comic happen in outer space. The plots of each are very generic superhero plots where they fight villains in order to protect the world or, in some cases, the galaxy.

Which team would you want to be a part of? Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy? Why? Leave your opinions in the Comments below. I hope you liked this special edition of Book Wars.

Until next time, keep reading!

Izzy, Scholastic Kids Council

Book Title Mashup

PurpleFairy challenges you to a Book Title Mashup Quiz. Can you name the 2 books mashed up together in the following titles? If you need a hint, then click on the links.

1. The 39 Rules for Girls
2. The Hunger Amulet
3. The Deathly Bone
4. Captain Dumb Diary
5. Grimmtastic Potter
6. Geronimo Wonderstruck
7. Wings of Whatever After
8. How I Survived Mean Janine
9. Charlotte’s Keepers
10. Diary of Sisters

Leave your answers in the Comments and then go chat on the STACK Back Board!

Revenge of the Angels by Jennifer Ziegler

When I was growing up, the holidays seemed magical. It felt like there was a balloon inside me, slowly filling as the celebrations grew closer, until I felt like I might burst—or maybe float up to the ceiling. But as I got older, I started to feel more stress around the holidays, and I’d worry that I didn’t have enough time or money to make things special.

In my new book, Revenge of the Angels, the holidays are not going well for Dawn, Darby, and Delaney Brewster. They’ve been told they aren’t going to get the presents they asked for, weather has stranded their mom and beloved older sister in Boston, their dad has to work a lot, and they didn’t get the parts of the Three Wise Men in their church Christmas pageant just because they are girls. To make things worse, someone is stealing decorations and baked goods off people’s porches! It’s enough to make anyone with holiday spirit turn into a Grinch.

But here’s something I’ve learned that the triplets also come to realize: The holidays don’t have to go perfectly to be magical. The point is to enjoy special moments with people who matter to you, and show them how much you care for them—with a gift, a baked treat, or simply some kind words or deeds. And it’s also a time to enjoy shared traditions. You know those special things you do year after year? Maybe there’s a recipe you cook or bake only around the holidays. Or maybe there are songs you sing, items you display, games you play, or places you visit during this time. There’s something comforting about doing the same things with the same people at the same time of year.

My family eats tamales on Christmas Eve and we always watch the movie A Christmas Story. There’s also an ornament I was given when I was a baby—an elf wearing glasses that I named Doc. Doc is now scuffed and a little shabby in places, but he’s like an old friend, and I look forward to hanging him on our tree every year.

What special things make your holidays seem a little magical each year?

Jennifer Ziegler, Scholastic Author

Clementine for Christmas by Daphne Benedis-Grab

Hello Stacks Readers,

I’m excited to give you the inside scoop on Clementine for Christmas!

Josie always looks forward to the Christmas Gala at Frost Valley Hospital where she and her beloved dog Clementine volunteer. But when Oscar, a boy Josie knows only as a troublemaker from school, shows up at the hospital to volunteer for the month, and Josie learns that this year’s Gala is going to be cancelled, she is sure Christmas is ruined.

Meanwhile, Oscar has problems of his own. His parents won’t stop arguing and now he’s being pressured to wear a costume and sing to sick kids. His response? “No way!”

Then there’s Gabby—she’s keeping a secret from everyone, a secret that she is terrified will be revealed. It’s beginning to look like the worst Christmas ever. But maybe if Josie, Oscar, and Gabby can find a way to band together with a little holiday spirit and some help from Clementine, they can find a way not only to save the Gala but to make this the best Christmas ever.

Christmas is my very favorite holiday (despite tough competition from Halloween) and so it was especially fun to write a book set at that time of year. Ever since I was little, the weeks leading up to Christmas have felt like a magical time. I look forward to traditions like singing carols and baking Christmas cookies. (I am a big fan of snickerdoodles which I made sure to include in the book!)

