Saturday, December 31, 2022

Gotcha! A funny fairy tale hide-and-seek by Clotilde Perrin


This is one of those titles that isn't really suited to library circulation, but it's so fun you just can't resist! At almost 16" high, it's definitely oversized, but is also a slim volume, with a paper over board binding.

The snarling monster on the front is the impetus for the story, as we open the page we see a smirking child in a furry suit turning the corner of the page and encounter... a nasty hairball! Glowing yellow hair, staring eyes, creepy claws, and "feculent feet" are coming our way! Fortunately, the next page holds a brick house that we can hide inside. It is, in fact, the brick house of the three little pigs and there are lots of flaps to lift, details to observe, and hiding places to find. But there are two more monsters - and two more fairy tale houses - left in the story, so don't get comfortable yet! After hiding from the "stinkwart" in Hansel and Gretel's gingerbread house (watch out for the bones left here and there) and from the "creeper" in Sleeping Beauty's castle, the three monsters band together and chase the reader onto a bookshelf of stories. I personally appreciated the ghoulish rendition of The wolf and the seven little goats, a favorite of my childhood. But all is not lost - the intrepid child at the beginning, glimpsed throughout by careful searchers, has a plan to defeat the monsters. Into the oven, down the toilet and out the window they go and the story ends with the backside of a furry monster neatly placed on the back cover.

Delightfully gruesome and intricately illustrated, this will not be for every library. The binding does not feel very sturdy and, unless you have extremely careful little patrons, the many flaps and die cut page shapes are not likely to last long. Its large size will make it awkward to shelve and more sensitive parents are sure to be horrified by the plethora of bones, creepy monsters, and frequent recurrence of creatures being baked in ovens. It's also a little bit more expensive than the average picture book, about $25 depending on your vendor discount.

Verdict: Despite the drawbacks, this book is a lot of fun and is a great addition to collections that include lift-the-flap and pop-up books or have a large enough population that there will be no shortage of readers to appreciate its originality and creepy humor.

ISBN: 9781776574698; Published October 2022 by Gecko Press; Review copy provided by publisher

Friday, December 30, 2022

Peach and Plum: Here we come! Friends who rhyme, all the time by Tim McCanna


There's something about sentient food that has been enormously popular in the last few years. Terry Border has picture books and early readers featuring various talking snacks and packaged foods, Shaskan's Pizza and Taco is a big hit with a lot of my readers, and I could keep going. However, while the combination of talking food stuffs and early reader comics is not unique, this particular iteration is very nicely done and the bold, simple art makes it easy for emerging readers to follow the panels.

Peach and Plum, alternating words in rhyming sentences, introduce readers to their town of Fruitdale. The two fruits have a variety of simple adventures, playing ball, sharing treats, and encountering different fruits. Throughout the story, they crack jokes and keep the rhyming game going. The art is colorful and created with simple lines and a basic palette of colors. The two fruits wrinkle up, sweat, and get bug-eyed with surprise as they run through the chapters on their little stick legs. The text is simple as well and although there's no guide for beginning comic readers, the rhyming sentences will guide them through the panels in the correct direction.

Verdict: This is a nice addition to silly early reader comics and has a strong rhythm and humor that will appeal to beginning readers. It's not ideal for those just starting, as it does require some split focus to follow the text and art as well as the rhymes, but readers who are ready for Elephant and Piggie should be able to handle this.

ISBN: 9780316306102; Published August 2022 by Little Brown Co.; Borrowed from another library in my consortium


Thursday, December 29, 2022

RA RA Read: Pink and Fancy Picture Books (now with unicorns!)

Glittery, frilly, pink and princessey books are perennially popular. I like delicate, exquisite illustrations as much as the next reader, but not all of these have, ahem, literary merit. However, I am here to give people want they want, not what I think they should want! I like to have a range of options, from the popular bestsellers and familiar characters to stories that offer a little more while still having the "pretty" aspect.

Series and authors
  • Sarah Gibb's fairy tales
    • While some reviewers find her retellings to be a little flat and blah, it doesn't really matter because her pictures are the real appeal and most small children can't sit still for a long fairy tale anyways.
  • Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
    • I have to admit that I, personally, detest these books and some caregivers agree. The art is flat and lifeless and the stories are poorly written and overly preachy. However, these are extremely popular with most people.
    • Additional picture books and early readers are available, as well as tv shows and tie-ins.
  • Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
    • I've always liked Fancy Nancy because it combines lots of glitz with a down-to-earth family and everyday events and concerns for a child. There's also lots of fun vocabulary!
    • Multiple picture books, early readers, chapter books, and 8x8 tie-ins are available. Ther are early readers for Nancy's sister, Jojo, and there are also tie-ins with the tv show, although of course they slimmed down Nancy and took out a lot of the detail for those.
  • Briony May Smith
    • The illustrator of a diverse collection of picture books, her art includes lots of detail, magical creatures, and pastel colors while also showing strong heroines and accompanying stories with messages of kindness and courage.
Fancy Clothes
  • I had a favorite dress and I had a favorite hat by Boni Ashburn
  • Princess Bess gets dressed by Margery Cuyler
  • Princess Gown by Linda Strauss
Unicorns, mermaids, dragons, etc.

