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Book: Babymouse #11: Dragonslayer
Author: Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Pages: 96
Age Range: 7-10 

In need of something that would make me laugh the other night, I picked up the latest Babymouse book: Dragonslayer. And it was exactly what I was looking for. I think this might be the best of the series so far. Certainly it's the most appealing so far for fantasy fans. That's because Babymouse: Dragonslayer is chock-full of references to fantasy sagas, old and new. Where else can you find:

• A locker that's a portal to another world (complete with fur coats);
• The Fellowship of the Slide Rule; and
• A geometry problem involving the flight of a boy and a dragon?

Short answer: nowhere else. (There's also a wonderful Harry Potter reference, but I don't want to spoil it.) Babymouse: Dragonslayer is full to the brim with creativity and fun. It's a perfect mix of fantasy elements (as you can see from the cover image of Babymouse, her sword and chain mail, and a menacing dragon), and the real-world problems of elementary school kids (in this case,  math). We have the mundane (a mean cat chanting "Babymouse is in trou-ble!"), the epic ("there is a prophecy that one will come..."), and the ridiculous (a bat, all of whose words are printed upside down), all mixed together. And it works, evoking snorts of laughter on virtually every page.

Despite all of these things, I think that my favorite aspect of this book, as with the others, remains the bickering between Babymouse and the narrator. Like:

Narrator: "Look on the bright side, Babymouse--you may be missing lunch, but at least you get to do math!"
Babymouse: "Sigh"

and

Narrator: "Babymouse, do you even know what a slide rule is?"
Babymouse: "No, but I want one."

There's something to the tone of these interactions (like that matter-of-fact, "That would be a no" on page 40) that never fails to please me.

There are swords. There are dragons. There are math problems. There are cupcakes. What more could anyone ask? Jenni Holm and Matt Holm are far, far from phoning it in with this series. Babymouse: Dragonslayer is my favorite yet. Highly recommended.

Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: August 25, 2009
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: Book Moot, Becky's Book Reviews, The Well-Read Child. See also my reviews of Babymouse: Beach Babe, Babymouse: Heartbreaker, and Babymouse: Puppy Love

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

Book: Dodger for President
Author: Jordan Sonnenblick
Pages: 176
Age Range: 8-12 

I enjoyed Jordan Sonnenblick's first Dodger book, Dodger and Me (and, for that matter, his Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie and Notes from the Midnight Driver, both for older readers). I've said it before, and I'll say it again here: Sonnenblick has a gift for writing authentic, humorous, juvenile male voices. I think it's quite safe to say (and I mean this in the best possible way) that he hasn't left his inner boy behind. Anyway, his latest title is Dodger for President, continuing the adventures of fifth-grader Willie Ryan and his two best friends: a geeky British girl named Lizzie and an oversized, invisible (to most) blue chimp named Dodger.

In Dodger for President, Willie finds himself a reluctant candidate for class president, with Lizzie as his running mate, and Dodger as a less-than-conventional campaign manager. They're two self-confessed dorks running against a popular kid who has been class president since kindergarten and a thug sidekick who people are afraid not to vote for. The situation seems hopeless. Dodger, however, is an irrepressible optimist, one not afraid to throw a bit of magic into the mix. Add a magic carpet and a Sherlock Holmes-obsessed younger sister, and hilarious hijinks ensue.

I really like these books. I think that they fill a niche for humorous, boy-friendly titles for less advanced readers. The books offer a nice combination of over-the-top magic and realistic boy-humor (a photo contrived to look like Willie is picking his nose, etc.), in a readily accessible package. The Dodger books are perfect next books to give to kids who like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and are ready to give less-graphical books a try. Lizzie is a strong enough character that I think girls will enjoy the books, too.

Dodger for President lives up to the promise of the first book. The growing friendship between Willie and Lizzie is nice to see. And Willie's younger sister, Amy, steals pretty much every scene that she's in (especially when she's kicking the shins of Willie's opponent). There are lessons in the book about doing the right thing and trying new things, but these are coated so thoroughly with humor that they go down quite smoothly. What I think will make kids love the book, though, is the laugh-out-loud funny voices of both Willie and Dodger. Here are a few examples.