My favorite tradition is decorating our Christmas tree—each ornament has its own story, like the ceramic whale in a Santa hat that my sister bought me in Bar Harbor, Maine, and the dough candy canes I made with my mom before my sister was even born. And then there’s Christmas morning, opening presents while carols play, and eating a big breakfast all together. For me, the very best part of Christmas is being together with family and friends.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Daphne Benedis-Grab, Scholastic Author

Kingdom Keepers Readalikes

Kingdom Keepers is a book series about a group of teenagers who were chosen to be transformed into holographic guides, called Disney Hosts Interactive, at Disney World. Due to a glitch in the technology used to create their holograms, however, the teenagers find themselves transported into their hologram forms at night! They find out that the Disney Villains have formed a group called the Overtakers, and they are planning on, well . . . overtaking the world. Guess who’s the only hope of stopping them?

If you like fantastic adventure stories with a hearty dose of mystery and magic, you’re going to LOVE Kingdom Keepers. And if you’re already a fan, we’ve got some great readalike books for you. So buckle up and get ready for a wild, fantastical ride with these tales of fairytales come to life!

The Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the kid of a Disney villain? In this prequel book to the movie Descendants, the children of Maleficent, Jafar, the Evil Queen, and Cruella De Vil have grown up on an island specially designed to keep their evil parents powerless. That doesn’t stop their parents from being super-tough, though, and raising the kids to follow in their super-evil footsteps. When the kids accidentally reactivate Maleficent’s cursed scepter, however, they are faced with the toughest and most unexpected decision ever: Is being good really so bad?

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Ella’s had it very, very tough. At her birth, the well-meaning fairy Lucinda gave the baby the gift of obedience. But this “gift” turns out to be a whole lot of trouble for Ella when it means she is unable to disobey any direct order given to her. “Eat your cake,” takes on a whole new meaning when you can’t stop eating it! Ella has nothing but her smarts, strong will, and creativity to protect her. Throw in some pretty cruel step-sisters, a clueless dad, and more hilarious and horrible characters, and you have the most entertaining retelling of the classic Cinderella story yet.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Once upon a time, Peter Pan was actually just an ordinary orphan boy being shipped off with other orphans to be servants to a king in a far off land. His new and unexpected friend Molly, however, is a Starcatcher’s apprentice and claims to be guarding a trunk full of starstuff—a magical substance of enormous value. After swearing to help Molly protect the trunk, Peter finds himself facing a huge host of perilous foes. Pirates aren’t the travelers’ only threat—the high seas are a treacherous place, and everyone seems to want a piece of the mysterious starstuff! Look for all the books in the Peter and the Starcatchers series.

Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
Twins Conner and Alex Bailey are accidentally transported to a magical world in which the characters from their favorite storybook are very, very real! While looking for a way to create the Wishing Spell that will get them back home, the twins find themselves entangled in one very fantastical adventure . . . and that there’s a lot more to their family than they thought! Look for the other books in the Land of Stories series.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
It’s not exactly typical for summer camp activities to include running from a bloodthirsty Minotaur, but then again, Camp Half-Blood is anything but typical. It’s a summer camp for demigods—the children of humans and Greek gods—and Percy Jackson is its newest camper after a summer beach trip with his mom goes terribly wrong. He finds out that his dad is actually the god Poseidon . . . and Percy is now responsible for finding Zeus’s lightning bolt before the most epic war of all time breaks out between the gods. From L.A. to New York to the underworld and back, Percy and his friends are in for the summer vacation adventure of a lifetime! See the other books in the Percy Jackson series.

Are you a Kingdom Keepers fan? Have you read any of these books? Do YOU have any upside-down fairytale stories to recommend? Be sure to share in the Comments below!

Happy reading, y’all,

En-Szu, STACKS Writer

What Books Should You Read During Winter Break?

Yes, winter break is finally here. You know what that means. No school, no homework, and lots of free time to do whatever! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to catch up on all of my favorite books and authors. Have you decided which books you are going to pick up or which series you are going to catch up on? If you’re not sure, here’s a winter reading quiz to help you decide what to read during your long, cold winter break.

Which books did you get? Let me know by dropping a Comment below. Happy reading everyone!

-Sandy, STACKS Staffer

Your Holiday Books Hotlist

Here is a list of the newest book releases that you might want to add to your holiday wishlist!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney
Greg is as hilarious as ever in Book #10 of the Wimpy Kid series.