Many titles with magical creatures, especially unicorns, are silly but that's not usually what my readers want - they want pretty unicorns, preferably with glitter and rainbows.
  • Oona by Kelly DiPucchio
  • Ella's night lights by Lucy Fleming
  • Itty-bitty kitty-corn by Shannon Hale
  • A midsummer night's dream by Jane Ray
  • Uni the unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
    • Includes several picture books and early readers.
  • Not quite narwhal by Jessie Sima
  • How to catch... by Adam Wallace
    • These are more holiday-themed, and you don't want to hear my opinion about the whole leprechaun trap thing, but it does include mermaid, unicorn, and tooth fairy titles and they are extremely popular.
  • Amy Wu and the patchwork dragon by Kat Zhang
Miniatures
  • The tiny chef by Rachel Larsen
  • Dollhouse fairy by Jane Ray
  • Maggie Rudy
    • She makes miniature scenes featuring mice including a Cinderella story, Sootypaws.
  • Mouse mansion by Karina Schaapman
  • But who will bell the cats by Cynthia von Buhler

Stories of true beauty, moving beyond "princess culture" and more

  • Princesses versus dinosaurs by Linda Bailey
  • Princess and the pig by Jonathan Emmett
  • April and Esme, Tooth Fairies by Bob Graham
  • Pink by Nan Gregory (out of print)
  • Eyes that kiss in the corners by Joanna Ho
  • Paper princess by Elisa Kleven (out of print)
  • Princess Super Kitty by Antoinette Portis
  • The most beautiful thing by Kao Kalia Yang
  • Tea for Ruby by Sarah York
    • Robin Preiss Glasser, who does the illustrations for Fancy Nancy, illustrated this.
Originally written in 2016

RA RA READ: Raucous Read-Alouds

One of the bonuses of being a public librarian and not a teacher is that I can read the FUN books to kids with minimal repercussions. Below is a list of books that are both hilarious and naughty, and will break all the rules while laughing at you!

Stuff getting eaten
Kids love it when things are eaten, including other kids, helpless little animals, etc. Kids are creepy.
  • Poor little guy by Elanna Allen
  • A hungry lion or a dwindling assortment of animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins
  • I'd really like to eat a child by Sylviane Donnio (paperback in print)
    • Spoiler alert - the naughty little crocodile does not actually eat a child, but readers and listeners will have fun shivering in delight as he imagines how tasty one would be!
  • Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman
  • Stegothesaurus by Bridget Heos
  • I will chomp you by Jory John
  • My crocodile does not bite by Joe Kulka
  • Oh look, a cake by J. C. McKee
  • Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds
    • If you look closely, you will notice the carnivores on the cover are wrapped in shrink wrap, like you see on a package of meat. That's all one need say.
Unpredictable outcomes
When kids hit a certain point in their development where they have started learning to predict things, reading a book that completely throws off those expectations enjoins ceaseless laughter.
  • Count the monkeys by Mac Barnett
    • This starts out as a simple counting book, but quickly goes awry as the monkeys never show up! Fair warning, when you get to the end and ask for ideas on getting rid of the lumberjacks, kids will come up with the goriest of all possible solutions.
  • Guess again by Mac Barnett
    • Kids who have just learned to rhyme will laugh hysterically when they shout out the expected answer to the riddle... only to have their expectations completely thrown out!
  • This is a moose by Richard T. Morris
  • I am a tiger by Karl Newson
  • I am so strong and I am so handsome by Mario Ramos
    • These imports feature a Big Bad Wolf who's not quite as big and bad as he thinks!
  • On account of the gum by Adam Rex
  • What animals really like by Fiona Robinson
  • Cows go boo by Steve Webb
Subverting authority
This one speaks for itself. Who doesn't enjoy a good fantasy of tweaking the nose of the people who run your life?
  • The Magic Word by Mac Barnett
  • Don't push the button by Bill Cotter
    • This falls apart constantly, but it's still worth it for the sheer, chaotic fun of encouraging the kids to BREAK ALL THE RULES!
  • Little Chicken's Big Day by Jerry Davis
    • Nothing is more fun than teaching all the toddlers to waggle their finger and say "I hear you clucking Big Chicken!" whenever someone tells them what to do. Heh heh heh.
  • Warning: Do not open this book and Please open this book by Adam Lehrhaupt
    • Kids will get a thrill out of disobeying the instructions with only some mild consequences (unless you're a monkey. or a banana.)
  • Wild boars cook by Meg Rosoff
  • Not your nest by Gideon Sterer
Random hilarity
Originally published in 2019; Updated in 2022

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Haven: A small cat's big adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd

I have become extremely choosy about the traditional middle grade titles I purchase, even more so than in previous years, due to various reading trends I see in my community. I almost never purchase titles without at least glancing through them, so unless I get a review copy or borrow it from another library in my consortium, it's probably not going to happen. I am of two minds about this title, which I borrowed to preview.

Haven found refuge as a tiny stray kitten with Ma Millie and now, as a small cat, she never ventures outdoors. She knows nothing of the animals passing in the woods, the adventurous fox and the cruel bobcat. But when Ma Millie falls ill, Haven gathers all her courage to venture forth and find help. Despite the discouraging words of the creatures she meets, and her fears, some of which are realized, she refuses to give up. 

The ending is bittersweet; Haven realizes that her difficult journey was worth it and she has indeed saved Ma Millie, but it's only the postponement of her eventual passing. Haven finds a new home and reconnects, however briefly, with the friends of her journey, having realized that although she is small and scared she has the courage she needs when it matters.

