My Very UnFairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski

From Goodreads: You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They're lies. All lies. I've spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I've never had a social life. My friends have all forgotten me. And let's not even talk about trying to do my homework. So -- I'm done!! I'm tired and I want to go back to being a normal girl. But then along comes "Prince Charming" asking for help, and, well, what's a tired girl like me supposed to do?

My Two Cents: This book is a great pick for girls who are looking for a little adventure. Jenny is smart and strong, but also totally relatable and an authentic tween. From the opening sequence (involving crazed unicorns!) to the final chapter, this book kept me smiling and turning the pages.

Grade Level: 3-6

Additional Resources:

• Visit Anna Staniszewski's website
• Jenny has a special bracelet with purple gemstones. Check out this online gemstone guide and see what you think it was made of. Which are your favorites?
• Jenny loves to play mini golf. Practice a round here, then go outside and make your own course!
• The animals in this book have a hard time communicating. Learn lots of cool facts about how real animals communicate from Animal Planet.
• One of the dangerous things Jenny faces in this book is a poisonous flower. Could there be poisonous flowers near you right now? Find out here.

More to Read:

• The other (equally awesome) books in this series--My Epic Fairy Tale Fail and My Sort Of Fairy Tale Ending
• Another very funny book about a "regular" kid who ends up having larger-than-life adventures: Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities by Mike Jung
• Another book about kids with a responsibility to magical creatures (and loved ones who share those ties): Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
• Another book about a tough, adventurous girl who has questions about her parents: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

The Witches by Roald Dahl

 From Goodreads: This Roald Dahl classic tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches! "In fairy tales witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks and they ride on broomsticks. But this is not a fairy tale. This is about REAL WITCHES. REAL WITCHES dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and they work in ordinary jobs. That is why they are so hard to catch." Witches, as our hero learns, hate children. With the help of a friend and his somewhat-magical grandmother, our hero tries to expose the witches before they dispose of him.

My Two Cents: I remember being delightfully scared when my teacher read this to the class in elementary school, and I had much the same reaction as an adult. (Okay, not quite as scared, but definitely delighted.) Like all of Dahl's books, this one is funny and a little naughty and unbelievably imaginative.

Grade Level: 2-6

Additional Resources:

• Visit Roald Dahl's official website. You might be surprised how many books he wrote!
• Try one of these fun witch crafts (not to be confused with "Try witchcraft!")
• Some of this story takes place in Norway--learn more about this cool country from National Geographic Kids. Does it seem like a good place for witches to you?
• There are some...unusual mice in this book. Learn more about regular mice in this animal encyclopedia.
• Check out this trailer for the movie based on this book.

More to Read:

• All of Roald Dahl's fabulous stories (but I think my favorite is Matilda)
• Another very spooky tale for October whose title says it all: A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
• Another book about a boy who gets mixed up with spooky, magical creatures: Elliot and the Goblin War by Jennifer Nielsen
• A fun chapter book series about a younger, slightly nicer witch: Heidi Heckelbeck by Wanda Coven

Goblin Secrets by William Alexander

 From Goodreads: In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared.

Desperate to find him, Rownie joins up with a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. But their plays are not only for entertainment, and the masks they use are for more than make-believe. The goblins also want to find Rowan—because Rowan might be the only person who can save the town from being flooded by a mighty river.

This accessible, atmospheric fantasy takes a gentle look at love, loss, and family while delivering a fast-paced adventure that is sure to satisfy.

My Two Cents: This National Book Award winner is magical, inventive, and very creepy. Rownie himself is immensely likeable and endearing, and even the creepiest characters are fleshed-out and fascinating. This book would spark interesting discussions and ideas about good guys and bad guys and impossibly amazing inventions. A great pick for kids in the mood for something strange and a little dark.