"Dodger: Like, there was this science quiz. It was totally hard. There were all these, um, questions and stuff. And you had to fill in these little bubbles with letters next to them, but I really didn't see what the letters had to do with the questions. The question would be all What type of rock is made when a volcano erupts and then the lava cools? But the answers would be all like A. Or B. Or C. Or even D. Dude, I don't know a whole lot about rocks, but even a chimp knows that there's no kind of rock called "A Rock." 'Cause that would be just completely confusing." (Chapter 1)

"Lizzie practically turned green, so I knew that, whatever was going on, hearing about it wasn't going to send me to my happy place. As she gathered herself to speak, I noticed that Dodger was trying to crawl under my bed to hide. I guess he hadn't ever noticed how much stuff I shove down there so my mom will think my room is clean." (Chapter 2)

"Little sisters. You never know whether to hate them or give them a medal." (Chapter 6)

"His fur was sticking up in all directions. If you've never seen a chimpanzee with bed-head, it's really quite a spectacle." (Chapter 8)

Read those passages aloud to your eight-year-old son. I'll bet he wants to hear more. I do recommend reading Dodger and Me first, however, since that book makes it clear how Dodger, Willie, and Lizzie came to be companions. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books in the series. And I'm pretty sure that there will be more, because Dodger for President leaves a couple of major plot points unresolved. [Fair warning, if your kids don't like unresolved endings - you might want to wait until more books in the series are available.] Recommended summer reading for the elementary school crowd.

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: June 23, 2009
Source of Book: Advance review copy from the publisher. Quotes are from the advance copy, and should be checked against the final book.
Other Blog Reviews: Not a review, exactly, but this book is profiled on the Eva Perry Mock Newbery blog, with very positive feedback in the comments. I was also thrilled to learn from Jordan's blog that he has a sequel to Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie coming out in February. That's one I'll be watching for.
Author Interviews: Little Willow, Writing and Ruminating, and here (all three from the 2007 Summer Blog Blast Tour).

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

Books: The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Red Giant, The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Warlords of Nibblecheese, and The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Wrong Planet.
Author: Brian Anderson
Illustrator Doug Holgate
Pages: ~120 each
Age Range: 7 to 10

Leapin' leptons, these books are fun! I think that the Zack Proton books are perfect for early elementary school boys (and girls, too, but I think that they'll especially resonate for boys). Written by Brian Anderson and Illustrated by Doug Holgate, these are heavily illustrated chapter books, complete with entertaining chapter titles, occasional comic strips, lists, schematics, quizzes, and even the odd recipe. The format is sure to appeal to the reluctant and/or relatively new reader. As is the premise.

Zack Proton is a young, intergalactic starship commander. Despite his lofty position, Zack is, well, a bit of an idiot. As the first book (The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Red Giant) begins, Zack, in need of a "potty stop" accidentally opens the wrong door (despite a considerable array of warning signs), and finds himself floating around helplessly in space. Fortunately, Zack is rescued by another spaceship, this one captained by a chimpanzee called Omega Chimp. Part of the ongoing humor of the series lies in the fact that Omega Chimp is much brighter than Zack. Omega Chimp wants nothing more than to get Zack off of his ship, and out of his life. Zack, however, proceeds to wreak havoc on Omega Chimp's ship, and leads them both into various adventures.

In the first book Zack and Omega Chimp rescue a slightly defective robot called Effie, save a planet, and encounter a red giant called Big Large. There are quantum torpedoes, attempts to run away, and a defective banana generator. In the second book (The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Warlords of Nibblecheese), our space heroes set out to rescue a second grade teacher from a band of warrior space mice. In the third book (The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Wrong Planet), they encounter a disappearing and reappearing planet (called Bounceback), and sixteen million smelly pigs (you see what I mean about this being a boy-friendly series?).

The plots are, of course, ridiculous. How can a machine on a spaceship make bananas? Who ever heard of warrior space mice? How could a whole planet fit through a wormhole? Why can Zack survive in outer space without a spacesuit, and what are the odds of another spaceship just happening along and bumping into him? But none of that matters in the slightest. What makes the Zack Proton books work is the humor. I flagged tons of pages that tickled my funnybone:

"Step 2 (of a recipe for banana pancakes) - peel the bananas and mash them with a fork if your mom is there, or with your hands if she's not. It won't look very tasty when you're done, but don't worry -- you used to love this stuff when you were a baby." (Page 59, Red Giant)

(In the midst of a FAQ) "Gratuitous educational content obliterated" (Page 94, Red Giant)

"You watched an educational show?" Omega Chimp asked.
"I had to," Zack answered. "I couldn't find the remote control." (Page 16, Nibblecheese)