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter by Rachel Renee Russell
Nikki and her friends Brandon, Chloe, and Zoey are teamed up on an important mission in Book #10 of the Dork Diaries series.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
If you are a Percy Jackson fan wondering what to read next, Rick Riordan has just solved your problem!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
If you haven’t read the Harry Potter series yet, let this be your year! It will change your life!

Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories by R.J. Palacio
Palacio says she will never write a sequel to Wonder, but this book tells the back stories of Julian, Christopher, and Charlotte.

Descendants Junior Novel
If you were obsessed with Disney’s Descendants, look no further for your next read.

Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot by Dav Pilkey
Read an excerpt here!

Crenshaw by Katharine Applegate
Jackson’s imaginary friend Crenshaw helps him deal with the tough stuff his family is going through. If you loved Newbery Medal-winning The One and Only Ivan, try this new book by the same author.

Minecraft: The Complete Handbook Collection
This ultimate updated collection includes the Essential Handbook, Redstone Handbook, Combat Handbook, and Construction Handbook.

What books are on your holiday wishlist this year?

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison ( for ages 8-12)

If you loved Ella Enchanted or the Harry Potter series, then try this fairy tale retelling of the Rapunzel story.

In all of Tyme, from the Redlands to the Grey, no one is as lucky as Rapunzel. She lives in a magic tower that obeys her every wish; she reads wonderful books starring herself as the heroine; her hair is the longest, most glorious thing in the world. And she knows this because Witch tells her so–her beloved Witch, who protects her from evil princes, the dangerous ground under the tower, even unhappy thoughts. Rapunzel can’t imagine any other life.

Then a thief named Jack climbs into her room to steal one of her enchanted roses. He’s the first person Rapunzel’s ever met who isn’t completely charmed by her (well, the first person she’s met at all, really), and he is infuriating–especially when he hints that Witch isn’t telling her the whole truth. Driven by anger at Jack and her own nameless fears, Rapunzel descends to the ground for the first time, and finds a world filled with more peril than Witch promised . . . and more beauty, wonder, and adventure than she could have dreamed.

Read Chapter 1 of Grounded!

Lincoln’s Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin ( for ages 11 and up)

Hi, everyone! EvilGoblin here. I’m going to talk about the main plot of my book Lincoln’s Grave Robbers. If you like suspenseful, real-life spy stories, you will love Lincoln’s Grave Robbers.

A criminal named Big Jim hatches a plan to steal the remains of the dead President Lincoln. Secret service agent Patrick Tyrell finds out and hires a roper (an undercover spy who pretends to be a criminal) Lewis Swegles to figure out what is going on. He figures out that on election night of 1864, Jack Hughes and Terrence Mullen are planning to steal the remains of the dead president.

On election night, Tyrell takes a team of spies to hide in the labyrinth of the monument. When the thieves go to commit the crime, the roper gives the signal and Tyrell’s squad gets in position. Tyrell darts up the stairs and onto the terrace and about 70 feet in front of him, a figure darts back as Tyrell shoots. The thieves take cover and shoot at Tyrell. He dodges the bullets but the thieves escape. It is only a matter of time before they will be found but you have to read the book to find out the rest of the story.

Let me ask you a question: Would you rather be a criminal or a spy? Reply in the Comments and then come talk to me on the Buzz Board.

The BFG Readalikes

Excellent news, Roald Dahl fans! The beloved fictional giant, the BFG (Big Friendly Giant), will be coming to big screens in 2016. (There’s a joke on being larger than life in there somewhere . . . ) If you can’t get enough of the silly, sometimes surreal, and always heartwarming world of The BFG, here are some great books for ages 8-12 to read next!

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Mr. Fox is a smart and clever fox who feeds his family by stealing from a trio of cranky and cantankerous farmers named Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. Mr. Fox, his family, and his fellow animal neighbors are in a great deal of trouble after the mean old farmers decide to rid themselves of the sneaky and sly Mr. Fox once and for all. Their plan? To dig up Mr. Fox’s burrow and starve him out. But the three farmers are no match for the quick-witted Mr. Fox and his friends!

The Borrowers by Mary Norton
The Borrowers are definitely not giants—in fact, they’re so tiny they can live in the walls and floors of a house, completely undetected! The Clock family is one such family of Borrowers, and they live happily in a house in England . . . well, under the floorboards, anyway. Borrowers survive by staying undetected by the big “human beans”, but one day fourteen-year-old Arrietty Clock is seen by—and sees—a human boy!