Grade Level: 5-7

Additional Resources:

• Visit William Alexander's website.
• Watch this video of the author reading a section from this book. (He even wears a fox mask for a minute!)
• Read this fun summary of ten goblin legends from around the world. Which one reminds you most of this book?
• One of the creatures Rownie encounters is a fish that swims in dust. Watch this video about mudskippers, a real fish that hangs out on dry land.
• Some of the characters in this story get around on gearwork legs. Watch this great introduction to gears from the Children's Museum of Houston.
• There are lots of birds doing strange things in this book. Watch the birds around you by going on a bird behavior scavenger hunt.

More to Read:

• Another magical, fantastical tale of a transient group of misfits: Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones
• Another story with amazing gearwork and a lost, lonely boy: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
• A less creepy tale of "magic, mystery, and a very strange adventure": Horton's Miraculous Mechanisms by Lissa Evans
• Another boy who is surrounded by magical creatures and up against almost-impossible obstacles: Rump by Liesl Shurtliff

Ida B by Katherine Hannigan

 From Goodreads: Ida B. Applewood believes there is never enough time for fun.

That's why she's so happy to be homeschooled and to spend every free second outside with the trees and the brook.

Then some not-so-great things happen in her world. Ida B has to go back to that Place of Slow but Sure Body-Cramping, Mind-Numbing, Fun-Killing Torture—school. She feels her heart getting smaller and smaller and hardening into a sharp, black stone.

How can things go from righter than right to a million miles beyond wrong? Can Ida B put together a plan to get things back to just-about perfect again?

My Two Cents: Ida B is such a compelling character with such a darling, distinctive voice. I don't often re-read books (too many new ones to try!), but I read this one again. And it was every bit as funny and sweet and touching as the first time around. A great example of how kids can be kind and strong and vulnerable all at once.

Grade Level: 3-6

Additional Resources:

• Visit Katherine Hannigan's website, including this reading group guide for Ida B
• Ida B's dad tells her to take care of the earth. Learn ways you can help take care of the earth here.
• If Ida B were an apple, she'd be a McIntosh--"tangy with a thin skin." Check out this directory of apples and decide which kind you'd be and why. (Who knew there were so many?)
• Id B has some tricks for helping Ronnie remember his multiplication tables. Check out some more multiplication memory tricks here and here.
• One of the characters in this book has cancer but fights it really well. See how you can help the fight against cancer here and here.

More to Read:

• Another remarkable book about a kid making the change from home schooling to public schooling: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
• Another great middle grade pick by Ida B's author: True (...Sort Of) by Katherine Hannigan
• Another book about a girl who has to start school while her family is changing: Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood

Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills

From Goodreads: Seventh-grader Sierra Shepard has always been the perfect student, so when she sees that she accidentally brought her mother's lunch bag to school, including a paring knife, she immediately turns in the knife at the school office. Much to her surprise, her beloved principal places her in in-school suspension and sets a hearing for her expulsion, citing the school's ironclad no weapons policy. While there, Sierra spends time with Luke, a boy who's known as a troublemaker, and discovers that he's not the person she assumed he would be--and that the lines between good and bad aren't as clear as she once thought.

My Two Cents: Claudia Mills is a master of chapter book school stories, and this middle grade novel was just as good. This book is filled with relatable, real characters, especially Sierra herself. Middle grade readers will really root for not only her triumph, but her growth as well. Such an important look at rules and justice, but also tolerance and compassion. (Parental warning: There's a little mild language here, but it's really relevant to the story and to the character development.)

Grade Level: 5-8

Additional Resources:

• Sierra misses out on dissecting an earthworm with her science class. You can dissect a virtual worm (still gross, but not as gross) right here!
• Sierra has to study for a French quiz. You can learn to say the alphabet in French with this (cute? slightly terrifying?) frog!
• Learn more about Mayan culture (like Sierra does) by checking out this site by the authors of the Jaguar Stones series.
• Sierra is interviewed by lots of reporters for both TV and newspapers. If you're interested in journalism, check out this great list of journalism resources for students.
• One of the characters in this story wants to go to Kenya. Find out more about this cool African country here.