At just a little over 100 pages, this is a short book, which is definitely what most of my readers want. The animal theme is a popular one as well and Lloyd's writing is beautiful and gently humorous. However, it is a more slow-paced adventure, with more description than action and the themes of loss and the natural order of prey and predator are sure to upset some sensitive parents.

Verdict: Ultimately, I think this is one that's worth purchasing. The beautiful writing and more serious subject will attract adult gatekeepers and readers who like titles like One and Only Ivan. The shorter length will make it accessible to the many struggling readers that comprise my audience now and the animal theme will attract a wider range of readers who might not normally pick up something without the raucous humor of popular titles like Dog Man. Your audience may vary, but this should fill a niche nicely for older readers who need something short and for teachers looking for an accessible title to fit their curriculum and a wide range of reading levels.

ISBN: 9781536216578; Published August 2022 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium


Tuesday, December 27, 2022

RA RA READ: Beginning Chapters for Animal Lovers

I first created this list years ago, when I weeded Animal Ark (circulation was dropping, the books we still had were in awful condition, and the whole series was out of print). I knew I needed alternatives readily at hand for all the kids who were upset that the books were gone and I had plenty to choose from!

Beginning chapters about animals are always popular, but there are a gazillion series out there so there's no need to stick with the old ones. These are realistic animals only, with the occasional talking animal, and yes, they are 90% dogs.

Animal Rescue, Care, and Working animals
Historical Animal stories
Other animal stories, primarily talking or anthropomorphic animals

RA RA Read: Laugh 'n' Read, Funny Beginning Chapter Books

Even at a young age, humor is a very individual thing, but these are some series and individual titles that I've found have a wide appeal to kids transitioning to chapters and into middle grade.

Just transitioning to chapter books
  • Acorn books
    • There are a number of these, but I think the funniest are Crabby by Jonathan Fenske. Frog and Dog by Janee Trasler and Bumble and Bee by Ross Burach are pretty hilarious also.
  • Noodleheads by Tedd Arnold
    • These are based on old folktales - the trope of the foolish person - and they feature two kids who are, literally, noodles!
  • Jonathan Fenske
    • Check out any of his early readers or picture books - kids and adults find them hilarious.
Beginning chapter books
  • Inspector Flytrap by Tom Angleberger
    • I thought these were more weird than funny, but the kids thought they were hilarious. There are several related trilogies.
  • The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
    • This long-running graphic series continues to grow in popularity.
  • Flying Beaver Brothers by Maxwell Eaton
    • This is an old graphic novel series, but it's still available in prebound or paperback. It has Eaton's trademark deadpan delivery as it relates the wacky adventures of two beavers.
  • Princess in Black by Shannon and Dean Hale
    • Both boys and girls will love this series about a fancy, frilly princess who turns into... the dashing Princess in Black to fight monsters!
  • Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
    • I was initially doubtful about this series about a little girl with a wild imagination, but they have turned out to be very popular.
  • Ella and Owen by Jaden Kent
    • I haven't seen much buzz in this series from little bee, but I have quite a few dedicated fans. It features the goofy adventures of two dragon siblings, starting with their confrontation with a terrifying vegetable wizard.
Intermediate (one step up) beginning chapter books
  • Roscoe Riley by Katherine Applegate
    • A typical "school misadventures" series, but kids love them.
  • Stinky Cecil by Paige Braddock
    • This graphic novel series is funny AND includes nonfiction! It's a little more challenging to read.
  • Hotdog! by Anh Do
    • This illustrated series about three wacky animals has a much kinder feel to it than most "funny" series.
  • Two dogs in a trench coat by Julie Falatko
    • This is really middle grade, but it is heavily illustrated and kids who are invested enough will enjoy it. I laughed until I cried. 
  • My Weird School by Dan Gutman
    • This isn't just one series - it's a never-ending series of series. I don't get the appeal myself, but the kids think they are hilarious.
  • Gum Girl by Rhode Montijo
    • This is a graphic blend series featuring a girl who gets superpowers when she chews special gum. It's also more challenging - think Bad Kitty level (most of which are actually very complex!).
And finally...
  • Branches from Scholastic
    • These range from just transitioning to chapters to transitioning to middle grade. They are illustrated and meant to be "branches" from easy readers to full chapter books. Some of the series are long-running while others pop out a handful of books and then end. The funniest series, in my opinion and that of the kids, are:
    • Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings
    • Princess Pink and the land of Fake-Believe by Noah Jones
    • Boris by Andrew Joyner
    • Kung Pow Chicken by Cyndi Marko
Originally published in 2019

For Dragon Lovers

This is MY favorite dragon book

This is one of those things where you think "of COURSE there are a million books about dragons!" but kids are picky and what they really want are Wings of Fire read-alikes, or, as I elicited from one young reader, only dragon books with sentient dragons, where the dragons were not the villains, and people were ok but there couldn't be any female main characters. Ok then.

Also, I know there are a lot of other dragon books out there, but this was what I collected when I made this list in 2020. I have a more up to date list on our Pinterest page.