"What are you doing?" he (Omega Chimp) screamed over the noise.
"We're being heroic," Zack called back.
"It only looks foolish," Effie added.
Then the whole ship started to shake. (Page 95, Wrong Planet)

I also like the way Zack speaks in threes, with alliteration and a somewhat advanced, but ever entertaining, vocabulary. For example: 

"We're on our way right now to battle that big bully, conquer that crimson cream puff, vanquish that vermilion villain!" (Page 73, Red Giant)

You get the idea. The chapter titles are also usually fun ("Out of the Flying Pan", "The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Mousemen"). And on one numbered list in Wrong Planet, instead of a 3, there's a Pi symbol between items 2 and 4, with a footnote "close enough". Readers will find irreverent fun on every page.

I highly recommend the three Zack Proton books. I think that they are a perfect choice for second and third graders, especially boys. And, since they are small, inexpensive paperbacks, there's no reason in space not to add them to your classroom or home library. Perhaps the publisher will decide to add more books to the series in the future...  

Publisher: Aladdin
Publication Date: 2006-2007
Source of Book: Review copies from the author (who I met outside of a middle school in Austin, TX)
Other Blog Reviews: Three Silly Chicks, Book Moot, Boys Rule Boys Read!, BookKids Recommends, Armchair Interviews, GregLSBlog
Author Interviews:  Cynsations

Random House was kind enough to ask me to participate in a blog tour for Judy Blume. Although I very rarely do blog tours, I couldn't turn this one down. In preparation, I read two books from Judy's new The Pain and the Great One series, Soupy Saturday with the Pain and the Great One and Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One. That helped me to come up with questions.

1. What made you turn your attention to early chapter books, after publishing picture book, middle grade, YA, and adult titles? Was it just time for a change for you, or do you think there's a particular need for new books for this early reader age range?

JB: I like challenges. And I never write because I think there's a particular need in the marketplace, although maybe it's foolish not to consider that. I write from someplace deep inside. I can't really explain it. I first wrote about the Pain and the Great One when my kids were six and eight years old. I've always wanted to write about these characters again, but this time in a longer book where I could get to know their family and their friends. I wrote one story a couple of years ago just to see if I could do it. I liked it and thought, "This is going to be fun!" But then other projects got in the way so I had to put the Pain and the Great One aside. Finally, I said, "It's now or never!" 

2. In the Pain and the Great One books, you demonstrate a keen understanding of the older sister / younger brother dynamic (this is clear from the very title of the series). I especially loved when The Great One flew to her brother's defense in Cool Zone, after a bully took something from him. Did you have a younger brother, or is your insider knowledge based on something else? 

JB: I have a daughter and son, two years apart. Originally, they were the inspiration for the Pain & the Great One. They're grown now and my daughter has a son of her own. The brother and sister duo in these books have taken on their own lives, though some of the story ideas came from memories (don't ask what my son did with his first magnifying glass - ouch!) and others came from spending time with my grandson -- the Gravitron at the Fair, the boogie-board (he was a whiz, like Abigail). But most of the stories and characters are imagined. It is, after all, fiction!

3. What made you decide to alternate first-person chapters between The Pain and The Great One for this series? Was it about expanding the accessibility of the series, or more about showing the sibling relationship from both sides? Or something else? 

JB: The original prose poem, which became a picture book, was from both points of view. I never thought of not writing from both points of view in the chapter books. Although you don't get both viewpoints in each story I hope you come away feeling that you know both Abigail and Jake. Each has endearing qualities, each has annoying ones. Hey, that sounds like real life. Did I say I have an older brother?  Four years older but five years ahead of me at school. We were definitely not Jake and Abigail.

4. As an author, was it difficult to keep pesky younger brother The Pain distinct in your mind from pesky younger brother Fudge, from your earlier series? I notice that they are both fans of Superman...

JB:  Wow…this is something I never thought of while writing. Fudge is an over-the-top little brother, while Jake is rooted in reality. I had no idea until reading your question that they're both fans of Superman. I know Fudge is obsessed by Superman in Superfudge but without going back and reading the 4 Pain&Great One books I can't think of a story in which Jake talks about him, too. Help me out here. But to answer the bigger question - I had no trouble keeping them apart while writing because to me, Fudge is Fudge, and Jake is Jake, and they're very different.