More to Read:

• Another story of a minor rule infraction that gets blown way out of proportion: Nothing but the Truth by Avi
• Another classic school story of a student who comes up against authority over something seemingly insignificant: Frindle by Andrew Clements
• All of Claudia Mills' awesome chapter books, including How Oliver Olson Changed the World, Being Teddy Roosevelt, and Mason Dixon: Pet Disasters

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

From Goodreads: ALVIN HO is an Asian American second grader who is afraid of everything—elevators, tunnels, girls, and, most of all, school. He’s so afraid of school that, while he’s there, he never, ever, says a word. But at home he’s a very loud superhero named Firecracker Man, a brother to Calvin and Anibelly, and a gentleman-in-training, so he can be just like his dad.

My Two Cents: Alvin Ho is hilarious and a great chapter book choice for reluctant readers. This book is absolutely unique in almost every aspect--especially the characters and the voice--yet it's totally relatable too. Kids will absolutely identify with and root for Alvin, partly because he makes them laugh so much.

Grade Level: 1-4

Additional Resources:

• Visit Lenore Look's blog.
• Alvin lives in a very historic part of the country! Learn more about some of the things and people he mentions, like the Revolutionary War, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott.
• Calvin tells Alvin that "stewardesses" is the longest word you can type with just the left hand. Is he right? What's the longest word you can type with just the right hand? Click here for some other opinions.
• Flea says Alvin has expressive eyes and draws them lots of different ways. Learn how to draw eyes (and cheeks, and faces in general) to show lots of emotions here.
• Alvin's family is Chinese American, and he talks about cool Chinese things like Feng Shui and Chinese New Year. Learn a little more about Chinese culture here.
• Alvin gets in a little trouble for using Shakespearean curses. Make up some of your own, or generate some at this handy site. But don't use them on anybody! :)

More to Read:

• Another book about a kid who finds the courage to speak up: A Dog Called Homeless by Sarah Lean
• Another school story about a boy who means well but gets himself into a little trouble: Roscoe Riley Rules (series) by Katherine Applegate
• Another funny, feel-good series with great school and family themes: Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker
• Another shy kid who's nervous about starting school and in need of a friend: Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner

From Goodreads: Gianna Z has less than one week to collect, identify, and creatively display 25 leaves for her science project—or else she won’t be able to compete in the upcoming cross-country race. As the deadline for her leaf project draws near, life keeps getting in the way. Some things are within Gee’s control, like her own procrastination, but others aren’t, like Bianca Rinaldi’s attempts at sabotage and Nonna’s declining health. If it weren’t for her best friend Zig, Gee wouldn’t have a chance at finishing. His knowledge of trees and leaves in their rural Vermont town comes in very handy, as does his loyalty to Gee. But when Nonna disappears one afternoon, things like leaves and cross-country meets suddenly seem less important.

My Two Cents: This lovely contemporary story won an E.B. White Read Aloud Award, and it's not hard to see why. Messner weaves together the ligher themes of school projects and cross country with deeper issues like the aging and loss of loved ones. The characters are memorable and relatable, especially Gianna and Nonna. It's a gentle, well-told story with touches of humor and a lot of heart.

Grade Level: 4-6

Additional Resources:

• Visit Kate Messner's website
• Download the book's discussion and study guide
• Go on your own leaf hunt, then identify the leaves using a guide like What Tree Is That?
• Get outside and run like Gianna! Find some tips and ideas for getting started at JustRun.org.
• Make some of Nonna's funeral cookies with this official recipe
• Gianna and her family are worried about Alzheimer's disease, but she knows there are ways to help. Get involved with a Walk to End Alzheimer's (Gianna would probably run!), sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association.