Dragon books with dragons as the main, or human-type characters
  • Wings of Fire series by Tui Sutherland
    • There are also graphic adaptations and a second series, Wings of Fire: Legends
  • Enchanted Forest quartet by Patricia C. Wrede
  • Dragon with a chocolate heart (and companion books) by Stephanie Burgis
Dragons as steeds and pets
  • Eragon series by Christopher Paolini
  • Dragon riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey (just the Harper Hall trilogy - the rest are more adult)
  • Jeremy Thatcher, dragon hatcher by Bruce Coville
  • Last dragon chronicles by Chris D'Lacey
  • Dragon rider by Cornelia Funke
  • Dragons slippers series by Jessica Day George
  • Silver Batal and the water dragon races by Kristin Halbrook
Dragon books that are more on the humorous, as opposed to the epic fantasy, side.
  • Frog Princess series by E. D. Baker (dragons start in book 4 I think)
  • How to train your dragon by Cressida Cowell (the books are much sillier than the movies)
For younger readers
  • Dragons of Wayward Crescent quartet by Chris D'Lacey
  • Zoe and Sassafras (series) by Asia Citro
  • Ella and Owen by Kent Jaden
  • Dragon Masters by Tracey West
  • Secret rescuers by Paula Harrison

Monday, December 26, 2022

Even robots can be thankful by Jan Thomas


I first met Jan Thomas as the creator of Rhyming Dust Bunnies and I, personally, feel she peaked with Can you make a scary face? Not that I haven't enjoyed her later books, but those will always be my favorites. In the past few years her picture books have been reformatted as early readers, which, to be honest, they really were all the time, and she went on to write The Giggle Gang and now an early reader series about robots. This is the second title in the adventures of Blue Robot and Red Robot; the robot series is specifically formatted as a graphic novel and as an early reader.

In three short chapters, the robot friends have an interaction that ends with a note on something they are thankful for. They have a scare about a robot-eating monster and are thankful to be "resting" under the blanket together; they learn a lesson about supporting each other and being kind in "Sorting Bolts" and the dangers of getting worried without talking something over in "The Train Trip." Blue Robot is a worrier, nervous about mysterious sounds, a bit noisier than Red Robot likes, and prone to exaggeration and panic. Red Robot is the calm, logical one (most of the time) who keeps their friendship running smoothly and takes time to reflect before making a decision.

The stories are illustrated with Thomas' blocky art and simple colors, with the colored robots against simple backgrounds. They have a Bert and Ernie vibe, with Blue Robot showing the most human emotions and feelings, with a flexible mouth, and Red Robot generally keeping a straight expression with a slight upward or downward curve.

Verdict: While these are unlikely to garner the dedicated following of Elephant and Piggie, they're an excellent addition to the growing field of simple comics for kids and also offer some additional social-emotional learning examples. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781665911672; Published September 2022 by Beach Lane Books; Review copy provided by publisher

Saturday, December 24, 2022

RA RA Read: Real Girls, Real Friendships and Best Frenemies

Somewhere between 9 and 12 some girls get really into realistic fiction. Not to say that boys don't read these books - some do - but they usually require a different booktalking technique which I'm not going into now. Most of these books deal in the emotional growth of their protagonists as they start to change how they relate to their family and friends, awareness of the world around them, or dealing with issues like death, divorce, new schools, etc. The ages are just approximations of course - there's nothing particularly teen in any of these and the most they get into romantic relationships is some possible crushes and maybe a kiss. There are lots and lots of great books in this genre, but I'm just going to mention a few that I recommend frequently and some newer titles.

Young Middle Grade
  • Author
    • Claudia Mills
  • Cupcake Cousins by Kate Hannigan (series)
  • Calli be gold by Michele Hurwitz
  • Meena by Manternach (series)
Middle Grade
  • Authors
    • Sharon Creech
  • The Battle of Darcy Lane; My Life in Dioramas by Tara Altebrando
  • Amelia Rules by Jimmy Gownley (series) (graphic novels)
  • Ruby and Olivia by Rachel Hawkins
  • The Summer I saved the world in 65 days by Michele Hurwitz
  • Boys are dogs by Leslie Margolis (series)
  • Willow Falls by Wendy Mass (series)
  • The Winnie Years; Flower Power by Lauren Myracle (series)
  • Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Rourk Dowell (trilogy)
  • Center of everything by Linda Urban
Middle Grade with Diversity
Some of the titles above are diverse as well, but in these it's a more central part of the story
  • Authors
    • Hena Khan
    • Diana Lopez
    • Jennifer Torres
    • Kelly Yang
  • Out of my mind by Sharon Draper
  • The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
Updated March 2020

RA RA Read: I survived...reading all the books!

I first heard about I Survived from the kids years ago when it was added to our school's Battle of the Books list. It's grown in popularity until it's now nearly as popular as Wimpy Kid and other perennial favorites, at least in my library. Thanks to some suggestions from Storytime Underground and my own mental files, I've compiled a list of titles to suggest when kids survive their initial bout of reading and clamor for more.

New I Survived books are published approximately every six months. Fans will also want to check out the accompanying I Survived: True Stories series, the true stories behind the stories, if you know what I mean. I shelve these with the fictional stories. Graphic novels were added in 2020.

The new series I'm most excited about is Girls Survive. These are from Capstone and very similar to I Survived, looking at historical events (mostly major disasters or battles) from a kid's perspective... BUT they are all girls and many of them are non-white! I Survived has a majority of white, male characters so this is a great new series to add. They're available in paperback or library bound. If you can only get one series, I would get these in preference to I Survived actually, because they are more historically accurate.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales are awesome. That being said, you will have to do some booktalking as they're a different format than I Survived. They are graphic novels with dense text and illustrations, highlighting different historical moments. The series starts with One Dead Spy, but my personal favorite is Big Bad Ironclad. There are also more contemporary stories, like Treaties, Trenches, Blood and Muda powerful, but grim retelling of World War I. Get kids hooked, and they'll be fans, but they'll need to be fairly strong readers.