(Editor's note: I had trouble remembering this, too, and I gave away the books already. But I found a review that said that in Cool Zone, when Abigail rescues Jake from a bully, he says that she's like Superman's sister. Scroll to the bottom of the page on the review for the quote.)

5. From your perspective as an author, how do you write books that keep kids eagerly turning the pages, even when you're (sometimes) tackling serious issues? How do you maintain a light touch, and keep the message from overwhelming the story (something that I think is a hallmark of your books)? 

JB: I never think in terms of sending messages. I think only of character and story. Plot isn't my strong point so it was hard to come up with 28 stories for the Pain&Great One books. I did it one story at a time, praying another would follow. (I've never been a natural short story writer though I enjoy writing episodic fiction). Humor comes naturally to me. I learned early on it can help you get through life. But if I'm trying to be funny, forget it. Humor comes at unexpected times. You put your characters in tough situations. What are they thinking vs. what are they saying. This is a hard question to answer because I write instinctively and I don't really understand how it works.

Thanks Judy for sharing such great insights! Here's the complete schedule for the tour:

12/1: Big A, little a
12/2: Bildungsroman
12/4: Jen Robinson’s Book Page
12/9: The Well-Read Child
12/10: Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
12/12: A Patchwork of Books

Last week I announced a book give-away for five copies of Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy. The deadline to enter is this Friday at noon Pacific time. If you would like to enter the drawing to win one of these copies, you can comment here or on the original post. I will select five names randomly from the entrants. If you are a winner, I will then ask you for your mailing address to pass along to the publisher, Henry Holt. Good luck!

Book: The Mammoth Academy
Author: Neal Layton
Pages: 160
Age Range: 7 to 10

Neal Layton's The Mammoth Academy is a heavily illustrated, over-the-top title aimed at early elementary school kids. Here's how it begins:

"Oscar was a woolly mammoth, and so was Arabella. They lived a long time ago in the Ice Age.

They used to spend their time making ice sculptures, exploring caves, and doing all the other things that young mammoths like to do. But there comes a point in a young mammoth's life when it's time to grow up a little bit and start school."

The reader quickly learns that Oscar is scruffy and irresponsible, while Arabella is tidy and well-suited to school. (I wonder if Oscar is a bit of a take-off on the Odd Couple). We see Arabella's tidy copy of the map of their school, in contrast to Oscar's stained and crumpled version. At school, Oscar makes friends and has a good time. Soon, however, he discovers the mysterious tracks of some dangerous, thieving two-legged creatures. Could they be human?

Mammoth Academy bears some resemblance to a graphic novel. The illustrations are essential to the story, featuring call-outs, numbered instructions, and sketched examples of what's being discussed in the text. The sketches are black-and-white and highly kid-friendly, with many looking like doodles that a bored kid would make in class. A few others are much more sophisticated, looking digitally rendered, offering a nice contrast.

Layton offers up humor, ranging from subtle to obvious, on nearly every page. Some things that particularly caught my eye:

• On the "Very Important Letter" about what to bring to school, "6. One or two pairs of ice skates (depending on how many feet you have)".
• When the kids learn about humans in school, they see examples of what human footprints are like, and what their droppings look like (ok, it doesn't engage me, but I think it's quite early-elementary-school-boy-friendly).
• The kids also have a lesson about how cliffs can be dangerous, illustrated by a sketch of a mammoth tumbling head-first off of a small cliff.
• And, of course, the central fact of the humans in the story being the uncivilized savages, while the animals are attending school, and eating fruit so that they don't get the sniffles. What kid wouldn't enjoy that?

In short, Mammoth Academy is a delightfully illustrated, highly entertaining romp, sure to please early readers (especially boys). The author's website suggests that sequels are forthcoming.

Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2, 2008
Source of Book: Advance review copy from the publisher

Book: Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes
Author: Peggy Gifford
Illustrator: Valorie Fisher
Pages: 176
Age Range: 8 to 12

Background: I'm always on the lookout for high-quality, engaging reads for early elementary school kids. I think that it's important to give kids interesting books when they're first starting to read on their own. And I think that's difficult to do well - to write a great book while using a relatively limited vocabulary and set of experiences.

The Moxy Maxwell books have been on my radar for a while - several people I trusted were excited about the first book, Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little (Mary Lee and Franki had it on their best books of 2007 list, for example). Enough so that I had it on my list of books to recommend for elementary school kids even though I hadn't actually read it. I was pleased when the publisher sent me a review copy of the second book, Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes, so that I could check it out myself.