More to Read:

• A high-adventure book (part of a series) by Gianna's author: Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
• Another book about a girl who gets behind in school when things are tricky at home: Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur
• Another very likeable girl whose relationship with her best friend is changing: Shug by Jenny Han
• Another nice contemporary story (in spite of the title :) about a New England boy and girl: Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face by Paul Acampora

Check back Thursday for a great leaf activity by ecologist Heather Hawke!

Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms (Backyard Book Club)

by Lissa Evans

From Goodreads:

As if being small for his age and also having "S. Horten" as his name isn't bad enough, now 10-year-old Stuart is forced to move far away from all his friends. But on his very first day in his new home, Stuart's swept up in an extraordinary adventure: the quest to find his great-uncle Tony--a famous magician who literally disappeared off the face of the earth--and Tony's marvelous, long-lost workshop.  Along the way, Stuart reluctantly accepts help from the annoying triplets next door… and encounters trouble from another magician who's also desperate to get hold of Tony's treasures.

My Two Cents: This is a lovely little British book that has so many elements that appeal to kids--humor, puzzles, mysteries, magic, and even a very fun set of triplets. It's exciting and adventurous without being scary or threatening. My kids loved Stuart and his family and it certainly introduced them to fun new words and concepts. There's a bit of set-up in the first third (as there needs to be), but once the mystery got going, they were always begging for one more chapter.

Grade Level: 2-5

Additional Resources:

• Be like Stuart's dad and create your own crossword puzzle.
• Learn a little more about what life was like for people like Great Uncle Tony during the Battle of Britain.
• Stuart thinks "GRAVEST FLATE" must be an anagram. What words can you make by rearranging the letters in your name? (Try it on your own first, then plug the letters in here for a big list!)
• Go on a bird behavior scavenger hunt like the birdwatchers in the book.

More to Read:

• Another boy who is excellent at getting to the bottom things: The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
• Another book about a boy in Britain who has to solve a very big mystery: Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
• Another (more sentimental) book about unlocking family secrets: Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur
• Another book of miraculous mechanisms and a boy unlocking the secrets of his past: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik

Check back in the coming weeks to see what we did for our Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms meeting of the Backyard Book Club!

The Ellie McDoodle Diaries: Have Pen, Will Travel (Backyard Book Club)

by Ruth McNally Barshaw

From Goodreads: One girl. One sketchbook. One week with the world's most annoying relatives.

When Ellie McDougal's parents go out of town, she's forced to go on a camping trip with her aunt, uncle, cousins, and baby brother, Ben-Ben. Ellie can handle mosquitos and poison ivy, but sharing a cabin with her crazy relatives? No way! From her aunt's many rules to her cousin Eric's constant teasing, Ellie needs her sketchbook to survive this family vacation.

My Two Cents: My kids and I loved Ellie McDoodle! They laughed out loud and begged for more every night. The text and illustrations work perfectly together, and Ellie is such a realistic and relatable character. My kids were crazy about her, even when she was being naughty, and the book gave us lots of opportunities to talk about sibling and family dynamics and having empathy for each other. We'll definitely be reading the rest of the series!

Grade Level: 1-4

Additional Resources:

• Check out Ruth McNally Barshaw's wonderful website.
• Learn how to draw different facial expressions like Ellie can.
• Ellie is good at identifying plants. Go for a nature walk and see how many you can identify! For the ones you can't, find them in an online field guide for plants or trees.
• Do the Hokey-Pokey (even if it's not Ellie's favorite.)
• Ellie draws great maps. See if you can draw a map of your room or your house, or make one online.
• Play blob tag like Ellie, or play one of these other fun tag variations.
• Ellie and her cousins caught one kind of amphibian and told a story about another kind. What other kinds of animals were in this book? (Dead or alive...)
• Start keeping your own sketch journal or nature journal! (There are great ideas for how to do this at the back of Ellie McDoodle, too...)

