Hot Reads for the Younger Crowd!

The beach is the perfect place to escape the heat and get caught up on great books.  We have spent the past week at the lake but brought along a pile of books to keep us busy!  Hope you enjoy reading about this past week's books that I read for the "book-a-day" challenge.  Book descriptions have been taken from http://www.goodreads.com/:)

Dixie by Grace Gilman

This is a wonderful series I stumbled upon at my public library.  Emma and her puppy, Dixie are best friends and inseperable.  But when Emma gets the role of Dorothy in the school play production of The Wizard of Oz, Dixie begins to feel left out. Dixie, the mischievous puppy who is trying to be good, will be embraced by beginning readers. 

Try the other titles in the series:  Dixie Loves School Pet Day and Dixie and the Class Treat.

Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires

While in hot pursuit of an alien invader (a bug), Binky accidentally falls out the space station porthole (bathroom window) and finds himself in outer space (outside) for the very first time. But just as Binky begins to explore, he discovers that his copilot, Ted (stuffed mousie), is trapped beneath an enemy warship (wasps' nest) Binky must rescue Ted from the clutches of these evil aliens. Will he be able to save his best friend? Can Ted survive his ordeal? Does Binky still suffer from space gas? This book will delight graphic novel readers of all ages.  I was especially happy to find a graphic novel written for the young reader (but older kids will also love it!).

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo (illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators, David Small)

On a momentous visit to the aquarium, Elliot discovers his dream pet: a penguin. It's just proper enough for a straight-laced boy like him. And when he asks his father if he may have one (please and thank you), his father says yes. Elliot should have realized that Dad probably thought he meant a stuffed penguin and not a real one . . . Clever illustrations and a wild surprise ending make this sly, silly tale of friendship and wish fulfillment a kid-pleaser from start to finish.  Pair it with My Friend, Osbert for even more penguin fun!

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo

I can't get enough of the brilliant Kate DiCamillo so was thrilled to discover this picture book written by her in 2008.  Follow Louise the Chicken's adventures as she ventures out into the great wide world to take on pirates, the circus, and an evil man in a far away and quite exotic bazaar.  Lush illustrations by acclaimed illustrator Bliss bring Newbery Medalist DiCamillo's intrepid, spirited, and hope-filled heroine hilariously to life. 

 

The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco

After spending the summer with her artist grandmother, Trisha knows she wants to be an artist, too. She's thrilled when her sketches get her into Miss Chew's special art class at the high school. A substitute teacher tells her she's wasting time on art when she should be studying - but fortunately, this is one battle that Miss Chew and Trisha are up for!  This true story shows just how important a teacher can be in a child's life - and celebrates the power of art itself.  Another treasure from Patricia Polacco.  

Bun Bun Button by Patricia Polacco

Paige loves cuddling with Gramma and all of Gramma's pets in the Old Blue Chair. And when Gramma makes her Bun Bun Button, an adorable homemade stuffed bunny with a button nose, this special time becomes even more cozy. Then a balloon carries the little bunny away. Bun Bun braves honking geese and a wide night sky, until luck - or love - magically brings her back home to the little girl who loves her.

This heartwarming story celebrates the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and is perfect for children who imagine their toys have secret adventures when no one's watching.

Zen Ghosts by Jon Muth
It's Halloween. The trees are ablaze in fiery reds. Excited children don colorful costumes. And there's mystery and fun around every corner!  When Addy, Michael, and Karl finish trick-or-treating, their bags are brimming with treats. But the fun isn't over yet. Their good friend Stillwater the panda has one more special surprise in store for them. A mysterious visitor is about to tell them a spine-tingling story -- one that will fill each and every reader with wonder.  I love this 4th installment in the Stillwater series.  These are simply brilliant books that can be appreciated by young children or explored more deeply by the older, more mature reader.  I especially enjoyed reading the author's note about the origins of this tale.

I am in the middle of reading a great adventure story called, Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson about a boy who travels inadvertently down a river and ends up trapped within a mountain in an underground lake--stranded and hungry with only a dead body as company.  Stay tuned for the review next week!  Remember to Stay Cool and Keep Reading!!!!!!