Review: Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes, written by Peggy Gifford and illustrated by Valorie Fisher, is the second book the Moxy Maxwell series. 10-year-old Moxy (a girl with considerable Moxie) and her older brother are getting ready to travel to Hollywood to spend the last week of vacation with their father, "a Big Man Behind the Scenes" out there. Before she leaves, however, Moxy has promised her mother that she'll write twelve thank you notes for her Christmas presents. Sure that the thank you notes will take "forever", Moxy expends her energy instead on finding ways to get out of writing them. The results are colossally unsuccessful.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes offers humor for both child readers and their parents. For example:

"Number 3 on Moxy's list of 218 Possible Career Paths was to become a rich and famous movie star and adopt 17 starving children from around the world (she wasn't sure if she would have a husband) and live with them and their 17 nannies in a mansion near all the other rich and famous movie stars who were adopting starving children from around the world." (Page 8-9)

and

"But Mrs. Maxwell was already walking down the stairs. She was also calling Uncle Jayne on her cell phone. She was also carrying two old ice cream bowls and a plate with a fork stuck to it and Moxy's black evening gown. (Over the years Moxy had observed that a really first-rate mother can do many things at once without messing any of them up.) (Page 23)

The chapters are very short, and feature relatively long titles. Occasionally the chapter titles are longer than the chapters themselves. One chapter even consists of just a title. I suspect that this translates well to classroom read-aloud sessions, and that kids will find it appealing (though as an adult, I found it a little annoying). Valorie Fisher's illustrations consist of black and white photographs taken by Moxy's brother, Mark, often off-kilter, and sometimes blurry. The photos are like little windows into Moxy's life, and make the characters feel more real. Together, the short chapters and photo illustrations should make this book a highly accessible read for second and third graders.

Another nice thing about this book is that Moxy's family is happy, but realistically complex, with her children's book author step-father, half-sister, live-in grandmother (during the winters, at least), quirky uncle, and absent father. I also wonder if Moxy's brother is somewhere on the autism spectrum (he does things like count pieces of paper, and Moxy seems to boss him around more than one would normally see in a younger sister/older brother relationship). There's a lot going on, family-wise, in a relatively short book, though Gifford keeps the family dynamics from overwhelming the immediate story.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes is definitely going on my shortlist of books to suggest for early elementary school readers. Although the main character is a girl, I think that she's enough of a trouble-maker, and her problems are general enough, to appeal to boys, too. Although I'm not quite in love with Moxy the way that I am with Clementine, the Moxy Maxwell series has my strong recommendation.

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Publication Date: August 12, 2008
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: Help Readers Love Reading, Book Addiction, Abby (the) Librarian, Kids Lit, A Year of Reading, Becky's Book Reviews, Emily Reads, Best Books I Have Not Read
Author Interviews: A Year of Reading

Today I'm pleased to announce, courtesy of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, a book give-away. The publisher has offered FIVE copies of Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy, written by Kimberly Willis Holt and illustrated by Christine Davenier to readers of this blog.

I reviewed this title recently (it is the second in a series aimed at elementary school kids), and I said:

"This book had a feel to me of classic middle grade fiction. The Reeds reminded me a bit of the Melendy family (except for the first-person viewpoint centered on Piper, and the presence of email). There's not so much a plot as a series of incidents, as the reader spends time with a family that feels real... Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy has just the right amount of sentimentality - enough to give the book heart, without being sappy... Highly recommended for kids just reaching into middle grade fiction who want day-to-day stories that they can relate to."

If that sounds like fun to you, you can comment on this post to be entered in a random drawing to win one of the five copies. I'll contact the winners via email to obtain mailing addresses, and pass those along to the publisher. The deadline is October 17th, at noon Pacific Time).

Bonus questions (they don't increase your chances, but I'd love to hear your responses):

1. What other books published in the last couple of years do you think have that classic middle grade fiction feeling, even if they also have more modern trappings? (Think Elizabeth Enright, or Noel Streatfeild, or Mary Norton - books that many of today's adults loved as children. If the question doesn't make sense to you, feel free to ignore it.)
2. Who is your favorite Melendy family member? (If you don't know who the Melendy family is, then you should ignore this question, too.)