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
When Wayside school was built, there was one major problem: it was built sideways! The building was supposed to be one floor with thirty classrooms, but instead it is thirty stories tall with one classroom on each floor. Each chapter of this book is about a teacher or student at Wayside School and the strange, wacky, and sometimes spooky things that happen in this strange, wacky, and sometimes spooky building.

Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson
Three aging sisters, Aunt Cora, Aunt Etta, and Aunt Myrtle, live on an island where they care for a wide range of wild and magical creatures. As they get older, they realize they need help—so they kidnap three children to teach and train to take over. However, while the children are fascinated (and sometimes frightened!) by the mermaids, selkies, and other exotic island inhabitants, their families back home will stop at nothing to get the children back. When the island is “discovered” by the people back home, all the creatures are in danger. Will the children and the Aunts be able to save their precious island?

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis
When two children, Digory and Polly, discover that Digory’s Uncle Andrew has magic rings that can transport them to different worlds, they find themselves on a wild adventure that lands them in an abandoned city in an ancient world. There they find the lone survivor of the destroyed world, a queen named Jadis. When Jadis follows the children back to their home world in England, ultimate mayhem ensues. This is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, so if you’re left thirsting for more (and you totally will, believe me!), you’ve got six more books of awesome!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter is an orphan living with his horrible remaining family, the Dursleys. Bullied and abused and forced to live under the stairs, Harry learns on his eleventh birthday that he is actually a wizard…and that there is more to his parents’ death than he initially thought. He is whisked away to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he discovers the wondrous wizarding world, the dark cloud of mystery surrounding his parents’ murder, and the curious and frightening role he is to play in saving the world from the purest form of evil there ever was! Read all 7 books in the Harry Potter series!

Have you read any of these books? Which one is your favorite? Which one do you want to read the most? What books do YOU recommend for fans of The BFG? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the Comments below!

En-Szu, STACKS Writer

7 Meanest Children’s Book Villains 

Are the villains in children’s books too mean? To help you answer that question, I’ve compiled a list of the top seven most evil children’s book villains. Some of these characters are so deliciously evil, it’s no wonder that they have all made it from books to the big screen.

#7: Jadis, The White Witch from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Her character is supposed to be a tall Amazonian woman with pretty features and great strength, but for all that beauty, inside lives a very dark and ice-cold heart. She turns people and animals to stone and then uses them for home décor. Who does that? Also, did you know that the fur collar she wears is actually Aslan’s mane? Yeah, that’s mean!

#6:Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Aside from his abnormally large nose and weird sideburns, Count Olaf is really mean and weird. You can almost always find him scowling in every illustration, and he is definitely known to have bad hygiene (ew). Yup, that’s enough to put him at number 6.

#5: The Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
I know that he is seriously misunderstood, but with a green, hairy face, those evil-looking wrinkles and long, pointy, hairy fingers, how could you not be scared of this guy? The Grinch may be one of my favorite childhood holiday movies but he’s still pretty scary-looking.

#4: Miss Trunchbull from Matilda.
I loved, loved, loved this movie, but seriously, Miss Trunchbull is mean and scary. Why she is even working in a school when she hates kids completely boggles my mind. On top of that, she doesn’t let anyone eat snacks or have candy in their pockets!

#3: Kronos from the Percy Jackson series. 

Kronos, who is technically Percy’s grandfather, is the god of the Titans. Isn’t it weird that he looks like a monster while Zeus and all the other gods look normal? Either way, he’s scary-looking and he wants to destroy the world even if it means destroying his own kids. That’s pretty evil!

#2: Slappy from Slappy’s Revenge. 
Where do I even start with Slappy? His name, his features, and his evil tendencies are all equally frightening in so many ways. If I had a doll that looked anything like Slappy in my room, I don’t think I’d be able to sleep. Would you?

#1: Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series.

Drum roll . . . And our number one villain, of course, is Lord Voldemort! He’s pure evil and wants to destroy all Muggles. Since that includes Hermione, who is my heroine, there’s no question he should be on top of this list.

