Staff Picks for Children

This first book in the new Ghost Buddy series by authors Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver will capture readers with its genuine, good guy, but clumsy, protagonist Billy Broccoli. Moving into a new house, Billy finds teenage ghost Hoove in his room and learns to accept him and his suggestions. Hoove is determined to help Billy gain confidence and become cool. When Billy is totally embarrassed by the school bully, Hoove conspires with Billy to get even, yet Billy manages to maintain his ethics while coming out ahead. Humorous episodes throughout such as Hoove tricking the bully with TV switching antics, dumping his chips to get him in trouble, swatting him from behind with a broom, and stealing his very secret box (Ghosts can move through walls, of course) add to the fun. Being a 113- year-old ghost, Hoove believes that Gatorade is made from the juice of alligators and refuses to drink it. The book helps readers view ghosts differently and even develop a fondness for them. It teaches a good lesson in how to cooperate with people and solve problems for the benefit of all.

Book One of The 13th Reality Series

This fantasy contains mystery, danger, riddles, alternate worlds, known as realities, and 13 curious letters. These mysterious letters are sent to many children from all over the world. Thirteen-year old Atticus Higgenbottom, better known as Tick, receives his first letter, postmarked from Alaska, from MG (later you learn that MG stands for Master George). In the letter, Tick is told that he will be receiving 12 more letters with clues that he must solve in order to save the lives of many people. Each clue contains a riddle which must be solved by a certain date in order to complete the mission. MG warns him that it will be dangerous and challenging. He must solve the riddles to prove that he is up to the challenge. Tick with the help of his internet friends, Sophia, from Italy, and Paul, from California, attempt to solve the clues. During their adventure they meet two characters from alternate realities sent to help them: Mothball, a tall and slender lady who is almost 8 feet tall, and Rutger, a short and stout man. This leads into the theory of Quantum Physics and parallel worlds in relation to the 13 Realities.

The danger and secrecy makes Tick unsure about facing his challenge alone. Tick finally asks his father for advice. His father takes Tick to Alaska to talk to the postmaster about the first letter. While there they meet Sophia and together they seek out the postmaster. They find him hiding in his house scared from his encounter with MG and Mistress Jane.

Will Tick have the courage to follow the twelve clues M.G. sends to him? Will the children be able to solve the riddles in time? What will happen if they fail? Will they learn the meaning of the 13th Reality?

Readers will have a hard time putting this book down. The reader will want to find out what the 13th Reality is and if Tick, Sophia, and Paul find out the answers. The ending will reveal some surprises and lead into the next book of the series.

I would recommend this book to both boys and girls ages 8 and up. The reading level is for Grades 5-8.

This interactive history adventure is part of Capstone Press’ You Choose series.  You the readers choose whether to experience a Viking raid, serve in a Viking army, or fight the last battles of the Vikings, with 24 possible endings.  This book is packed with adventure and the unknown.  Check out other You Choose books such as Life as a Knight, The Titanic, or The Golden Age of Pirates.
For students in 4^th to 6^th grade.

Newbery medalist (for A Year Down Yonder) Richard Peck pens an exciting, humorous mouse adventure - - a nonstop entertaining run of mice at sea, sailing with their people, the Cranstons, to England in search of a husband for daughter, Olive Cranston. Helena, the eldest mouse sister, and her family fear discovery, the perils of open water, and the menace of the ship’s cat. Helena narrates the story from mouse perspective (“. . . We mice dream of nothing but cheese and time running out.” p. 43).  The romances of mouse societies parallel the human pairings with surprising and joyous outcomes. Rich in detail and language, this is a delightful read for animal fantasy fans. Compare it to Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Despereaux.

This humorous chapter book takes us in the life of 3rd grade student Sophie Simon. While Sophie is incredibly smart, she struggles with making friends. Sophie finds herself solving problems for her classmates that they have with their parents. The book includes “Sophie Simon’s Encyclopedia of Things She Can’t Believe You Don’t Know Already” and a recipe for Madagascar Ground Boa Taffy.
For students in 3rd thru 5th grade.

In this sequel to Liar, Liar by Gary Paulsen, fourteen year old Kevin is broke from having to forfeit his allowance because of his earlier habit of lying. He now schemes to get rich fast by any idea that pops into his head such as starting a poker club, “borrowing” a golf cart that is in the repair shop to do nightly snack runs to college students, convincing his sister to charge her friends for beauty services, cleaning garages for pay and throwing the contents illegally into a company dumpster. Kevin justifies every step with rules he has read out of context from his mother’s business books such as “The successful person has vision that others lack.” He uses this logic to organize the poker games because the other guys are “terrible players” and therefore it is an easy way to make money. When this plan collapses, he maintains his optimism—“It’s looking on the bright side that sets the successes apart from the failures.” He reasons that it was a good thing because now he will have time to work for Amalgamated Waste Management, pay his debt to them and maybe even land a real job there. Humorous throughout, this will attract even reluctant readers who will enjoy a fast-paced, hilarious read.