Capstone has a great series that are not only good read-alikes for kids who are into Choose Your Own Adventures-style books, but also will grab the I Survived fan crowd. Can You Survive....? takes different historical events (like the Titanic) and general disasters (like being lost in the jungle or shipwrecked) and walks kids through choices to see if they can survive. They include nonfiction information as well. There are also numerous history-related titles and series in the You Choose... collections from Capstone.

A newer series that has kids pretty excited is Lost! by Todd Olson. So far there is a title on Apollo 13 and one on World War II with more to come. These are an excellent read-alike for I survived, with blow-by-blow descriptions of the action and I was really impressed with the first title's inclusion of multiple perspectives, including the teen daughter of one of the astronauts.

For straight-up survival, Terry Lynn Johnson's Survivor Diaries is awesome. I reviewed the first title, Overboard!, and it flies off the shelf. The mix of real-life settings and survival tips, plus the easier reading level and diverse characters are what will make this series a standby for the genre, in my opinion.

Back to the straight-up adventures with historical aspects, Gordon Korman has several adventure series. There's one about the Titanic, Island, etc. What I love about these is that they're split into 3-4 volumes so kids don't feel intimidated by a huge book or by a lengthy series. Korman is a great writer and kids love his fast-paced adventures.

More series

RA RA Read: Scary Stories from Beginning to End

Interest in scary stories waxes and wanes, but it's always there. Over the past years I've gotten more and more requests for scary stories for younger listeners and readers, which is always tricky. "Scary" is very individual too, much like humor. However, here are my favorite recommendations to get started.

Scary Picture Books
  • Bone soup by Cambria Evans
  • The Monster and the Tailor by Paul Galdone (out of print)
  • The Book That Eats People by John Perry
  • Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
  • Cinderella Skeleton by Robert San Souci
Easy Readers and Beginning Chapters
  • Eek! Stories to make you shriek by Jane O'Connor
    • All the other books in this series are out of print
  • Scary Tales by James Preller
  • Ghosts! Ghostly stories from folklore; In a dark, dark room by Alvin Schwartz
  • Mister Shivers by Max Brallier (Acorn)
  • Night Frights by Joe McGee
  • Spooky sleuths by Natasha Deen
Middle Grade

Friday, December 23, 2022

RA RA READ: Smile Read-Alikes

In realistic graphic novels for elementary and middle school students, Raina Telgemeier is queen and all others bow before her. However, there are lots of other options out there as the genre has grown and it's especially great to see more diverse titles showing up!

The trickest thing with this genre is younger kids wanting to read books set in middle school, which their caregivers don't think they're ready for, or kids not being willing to try other things but re-reading their favorites constantly. Personally, I don't know that the last is that big of a problem, but it does bother some people. So I've included some titles that will appeal to younger kids and ones that will generally be better for middle school or high school, although it always depends on the reader themselves.

  • Smile, Sisters, Drama, Guts
    • Drama is frequently challenged because two boys share a kiss. When I have parents who are concerned about content, I tell them that it is more middle school-appropriate, since it deals with crushes and mild romance. I do not specifically identify the crushes.
    • Telgemeier has a stand-alone called Ghosts and an interactive journal, Share Your Smile. She has also contributed to the Comics Squad anthologies.
Victoria Jamieson
  • Roller Girl, All's Faire in Middle School
    • These are very similar to Telgemeier, but have more unique settings and Jamieson has her own style and twist on the genre. She also has two humorous graphic novels, Pets on the Loose about a band of school pets trying to escape, which can be enjoyed by all ages.
Jennifer Holm
  • Babymouse, Sunny, Middle School is worse than meatloaf
    • Holm has been around a lot longer than Telgemeier, and her stuff has always been popular, but never with that "I absolutely have to have it NOW" urgency. Babymouse is a more humorous look at school life, featuring a cast of animals. There is a spin-off, Squish, featuring the adventures of Babymouse's science experiment (an amoeba) in his own school. Sunny is definitely in the Telgemeier vein, and some parents are uncomfortable due to the depiction of family issues, albeit they are very sensitively handled. Middle School is worse than meatloaf and sequels are not written in a traditional comic style, instead they include photos, post-its, notes, texts, etc. in a kind of a book-length collage.
More Smile Read-alikes
  • Sanity and Tallulah by Molly Brooks
    • This is science fiction and more about the adventure than interpersonal relationships.
  • Amelia Rules! (series) by Jimmy Gownley
  • Making friends (series) by Kristen Gudsnuk
  • Wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle (graphic novel)
  • Invisible Emmie (series) by Terri Libenson
  • Click (series) by Kayla Miller
  • Cardboard kingdom by Chad Sell
  • To Dance by Siegel
  • Stargazing by Jen Wang
Smile Read-alikes for elementary school
  • El Deafo by Cece Bell
  • Cici, a fairy's story (series) by Cori Doerrfeld
    • This is a fantasy - Cici discovers she is a fairy - but is really more about friendship and family issues.
  • Real Friends by Shannon Hale
    • Note that the sequel, Best Friends, jumps to middle school
  • Baby-sitters Club by Ann Martin
    • The first few graphic adaptations are done by Raina Telgemeier, then other artists took over but in similar styles. There is also a graphic adaptation of the spin-off, Baby-sitters Little Sister.
  • Phoebe and her unicorn by Dana Simpson
    • This is a comic strip, rather than a graphic novel, and includes unicorns and other magical beings, but the interactions of the kids in school makes it appealing to these fans.
Smile Read-alikes for middle school
  • Hope Larson
  • Be Prepared; Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
  • Kat and Mouse (quartet) by Alex de Campi (out of print)
  • Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
  • Berrybrook Middle School (series) by Svetlana Chmakova
  • New Kid and other titles by Jerry Craft
  • Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
Smile Read-alikes for high school
  • Faith Erin Hicks (illustrator or author)
  • Laura Lee Gulledge
  • Peanut by Ayn Halliday