Book: Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy
Author: Kimberly Willis Holt
Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Pages: 160
Age Range: 8 to 12

Background: I haven't yet read Piper Reed: Navy Brat, but I included it in the very first edition of my reviews that made me want the book feature, based on this assessment from Marcie at World of Words: "Are you looking for a book for girls (or guys) who have "graduated" from Junie B., but still need a good, short chapter book to keep them reading? This is the book." I remembered that, and when the opportunity arose at ALA to pick up the advance copy of the second book in the series: Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy, I didn't hesitate. And I agree completely with Marcie's assessment.

Review: Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy, written by Kimberly Willis Holt and illustrated by Christine Davenier, is about 10 months in the life of nine-year-old Piper Reed. When the story begins, Piper is living with her mother and two sisters on a navy base in Pensacola. Her father has just left on a six-month tour of duty, and the family is still adapting to his absence. But Piper has plenty to keep her occupied, from meetings of The Gypsy Club (of which Piper is the founding member) to short family trips to plans for a pet show.

This book had a feel to me of classic middle grade fiction. The Reeds reminded me a bit of the Melendy family (except for the first-person viewpoint centered on Piper, and the presence of email). There's not so much a plot as a series of incidents, as the reader spends time with a family that feels real. Piper's older sister Tori worries about her weight, is horrified by her first pimple, and has a first crush on a boy. Piper's younger sister Sam is always poking her nose into Piper's business, and is very briefly traumatized by the death of her pet goldfish, Peaches. Piper is mean to Tori, defends Sam from the attacks of others, and wants to do something big to impress her father. She's dyslexic, but this is a minor point in the story, not much more significant than her hair color.

Christine Davenier's illustrations complement the text perfectly. My favorite is a sketch of Piper's hummingbird expert uncle visiting Piper's class for show and tell. He's wearing his hummingbird hat, and sitting hunched over in a little elementary school seat. The teacher clearly doesn't know what to make of him. There's also a priceless picture of Tori, drinking her first cafe au lait in New Orleans, fingers delicately extended, nose in the air. The text reads:

"Tori held the mug with her pinky finger pointing out. Her nose circled above the rim, as she took in a long sniff. Finally she closed her eyes and took a giant gulp of the cafe au lait. Her lip curled, but after she swallowed, she announced, "Scrumptious!"

Tori always liked to think she was grown up."

Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy has just the right amount of sentimentality - enough to give the book heart, without being sappy. Piper and Sam choose the "saddest" Christmas tree, "a Charlie Brown tree". Piper's mom and the girls make sand angels on Christmas day, but are saddened by the missing spot where the dad's angel should be. But not to worry -- the ending is perfect!

Highly recommended for kids just reaching into middle grade fiction who want day-to-day stories that they can relate to. Although the characters are mostly girls, there's not much "girl stuff" in Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy - I think that boys would enjoy this one, too. It would make a nice classroom read-aloud for second or third graders. Personally, I'm going to use this series the same way I use the Clementine books, as a sure-fire gift idea for girls of a certain age (the age range here being a year or two older than the one for Clementine). And I'll look forward to Piper's next outing.

Publisher: Henry Holt
Publication Date: August 19, 2008
Source of Book: Advance review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: BooksForKidsBlog, Jelly Mom
Author Interviews: Cynsations, The Karianna Spectrum

Scholastic is running an Alec Flint, Super Sleuth contest. The first three people to e-mail [email protected] with their mailing address, saying that they read this message on Jen Robinson's Book Page and correctly cracking the coded message below will receive a free, autographed copy of The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure. (Hint: The key to Alec and Gina's code is over on www.jillsantopolo.com)

Here's the coded message that needs to be cracked: RM ULFIGVVM SFMWIVW MRMVGB GDL, XLOFNYFH HZROVW GSV LXVZM YOFV.

Enticing? Here's a bit more about the book, from Scholastic's press release:

"Alec Flint is practicing to be a super-sleuth. He's got a pair of super-sleuth pants with lots of hiding pockets, a sleuthing side-kick, and now a major robbery to investigate.

In the first book in an exciting new series, Alec's dad, a local police officer, discovers the Christopher Columbus exhibit has gone missing from the town museum, and Alec is on the case!

With help from his side-kick, Gina, and his fourth grade history class, Alec is determine to uncover the truth. Santopolo's debut book will have middle grade readers racing to solve this clever crime."

Doesn't that sound fun? I'm always on the lookout for good books for early elementary school kids (this one is aimed at kids age 7 to 10), and especially for mysteries, so this one caught my eye. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it's nearing the top of my list. Enter the contest above, and find out about the book for yourself.