More to Read:

• Another creative, artistic kid with realistic family relationships: The Adventures of Beanboy by Lisa Hardraker
• Another book about a girl getting to know her cousins better on a camping trip: I, Emma Freke by Elizabeth Atkinson
• Another story about a kid who likes to doodle and takes a memorable summer trip: My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian
• Another funny illustrated journal (although I much prefer Ellie): Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Check back in the coming weeks to see what we did for our Ellie McDoodle meeting of the Backyard Book Club!

Ivy + Bean Break the Fossil Record (Backyard Book Club)

by Annie Barrows

From Goodreads: World record fever grips the second grade, and soon Ivy and Bean are trying to set their own record by becoming the youngest people to have ever discovered a dinosaur. But how hard is it to find one?

My Two Cents: Ivy and Bean are spunky and clever and appeal to both boys and girls. Their adventures, dreams, and mistakes are at once universal and totally unique. What kid hasn't dreamed of breaking a world record? But what kid has tried to do it by shattering a glass octopus using only the power of her voice? Like the characters themselves, this series is totally original and tons of fun.

Grade Level: 1-4

Additional Resources:

• Find your own world record to break at Guinness World Records, or see what records are most amazing to you! (Are the records in Ivy + Bean Break the Fossil Record real?)
• Learn more about Mary Anning at this great BBC site for kids.
• Check out the American Museum of Natural History's PaleontOLogy site (and all their other great OLogy sites) for games, activities, drawing lessons, and lots of other fun resources!
• Make this kid-friendly banana bread recipe and have your own backyard playdate!

More to Read:

• All the other books in the Ivy + Bean series! (This is book 3.)
• Another girl who looks to a book when she wishes her own life were more interesting: Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child
• Another girl who sometimes has conflicts with her older sister: Beezus and Ramona (and all the other Ramona books) by Beverly Cleary

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce

From Goodreads: A few things to know about Dylan:

He is the only boy in his entire town—so forget about playing soccer.

His best friends are two pet chickens.

His family owns the world's only gas station/coffee house—their pies are to die for, but profits are in the hole.

Criminal instincts run in his family—his sister is a mastermind-in-training, and the tax men are after his father for questioning.

And one more small thing about nine-year-old Dylan—the crime of the century has just fallen into his lap.

With the same easy mix of wit, warmth, and wonder that made his debut novel, "Millions," an award-winning international bestseller, Frank Cottrell Boyce tells the story of a boy who reminds an entire town of the power of art.

My Two Cents: Like all of Boyce's books, Framed is heartfelt and hilarious. There's a great deal of art in this distinctly British book, but it will absolutely appeal to boys because of all the humor, hijinks, and adventure. Such a clever, distinctive, memorable book.

Grade Level: 3-7

Additional Resources:

• Take a look at the paintings in the National Gallery, especially the ones mentioned in the book (and listed on the National Gallery's special Framed page.)
• Read more about the characters in Dylan's beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their famous artists they're named after: Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo
• Check out this slideshow of famous art heists throughout history (including some that are mentioned in this book.)
• Learn a little about Malawi, where Dylan's sort-of-pen-pal George lives.
• Check out this activity where kids can make their own tempera paint from real eggs.
• See a quarry and read about Snowdonia National Park or look at photos of Wales to really get a feel for where Framed took place.
• Watch an episode of Will Cwac Cwac (but this one's in English).

More to Read:

• Frank Cottrell Boyce's other books, especially Millions and Cosmic
• Another story with great voice, mystery, and missing parents: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
• Another family story featuring a main character who gets into trouble and doesn't always tell the truth: Notes from a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko
• Another book about a boy who means well but causes a lot of trouble: Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

From Goodreads: Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays’ apartment. He is very much a beetle. James Pompaday lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy. After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht Dürer. But James can’t go through with the plan without Marvin’s help. And that’s where things get really complicated (and interesting!). This fast-paced mystery will have young readers on the edge of their seats as they root for boy and beetle.