That’s my list of the top meanest villains of all children’s books. Which one on this list do you think is the creepiest? If you could add another villain, who would it be? Let me know by dropping a Comment below!

Sandy, Stacks Staff

Battle Bugs Book Series for Ages 7-10

Have no fear! The Battle Bugs are here! This new series has action-packed adventure, a hilarious friendship between boy and bug, and the most dangerous of villains—a lizard army!

In the newest book, an eerie glow from his insect encyclopedia alerts Max Darwin that the Battle Bugs desperately need his help again. Once Max is transported to Bug Island, he finds himself in immediate peril. He’s dropped into the ocean and lizard forces are headed right for him! Fortunately, Commander Barton and the Battle Bugs are also on the scene.

Once Max is rescued and back on dry land, the Battle Bugs explain their latest problem. As Max experienced, the lizards are now attacking from the sea. The bug forces need some way to spot the enemy before they crawl up on the sand. Max has a fantastic idea: the bugs need to build a giant watchtower so they can survey the entire beach! But can they finish it before the lizards attack again?

Find out how Max and the Battle Bugs fight their way through the attacking lizard forces in the newest BATTLE BUGS book! Start reading Chapter 1: Battle Bugs: The Chameleon Attack!

Can’t get enough Battle Bugs? The first three books in this exciting series are out now!

Hello, STACKS readers!

We have a special Halloween treat for you. And no, it’s not a trick! Natalie Lloyd, the author of A Snicker of Magic, has a brand-new story set in Midnight Gulch—a magical town full of mystery, enchanted ice cream . . . and a few ghosts.

If you liked A Snicker of Magic, then you’ll love this “spindiddly” story featuring Felicity Pickle, Jonah Pickett, and many more. If you haven’t read A Snicker of Magic, then you’ll still love this funny, magical, slightly spooky Halloween adventure.

Start reading “When the Ghosts Come Out to Dance!”

Happy reading!

The Yeti Files by Kevin Sherry

Have you ever had a dream where you met someone – or something – that you didn’t even know existed? Did they take you on an adventure around the world and through time in search of other mystical, magical creatures? If you haven’t (or even if you have, because let’s be honest, that dream was awesome and you want to have it again), then you should definitely check out the latest addition to The Yeti Files series, Monsters on the Run, by Kevin Sherry.

Blizz Richards, a yeti living in the snowy mountains of Nepal, is just hanging out with his friends Alexander and Gunthar, when they receive a letter from Vanessa (a.k.a. the Loch Ness monster) saying how lonely she is and how much she needs a friend, someone who understands her. Being the generous, adventurous guy that he is, Blizz decides to set out to find other creatures just like her. With the help of a time-traveling leprechaun, they manage to go 65 million years into the past to find other Nessies, but between dinosaurs and other predators, they may have found more than they expected.

This book is more than just a fun story, though. The wild illustrations create a whole universe of things you’ve never seen before. A leprechaun workshop, a nation of unicorns, a prehistoric forest. Get a look inside all of these things and more in The Yeti Files: Monsters on the Run.

What would you want to see if you could time travel? What mystical creature have you always wanted to meet? Leave a Comment and let us know!

Book Wars: Ever After High vs. Whatever After

I will be doing a comparison between the magical series of Ever After High and the mysterious series of Whatever After. Both series are amazing and involve fantasy, but they are different in many ways.

To start the war off, I will introduce to you the main characters of each book, Raven and Abby. In Ever After High, Raven is daughter of the evil queen from Snow White, and faces the challenge of whether to sign the Storybook of Legends which will seal her fate as the next evil ruler. In Whatever After, Abby is shut out at school most of the time which causes her to be very lonely. One night, she is intrigued by the basement, and she and her brother Jonah get sucked through a magic mirror that came with the house, and transported into the story of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Both characters are shut out at school and are involved in the tale Snow White.

Surprisingly, the two main characters have traits in common, such as a “don’t think, just do” kind of thing. Don’t get them mad because if you do, you had better watch out! They also both have great kindness in their hearts. Finally, Raven and Abby are “chosen” for something of great importance in the world.

What do you think? Similar or not at all? Are you a fan of EAH or WA? Put your opinion in the Comments below.

Rowan, Scholastic Kids Council