Book: Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School
Author: Ruth McNally Barshaw (blog)
Pages: 192
Age Range: 8-12

Background: I haven't had a chance to read Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen Will Travel (by Ruth McNally Barshaw), but I've heard great things. I first heard about this book from Betsy at A Fuse #8 Production, who called it "another example of the "illustrated novel" brought to brilliant, vibrant life." She recommended it highly, and I always kept it in mind. Then Bloomsbury was kind enough to send me an advance copy of the sequel, and I have just had a chance to read it. 

Review: Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School by Ruth McNally Barshaw is one of the most fun books I've read in a long time. It's a bit difficult to categorize, a combination of sketchbook and middle grade novel. Ellie McDougal is about to start 6th grade when her family moves to a new town, two hours away, too far to stay in close contact with her old friends. Ellie shares her thoughts about the move and her adjustment to her new school in her notebook. An aspiring artist, Ellie sketches as much as she writes, and the result is a heavily illustrated novel in which the pictures are as important, if not more important, than the words.

Although primarily about Ellie's adjustment to her new school this book is also about Ellie's delightful family. Her older brother Josh plays practical jokes incessantly. Her older sister Risa is a bit self-involved, but offers support when needed. Her preschool brother Ben Ben provides comic relief, shown playing with his food and undertaking odd acrobatic moves (in a helmet), always sketched with affection. Ellie's father is a coach, and speaks primarily in sports metaphors, while her mother is firm when necessary, but will also participate in practical jokes. They all play word games together around the dinner table. It's nice to see a family that, despite teasing, appreciates each other and has fun together, too.

Some of the details of the book are a bit over-the-top - there's definitely a comic book aspect to the whole story, especially a major plotline involving activism - but Ellie herself feels as real as any eleven-year-old girl. There's a page where she makes a list (the book has lots of lists) of "What I Want From School". It includes things like "Fast, easy friendships" and "No embarrassing events". Reading it, I felt like I was channeling my own inner sixth grader. In another scene, she interacts with a new friend's brother who has Down's syndrome, and she's realistically awkward and unsure how to react (but of course rises to the occasion). I also loved (and could personally relate to) the fact that Ellie's first friend in her new neighborhood is the children's librarian. Ellie's fears and insecurities around the move itself, and her sadness at leaving the house she's grown up in, also ring true.

There's a pretty wide cast of characters in this book - various neighborhood kids, teachers, kids from school, and families of kids from school. I think that the pictures will help kids to keep them straight, though. And the pictures are delightful, with captions and callouts and thought bubbles to keep things intimately connected with the text. My favorite is a sketch of a wealthy girl's younger brother "Wellington" in a little suit with a bow tie.

It's a bit tricky even to suggest an age range for this book. Ellie is in sixth grade, but the illustrations should make the book accessible to younger kids, too. I think this would be a perfect read for reluctant readers in later elementary school. And I think it's an essential read for kids who enjoy drawing and comic strips. There's a wonderful, picture-studded interview with the author at the end of the book that includes practical advice for aspiring writers and artists, and even a little section on how to sketch. I would have ADORED this book as a fourth or fifth grader. I have no doubt whatsoever that it would have inspired me to start a sketch journal of my own.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. If there are any elementary school librarians reading this, you simply must stock the Ellie McDoodle series. Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School is entertaining from beginning to end, with clever illustrations, and celebrating both warm family and friend relationships and individuality. Don't miss it!

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Publication Date: June 24, 2008
Source of Book: Advance review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: The Reading Zone, Quill Inc., Shelf Elf, Fuse #8, Read, Read, Read
Author Interviews: Elizabeth O. Dulemba, Karen's News

Book: Clementine's Letter
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Pages: 160
Age Range: 7-10

Clementine's Letter is the third book in Sara Pennypacker's Clementine series, after Clementine (review here) and The Talented Clementine (review here). In this installment, third grader Clementine has adjusted to her new teacher's rules, and isn't spending quite so much time in the principal's office. She is thus devastated to learn that her teacher has been nominated for a contest, and will be spending the week out of school. What's worse - if he wins the contest, he'll be gone for the rest of the year. Clementine is outraged. They had plans. How can the teacher up and abandon her? Worse still, the substitute teacher and Clementine simply don't get along. In a fit of anger, Clementine writes a less than enthusiastic recommendation letter for her teacher...