RA RA READ: Graphic Kitty (and other) Cuteness

I made this list back in 2016ish originally, I think, and I haven't updated it but it still comes up occasionally.

Several years ago I had a sudden influx of Chi's Sweet Home-obsessed girls in the summer and put together this list of read-alikes with some help from my friends at the GNLIB listserv. Note these are only titles owned by my library - I don't include titles that aren't available to my patrons (and rarely ones at other libraries in our consortium because so many kids aren't able to grasp the concept of holds).

  • Chi's Sweet Home by Konami Konata
    • This series is complete and currently being published in omnibus editions; there are two additional series, Fukufuku Kitten and coming out soon, Chi's Sweet Adventures. It's a simple manga in color, detailing the little adventures of a kitten and his new family. I have had one parent object to the use of the word "piss" but I just explained that this series comes from a culture with different cultural standards (and didn't tell them that pretty much the entire first three books are all about house training and Chi's name actually means "peepee") and found them other cute cat books instead. There is also an anime series, which I put in teen, and an AmazonPrime series.
  • Miss Annie by Frank le Gall
    • There are, sadly, only two volumes of Miss Annie's adventures. They are similar to Chi's Sweet Home, being about a kitten growing up, but they are a little more serious as the kitten encounters the sometimes sad and dangerous world outside her home and the pictures are more in the European art style, rather than manga.
  • My Pet Human by Yasmine Surovec
    • This is a heavily illustrated beginning chapter book. It's sweet and adorable and very similar to Chi's Sweet Home. There is one sequel, My pet human takes center stage, and Surovec has written several picture books and little comics in a similar vein.
  • Fluffy Fluffy Cinnamoroll by Yumi Tsukirino
    • These are about midway between Hello Kitty and Chi's Sweet Home. They are about little cloud dogs in a baking shop. There are five volumes and they are still (last time I checked) in print. They are an original manga, so they go from right to left, but kids don't seem to care about that.
  • Happy Happy Clover by Sayuri Tatsuyama
    • This is a five volume cute manga very similar to Cinnamoroll, but it's about bunnies in a magical forest.
  • Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma
    • This doesn't have animals, but it's got the cute factor in spades. There are 13 volumes of this manga.
  • Binky by Ashley Spires
    • Binky is cute in a more quirky/icky way. He's a "space cat" that battles aliens (bugs). The art style is less cute and more funny. There are additional titles as well as the original "Binky" series.
  • Hello Kitty by Jacob Chabot et. al.
    • This isn't really an animal story, but it has the cute factor. It's a little younger than most of the kids who want this series, but it's worth trying.

RA RA Read: Middle Grade Mysteries


When I'm looking for mysteries for middle grade readers I'm looking for just that - mysteries. The kids generally aren't interested in complex characters, literary writing, or heartfelt messages. They want a dang MYSTERY. Preferably with clues and, depending on the kid, an actual murder. These are some of my most-recommended series and authors.

Clues and Codes: Mysteries to Solve
  • Titles and Series
    • Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (trilogy)
    • Drew Leclair gets a clue by Katryn Bury
    • Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School by Andrew Clements (series)
    • London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
    • Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein (series)
    • The Detective's Assistant by Kate Hannigan (historical fiction)
    • Club CSI by David Lewman (series)
    • Maggie Brooklyn by Leslie Margolis (series)
    • Framed by James Ponti (series)
    • Shredderman; Sammy Keyes by Wendelin Van Draanen (series)
    • Eddie Red Undercover by Marcia Wells (series)
Mysteries with Adventure and Danger
  • Authors
    • Willo Davis Roberts
  • Titles and Series
    • 39 Clues by various authors (multiple series)
    • Ring of Rocamadeur by Michael Beil (series)
    • Swallowtail Legacy by Michael Beil (series)
    • Camp Murderface by Josh Berk (series)
    • Mighty Muskrats by Michael Hutchison (series)
    • Impossible clue by Sarah Rubin
    • Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St. John
    • Emperor's riddle by Kat Zhang
Caper Mysteries
  • Titles and Series
    • Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
    • Swindle by Gordon Korman (series)
    • Loot by Jude Watson (series)
Mysteries with Humor and Quirk
  • Titles and Series
    • Brixton Brothers by Mac Barnett (series)
    • Science Fair by Dave Barry
    • Belly up by Stuart Gibbs (series)
    • Mudshark by Gary Paulsen
    • Smells like dog by Suzanne Selfors

Mysteries with actual corpses and/or ghosts
  • Titles and Series
    • Strike three, you're dead by Josh Berk (series)
    • Forgotten girl by India Hill Brown
    • Sunnyside Plaza by Scott Simon

RA RA READ: Middle Grade Sports in Fiction

I've found that sports books go in spurts. For a while, I will have no requests and then suddenly I'll get a burst of interest and I won't have enough. Fortunately, I'm in a consortium and can borrow titles. I have noticed that most sports titles with girls are more character-driven and have less of the play-by-play action that kids, both boys and girls, want. There's also a real dearth of nonfiction sports titles featuring female players.