My Two Cents: I loved all the characters, both beetle and human, in this E.B. White Read Aloud Award Winner. Broach always does an excellent job of weaving history through her books, and Masterpiece is no exception. There's humor, heart, and a good dose of suspense and adventure here that will keep kids turning pages in spite of the above-average word count.

Grade Level: 3-6

Additional Resources:

• Visit Elise Broach's website and check out her discussion guide.
• Check out the Kid Zone at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where much of Masterpiece takes place.
• Learn more about Albrecht Dürer and see some of his artwork here.
• Identify any bug you find (including dung beetles like Marvin) by putting its information into this cool Bug I.D. tool from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
• Read the Georgia O'Keefe quote at the beginning of the book, then look at some of her paintings here by searching "flowers." (Make sure you scroll through all the pages.) Don't the quote and the paintings go well together?

More to Read:

• Another artistic insect: The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
• Another book featuring art and a bond between an animal and a boy: A Nest For Celeste by Henry Cole
• Another arthropod who saves the day (and a good friend): Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
• Another story of an art heist foiled by somebody...unusual: Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

Book Summary: As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him. So begins a coming-of-age masterwork full of equal parts comedy and tragedy from Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt. As Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that his teachers and the police think him to be, he finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer—a fiery young lady who “smelled like daisies would smell if they were growing in a big field under a clearing sky after a rain.” In Lil, Doug finds the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a whole town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon’s birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage. In this stunning novel, Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.

My Two Cents: Memorable characters, beautiful writing, amazing book. Here's the bottom line: This is probably my favorite middle grade book. Yes, #1 favorite of all time. All I have to do is see that bag-face cover and I want to laugh and cry and read the whole thing again.

Grade Level: 4-8

Additional Resources:

• Visit Gary D. Schmidt's website.
• View more images of Audubon's Birds of America from the National Gallery of Art.
• One of Doug's talents is memorizing baseball trivia. Test your own baseball trivia knowledge, learn new facts, and solve baseball sudoku and crossword puzzles here.
• Learn how to play horseshoes like Doug does.
• Doug's brother Lucas comes back from Vietnam. Find photos, video, and facts about what Vietnam is like today at the National Geographic Kids website.
• The novel Jane Eyre is important in this book. Read a quick summary of Jane Eyre for kids here.
• Doug isn't a big fan of poetry in general and Shelley in particular, but he seems to like birds. Do you think he'd like this poem Shelley wrote about a bird?

More to Read:

• A companion novel to Okay for Now: Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars (Or maybe read this one first and see how your perception of Doug changes...)
• Another novel that features John James Audubon (this time as a character): A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole
• Another book about a young boy in about the same era (with a very similar cover): Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

From Goodreads: A puzzling art theft is solved by two sixth-grade sleuths in a first-rate first novel by Blue Balliett, illustrated by Series of Unfortunate Events artist Brett Helquist. Cut from similar cloth to The Da Vinci Code while harkening back to E. L. Konigsburg and Agatha Christie, Balliett's book follows young Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay as they piece together separate, seemingly disconnected events to locate The Lady Writing, a Vermeer painting that gets stolen en route to Chicago's Art Institute. Going on the theory that there are no coincidences, the two wonder about the link between their teacher's statements, Petra's dreams, a book Petra finds in the library, and other clues that set the reader guessing as to their significance as well. But after they learn of the culprit's aim to correct untruths about Vermeer's life and art -- which spurs them into full-throttle detective work -- the pieces all come together in a brilliant ending sure to make readers cheer, "Ah ha!" Infused with intrigue and Helquist's clever illustrations that include coded messages, Balliett's novel is a dynamic can't-miss that will get those brain cells firing as it satiates your appetite for intelligent, modern-day mystery.

