The Garden Monster

THE GARDEN MONSTER by Patricia Reilly Giff. Orchard, 2014.

Can Fiercely protect
Jill and Jim's garden from the
Shadowy monster?

All about the Animals

BIG BAD SHEEP by Bettina Wegenast with illustrations by Katharina Busshoff. Eerdmans, 2012.

There seems to be an opening for a Big Bad Wolf. One sheep decides to apply. After all, a job is a job. In this send up of familiar tales, the sheep who takes on the job is changed once he slips into the costume. Can his friend save him from a total transformation? Lots of sly humor here which might escape young readers. Offer it instead as a read aloud to middle grade readers along with Scieszka's TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS and other variations on fairy tales. <655>

DUCK FOR A DAY by Meg McKinlay with illustrations by Leila Rudge. Candlewick Press 2012.

Abby has a new teacher, one who comes accompanied by a...duck? Abby is entranced by the duck who comes and sits on her feet sometimes during class. She fervently hopes that one day she will be permitted to take the duck home with her for just one night. <656>

FOLLOWING GRANDFATHER by Rosemary Wellswith illustrations by Ch. Candlewick Press 2012.

and her Grandfather are inseparable. He teaches her to button buttons, tie shoes, and also how to cook special dishes for the family restaurant. The mouse family lives contentedly in Boston behind the walls of some of the finest hotels and restaurants and shops. Pair this one with Ben and Me. <657>

MONKEY AND ELEPHANT by Carole Lesa Shafer with illustrations by Galia Bernstein. Candlewick Press 2012.

Monkey and Elephant are good friends in this first book in the series.But this one day, both of them are too grumpy to stand each other. Could this ruin their friendship? <658>

PENNY AND HER SONG by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow 2012.

Penny has a new song to share with her parents. But the babies are sleeping and Penny has to be quiet. How can she keep quiet when the song needs to be sung out loud? <659>

Haunted Cupcakes?

MAYBELLE AND THE HAUNTED CUPCAKE by Katie Speck with illustrations by Paul Ratz de Tagyos. Holt, 2012.

Maybelle the cockroach
Rescues an ant from the cat
And a clever trap.

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easy reading

THE BIG SOMETHING by Patricia Reilly Giff with illustrations by Diane Palmisciano (Scholastic, July 2012) celebrates the talented author entering into the easy reader market. Fiercely is a friendly large dog whose escapades draw his owner Jilli and her friend Jim into all manner of adventures. Simple sentences that are not simplistic, and illustrations that surround the text make this a great book for kids to read on their own. Chapters make the book seem more "grown up" as well. <191>





Fly Guy is back again in RIDE, FLY GUY, RIDE! by Tedd Arnold (Scholastic 2012). This time Fly Guy accompanies Buzz (his human owner) on a car trip. Before long, Fly Guy has flown out the window and into a non-stop series of trips aboard a truck, a plane, and other conveyances. <192>

Take Two, please!

BINK & GOLLIE: TWO FOR ONE (Candlewick Press, June 2012) by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee with illustrations by Tony Fucile charms the reader from from its polka-dotted endpapers to its zany stories all set at a State Fair. The two unlikely friends, Bink of the yellow bedhead hair and Gollie of the Audrey Hepburn elegance, find much to amuse themselves at the fair including a Whack-a-Duck booth, a fortune teller, and a talent competition. The humor is frenetic at times, but it is also muted in others. This trio of creative folks have found the perfect combination of pathos, zaniness, and warmth. It's really no wonder when you consider that Kate used to dress up her poodle as a disco dancer, Alison once sank 111 free throws in a row, and Tony once taped his legs to a chair so he would not miss a deadline. Reward yourself and your student6s: share with them Bink & Gollie and their incredible friendship. <166>

Introducing Precious

Fans of the No. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY will adore this chapter book that introduces readers to Precious Ramotswe. THE GREAT CAKE MYSTERY by Alexander McCall Smith (Anchor Books, a division of Random House, April 2012) introduces Precious as a young school girl who hopes to solve a mystery involving purloined pastries. There are many suspects but little evidence until Precious decides to investigate. Short, easy to read, funny, poignant: there is much here to enjoy. The illustrations by Iain McIntosh are also a lovely addition, providing some break in the text and using colors to suggest mood and tone as well. <70>

Fly Guy Returns!

FLY GUY VS. THE FLYSWATTER by Tedd Arnold (Scholastic 2011) features one of my favorite recurring characters in early chapter books, Fly Guy. In this entry, Fly Guy accompanies his human, Buzz, on a school field trip. Unfortunately, the trip is to a company which specializes in fly swatters. Pandemonium ensues. Of course, Fly Guy triumphs, and the students declare the day the best field trip ever. <548>