Authors for younger or struggling readers
  • Fred Bowen
  • Matt Christopher
  • Jake Maddox
    • Multiple titles, includes sports with girls
Authors for middle grade readers
  • John Coy
  • Tim Green
  • Tommy Greenwald
  • Dan Gutman (Baseball Card Adventures)
  • Derek Jeter
  • Mike Lupica
  • W. C. Mack (Athlete vs Mathlete)
  • Jake Maddox JV
    • Multiple titles, includes sports with girls
Titles featuring girls
  • Lupe Wong won't dance by Barba Higuera
  • There's no base like home by Jessica Mendoza
  • Alex Morgan - The Kicks
  • Iva-Marie Palmer - Gabby Garcia's ultimate playbook
  • Belle Payton - It takes two
More Resources

Thursday, December 22, 2022

RA RA Read: Middle Grade adventures across the genres

There's nothing like a good adventure story, especially if it's got humor, villains, and possibly even a little magic. Of course, most of these require the absence of parents or other grown-ups (unless they're mad scientists or evil or both) This is a mix of titles from my library; some are popular, some have passed out of popularity, but I still find this list useful.

Gadgets, Villains, and Secret Societies
  • 39 Clues by various authors (series)
  • Hero.com; Villain.net by Andy Briggs
  • Nerds by Michael Buckley (series)
  • Charlie Hernandez and the league of shadows by Ryan Calejo (series)
  • Masterminds by Gordon Korman (series)
  • Seven Wonders by Peter Lerangis (series)
  • Hitler's Secret; Winter's Bullet by William Osborne
  • Accelerati Trilogy by Neal Shusterman (series)
  • Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit (series)
  • Rule of Thre3 by Eric Walters
Science Fiction
  • Books of Ember by Jeanne Duprau
  • Missing; Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix (series)
  • Sal and Gabi break the universe by Carlos Hernandez
  • Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Survival Adventures
  • Authors
    • Will Hobbs
    • Gary Paulsen
  • Titles and Series
    • My side of the mountain by Jean Craighead George
    • Stranded by Jeff Probst (series)
Nonfiction
  • Dark game: True spy stories by Paul Janeczko
  • Ghosts in the fog by Samantha Seiple
  • Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
  • Guts & Glory by Ben Thompson (series)
  • Samurai Rising by Pamela Turner
Last updated March 2019

RA RA Read: Middle Grade Narrative Nonfiction

Since I last posted this in 2018, I've lost a lot of my audience for middle grade nonfiction. So many kids struggle nowadays with comprehension, focus, and the mechanics of reading, that there's just not a lot of call for it. When I pull nonfiction for schools I'm usually looking at expository or lower-level titles. However, I think it's still important to have a strong nonfiction collection and I look forward to seeing interest revive as kids recover from the pandemic slump in reading.

I have a lot of go-to choices for middle grade nonfiction, but in some ways it's trickier to recommend than fiction - they can get outdated faster, especially science titles, and the layout can make parents and teachers reluctant to pick them up because they look like picture books. Below are the titles that I regularly recommend and have had generally good responses from readers and adults.

By Publisher/Series
By Author
  • Sarah Albee
    • Albee writes narrative nonfiction that focuses on some of the smaller aspects of history - that have big effects. I've reviewed several including Dog Days.
  • Carlyn Beccia
  • Georgia Bragg
  • Nancy Castaldo
    • These are geared towards the older end of the middle grade spectrum. She's explored dogs, seeds, and several aspects of animals.
  • Nathan Hale
    • Hale writes dense, informative, and very entertaining graphic history. He's written titles on World War I, the Alamo, the Donner Party, and many more.
  • Rebecca Johnson
    • Among others, she's done some great titles for Milbrook, the only drawback being how expensive this imprint is. Definitely worth a little extra $$ though. When Lunch Fights Back and Zombie Makers are my favorites so far.
  • Sandra Markle
    • Great science titles for the younger end of the middle grade spectrum, especially those not yet ready to tackle Scientists in the Field. She has a whole series about the efforts to save different animals, many of them set up like mysteries. Penguins is one of the most recent I read.
  • Patricia Newman
  • Steve Sheinkin
    • His history books will take a strong reader, but they're worth a little extra effort. I actually put Port Chicago 50 into teen, as there is more mature content, but most strong middle grade readers could handle Bomb or Lincoln's Grave Robbers.
By Title

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Pets Rule! My Kingdom of Darkness by Susan Tan, illustrated by Wendy Tan Shiau Wei


It's always a fun time when the new Branches series are released. Perennial favorites, like Press Start, Dragon Masters, Owl Diaries, and Diary of a Pug continue to circulate briskly, but it's always nice to have some new options.

Susan Tan, who has previously written middle grade titles, jumps easily into the beginning chapter world with a familiar but always popular premise - a small, apparently helpless animal bent on world domination! A tiny chihuahua has been adopted by the Chin family and they think he's chatty and cute. They have no idea he is an evil mastermind, ruler of all he surveys! At least, he will be if he can get together some minions... and avoid his old shelter name of "Chuckles." Fortunately Lucy Chin is understanding and eventually he gets named Ember. But can he ever be more than a tiny spark? Especially when faced with... evil squirrels?