My Two Cents: I am a big fan of middle grade with "bonus features" like art, math, or science woven into the story. Chasing Vermeer is a fun, fast-paced mystery that will keep kids fascinated and teach them plenty about Vermeer (and pentominos!) in the process. Helquist's illustrations add a great deal to the book, and not just because they're infused with secret pentomino messages. A great choice for boys and girls alike.

Grade Level: 4-8

Additional Resources:

• Watch an unofficial (but well-made) book trailer for Chasing Vermeer
• Visit Blue Balliett's website
• Visit Scholastic's Chasing Vermeer page, especially the Games and Activities
• Find out more activities and math problems you can do with pentominos
• Learn more about Vermeer's life and paintings
• Visit A Different Place's Chasing Vermeer page,which includes great resources, activities, and ideas

More to Read:

• Another puzzle-solving mystery: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
• Another story of a boy, a girl, and a big museum-style adventure: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
• Another head-scratcher involving an artifact and a famous figure from long ago: Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach
• Another book with history, mystery, and adventure all mixed together: The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (series)
• Another puzzling mystery/mystery with puzzles: The Red Blazer Girls (series) by Michael Beil

Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95

From Goodreads: B95 can feel it: a stirring in his bones and feathers. It’s time. Today is the day he will once again cast himself into the air, spiral upward into the clouds, and bank into the wind.
He wears a black band on his lower right leg and an orange flag on his upper left, bearing the laser inscription B95. Scientists call him the Moonbird because, in the course of his astoundingly long lifetime, this gritty, four-ounce marathoner has flown the distance to the moon—and halfway back!
B95 is a robin-sized shorebird, a red knot of the subspecies rufa. Each February he joins a flock that lifts off from Tierra del Fuego, headed for breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic, nine thousand miles away.  Late in the summer, he begins the return journey.

B95 can fly for days without eating or sleeping, but eventually he must descend to refuel and rest. However, recent changes at ancient refueling stations along his migratory circuit—changes caused mostly by human activity—have reduced the food available and made it harder for the birds to reach. And so, since 1995, when B95 was first captured and banded, the worldwide rufa population has collapsed by nearly 80 percent. Most perish somewhere along the great hemispheric circuit, but the Moonbird wings on. He has been seen as recently as November 2011, which makes him nearly twenty years old. Shaking their heads, scientists ask themselves: How can this one bird make it year after year when so many others fall? 

National Book Award–winning author Phillip Hoose takes us around the hemisphere with the world’s most celebrated shorebird, showing the obstacles rufa red knots face, introducing a worldwide team of scientists and conservationists trying to save them, and offering insights about what we can do to help shorebirds before it’s too late. Through prose, research, and images, Hoose explores the tragedy of extinction through the triumph of a single bird.

My Two Cents: This is a well-written account of a really amazing bird, complete with helpful maps, gorgous photos, and profiles of the scientists who are working to help migratory birds. I especially loved the appendix "What You Can Do", which will help young readers channel the enthusiasm and interest they gain by reading the book into helpful outlets.

Grade Level: 4-8

Additional Resources (most from the "What You Can Do" section of the book):

• Phillip Hoose's website
• Games, activities, and ways to help at the National Audubon Society's Just for Kids page
• Check out the Shorebird Sister Schools Program and connect with kids all over the world as you follow the migration of shore birds.
• See how arctic animals migrate at Wandering Wildlife, which tracks actual animals of several species using radio telemetry.
• Learn about the rufa red knot and why it's in trouble at Parks Canada's site.
• Find out when International Migratory Bird Day is in your area and what you can do to celebrate.

More to Read:

• A fun Phillip Hoose picture book about being kind to little creatures: Hey, Little Ant
• Another inspiring book by Hoose: It's Our World, Too! Young People Who Are Making a Difference
• Another great middle grade book where birds are featured: Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
• Another middle grade book where Audubon himself shows up: A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole
• Another book about animals making, well, an incredible journey: The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

One Day in the Desert by Jean Craighead George

From Goodreads: As day breaks in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, a wounded mountain lion limps toward a Papago Indian hut. The lion fears people, but today he is desperately hungry. And he has caught the scent of Birdwing and her mother. Then a loud thunderclap warns Birdwing, the mountain lion, and all the creatures of the desert that danger is near. A flood will soon wash over the land - and some will not survive it.