Meanwhile at home, Clementine happens on an ingenious gift idea for her father. Afraid that her mother might feel left out, she embarks on a quest to buy her mother a special gift. As the reader might expect, the quest to make money leads Clementine into a spot of trouble.

I continue to love Clementine's voice, and the way that Marla Frazee's delightful sketches bring her to life. There is a picture on the last page of the book of Clementine, happily hugging herself, which is worth the price of the book alone. In fact, I challenge the prospective reader. Go to the store, find a copy of Clementine's Letter, and turn to the last page. See if you can look at that picture, and not want to read more about Clementine. Go ahead. I dare you. And then check out page 106, for a contrasting sketch of Clementine angry with her substitute teacher. Marla Frazee can convey the entire range of human emotions through expression and posture.

As for the text, I flagged passage after passage, examples that highlight the joy that is Clementine. Like:

"Whenever my teacher needs someone to run an errand to the principal's office, he sends me. This is because I am so responsible. Okay, fine, it's also because I get sent so often I could find my way with my eyes closed.

Which I tried once. You'd be amazed at how many bruises you can get from just one water fountain." (Page 2)

and

"When my brother wakes up, he sticks one foot up in the air and smiles really big when he sees it -- as if it's his best friend he's been missing all night. He waggles it back and forth and thinks it's waving to him. "Hi foot!" he yells. Then he does the same thing with his other foot.

I do not think anyone who says hello to his own feet is ever going to make it to third grade." (Page 39)

Clementine is resourceful, too, frequently able to suggest a solution to a problem (like her friend Margaret's phobia's, or her little brother's unwillingness to have his jacket put on). And she is honest with herself. For example:

"I turned away so I wouldn't laugh, because I know how bad it feels to be laughed at.
Okay, fine. Also because she's a little bit bigger than I am and her pocketbook has pointy edges." (Page 51)

I also like the active role that Clementine's parents, especially her father, have in her life. In this book, Clementine starts a book that she wants her father to write, and includes helpful lines to get him started. He responds in kind, and the book becomes an extra communication tool between an already close parent and child.

And, of course, I like the regular references to the Red Sox in the book. Clementine's neighbor, Mitchell, who is NOT her boyfriend (but will be one day, you'll see...) is a rabid Red Sox fan, the kind of boy who can tell you about every home run hit out of Fenway all season long. Plus Mitchell is a likable character in his own right. Here's why:

"This is a good thing about Mitchell -- he never asks why, he just does stuff for me. If I'd asked Margaret, she would have asked me a hundred questions and then told me a hundred reasons why my idea was stupid and she had a better one.

Not Mitchell. He just says Okay. If I ever have a boyfriend, which I will not, it might be him. (Page 114)

If Mitchell is a bit too good to be true - it's okay by me.

In short, this book has all of the elements that made the first two books wonderful: voice, humor, heart, and illustrations that bring the whole thing to life. But I have to admit that this isn't my favorite of the three. Clementine's antics weren't quite as over-the-top, and her struggles in this book just didn't move me in the quite the same way. I enjoyed The Talented Clementine more. But I don't think it's that the series is getting stale - I think that in any series, individual readers are going to prefer some books over others. The bottom line is that I adore Clementine, and enjoyed getting to spend more time with her. I will eagerly await book 4.

Publisher: Hyperion
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Source of Book: Bought it at Hicklebee's
Other Blog Reviews: emilyreads (review haiku), Kids Lit, Sarah Miller, A Year of Reading, Read, Read, Read, Book Talks, Miss Erin
Author Interviews: School Library Journal
Illustrator Interviews: Cynsations, Just One More Book

I apologize for the belatedness of some of these links. Last week’s link love was rescheduled due to holiday party pictures.  Be sure to check back next week when we will be sharing the favorite books of some of our favorite people.  Enjoy the links below and have a snow-filled weekend!

What’s in a name? What does creative non-fiction imply to you?

News that our in-house IT guys must love, macs may someday be able to run windows-based programs natively.

Not sure who to vote for in the primaries? Enter how you stand on the issues and Glass Booth will tell you which candidate is the best choice.

Another sad story about newspapers. (Full Disclosure: I once worked for Creative Loafing.)
Do you think its ethical for book reviewers to back out of a review because they didn’t like the book?

A year in Media Errors. I mean, really, how hard is it to spell B-A-R-A-C-K O-B-A-M-A

A musical blog feature worth paying attention to.

These cats are creepy, but at least they may help further science.

Some holiday advice for curing that hangover you came into work with.

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