Let me tell you, I am always there for the evil squirrels. There is a delightful cast of fellow pets, neighborhood dogs, and, of course, the terrifying band of squirrels. Not to mention fearsome trash cans! In the end, Ember finds his courage not just to be a villainous mastermind but to save Lucy, and he finishes his first adventure with a firm command of his new subjects, er friends. But the story doesn't end there...

Verdict: There have been quite a few cartoons with this premise, as well as similar titles like Wedgie and Gizmo, but it's a perennially popular theme and Tan writes it with heart and humor. The addition of a Chinese American family is a nice touch of diversity. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781338756333; Published June 2022 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

RA RA Read: Back to school books

I created this list in 2019 and have since made a Pinterest board with similar and more updated categories here. I've also moved onto a different model since many of my teachers do the classroom book-a-day challenge and so I supply a basket per classroom each month, approximately 200 books. 

I have a number of teachers, primarily in 3rd-5th grade, who ask me to select picture books for their classes to read as they go back to school. The choices I've collected here are mostly outside the "usual" picks for back to school and more than what can be found by using the library catalog and searching for the keyword "school." Yes, I am feeling a little sarcastic this week. Also, if this seems late to post this, just be aware that our schools go back after Labor Day.

Inspirational
  • What if by Samantha Berger
  • When you are brave by Pat Miller
  • I got next by Daria Peoples-Riley
  • I have an idea by Herve Tullet
  • Because by Mo Willems
  • Day you begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Tolerance, Cooperation, and Kindness
  • Little guys by Vera Brosgol
  • You are never alone by Elin Kelsey
  • My two blankets by Irena Kobald
  • Bear came along by T. Morris
  • I'm new here; Someone new by Anne Sibley O'Brien
  • All are welcome by Alexandra Penfold
  • My footprints by Bao Phi
Joy of learning
  • I'm trying to love math by Beverly Barton
  • Small world by Ishta Mercurio
  • Count on me by Miguel Tanco
Funny back to school books
  • Truth about my unbelievable summer; Truth about my unbelievable school by Davide Cali
  • We don't eat our classmates by Ryan Higgins
  • Pterodactyl show and tell by Thad Krasnesky

RA RA Read: Cozy Mouse Stories

This is adapted from a list I made for several specific families at our library in 2018. They liked cozy, old-fashioned stories, the readers are young but very fluent and eager readers, and the parents are looking for stories with limited or no fantasy elements, no frightening adventures, and an emphasis on family.


Series

  • Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George
    • This new series is already a firm favorite. It's the story of Mona the mouse, who, having been orphaned and lost in the woods, finds a new home and family at the Heartwood Hotel. I love that she works as a maid and her life doesn't magically become easy and comfortable. The descriptions of tiny details and food are lovely too.
  • Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn
    • This British series features a mouse couple and their adventures in the woods and in various houses. The one drawback is that the individual titles aren't available in the US, you have to purchase big collections of 3 stories at a time. However, for eager readers this is not a hardship!
  • Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
    • Most people are at least vaguely familiar with this classic, but fewer realize there's actually seven books in the series! Availability can be an issue here and my library only owns the first title, but we have a lot of small libraries in our consortium and I've been able to find all of them.
  • Poppy and Friends by Avi
    • There's a little more peril in this series, with a tyrannical owl who is eventually killed, but kids who are ready for some more adventure will enjoy it.
  • Miss Bianca by Margery Sharp
    • If you're only familiar with the Disney movies, these are very different! Miss Bianca is an elegant mouse who belongs to a diplomat's son and writes 18th century verse. She, Bernard, and a third mouse venture to the Black Castle in their first adventure to rescue a Norwegian poet. Her adventures are sometimes macabre and one, involving evil dolls, is rather frightening. The villains are also quite Dickensian. However, they are beautifully written and exquisite gems. The first title, The Rescuers, has been reprinted but you'll have to hunt for the others.
  • The Great Mouse Detective by Eve Titus
    • This is another adapted Disney movie, but there is actually a whole series of charming stories about a mouse who, taking after Sherlock Holmes (he is Basil of Baker Street after all) solves a variety of mysteries. Aladdin recently republished them and they are now widely available again.

Authors

  • Henry Cole
    • Although better known as an illustrator, he has written several chapter books featuring small animals. These tend to be cozy stories with a philosophical bent. They don't fly off the shelves, due to a combination of the quieter plots and length, but they're perfect for this specific reader's advisory request.
  • Robert Lawson
    • This is an older author and many of his books are out of print. There are also several instances of troubling racist depictions in some of his more famous titles. However, I prefer to mention these and let parents discuss them with their children. He had a series of historical fiction featuring animals around the time of the American Revolution and some of them are still in print. He has many other titles that are out of print.
      • Rabbit Hill; Tough Winter
      • Ben and Me; Mr. Revere and I

Titles

  • Adventures of Henry Whiskers by Gigi Priebe
  • Song of the Christmas Mouse by Shirley Murphy
    • Out of print.
  • Christopher mouse by William Wise
  • Mousewife by Rumer Godden
  • Abel's Island by William Steig
  • Mrs. Frisby and the rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
  • Evergreen Wood by Alan Perry
    • This is a retelling of Pilgrim's Progress with mice. It's out of print and not very easy to find, although it is inexpensive online.