My Two Cents: This is a very short book that still packs plenty of information about the wildlife and habitat of the desert. There's enough of a storyline mixed in with interesting animal, plant, and geological information that kids will zip right through this book. The best part is how much they'll learn in the process. This is just one title in a 5-book series by Newbery-winner George.

Grade Level: 2-5

Additional Resources:

• Take a look at the official Jean Craighead George website.
• Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum--a great place to visit in person that also has fun online resources for kids, including fact sheets on tons of desert plants and animals.
• Check out this great article from National Geographic about life in the Sonoran Desert.
• Learn more about the four deserts of North America at this site or get an overview of deserts here.
• Even if you don't live in the desert, it's important to conserve water! Learn how and why we should save water and play a fun water-saving game at the WaterSense website.

More to Read:

• The other books in George's habitat series: One Day in the Alpine Tundra, One Day in the Prairie, One Day in the Woods, One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest
• Another desert adventure story: Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach
• Another desert survival story (for a slightly older audience): Holes by Louis Sachar
• Another quick read featuring animals in an unforgiving climate: Akimbo and the Lions (and all the other books in the Akimbo series) by Alexander McCall Smith

Flush by Carl Hiaasen

From Goodreads: You know it's going to be a rough summer when you spend Father's Day visiting your dad in the local lockup.

Noah's dad is sure that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is flushing raw sewage into the harbor–which has made taking a dip at the local beach like swimming in a toilet. He can't prove it though, and so he decides that sinking the boat will make an effective statement. Right. The boat is pumped out and back in business within days and Noah's dad is stuck in the clink.

Now Noah is determined to succeed where his dad failed. He will prove that the Coral Queen is dumping illegally . . . somehow. His allies may not add up to much–his sister Abbey, an unreformed childhood biter; Lice Peeking, a greedy sot with poor hygiene; Shelly, a bartender and a woman scorned; and a mysterious pirate–but Noah's got a plan to flush this crook out into the open. A plan that should sink the crooked little casino, once and for all.

My Two Cents: Carl Hiaasen is the master of middle grade books with an eco-angle, and Flush is my favorite of his so far. The characters here are all flawed, but everyone in Noah's family means well and is really trying to do what they think is right. There's adventure, mystery, and humor here, but a lot of values and morals are presented too in a way that will help kids decide for themselves what they believe in and what they think is right. A great book to get kids reading, thinking, and discussing eco issues.

Grade Level: 3-5

Additional Resources:

• Noah's little sister Abbey is named for "some weird old bird who's buried out west in the middle of a desert. Read more about Edward Abbey and see why you think Noah's dad wanted to name his kid after Abbey. (Also, why do you think he wanted a son named Noah?)
• Watch this Minute Physics video about why we have high tide and low tide.
• Check out these online resources for kids and teachers from the U.S. Coast Guard
• There are so many marine animals mentioned in this book--barracuda, needlefish, snappers, pilchard, dolphins, turtles, muttonfish...Learn more about marine wildlife and how you can help preserve it at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
• Find places from the book like the Florida Keys and Caloosa Cove on a map.

More to Read:

• Hiaasen's other eco-adventures: Hoot, Scat, Chomp
• Another kid who lives near the ocean and has to reconcile her dad's questionable actions with his love for her: The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
• Another Southern story with a complicated family and plenty of water: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

Today is World Autism Awareness Day! In honor of those with autism and to raise awareness in some small way, this week's book is about a truly remarkable person with autism. 

From Goodreads: When Temple Grandin was born, her parents knew that she was different. Years later she was diagnosed with autism. While Temple’s doctor recommended a hospital, her mother believed in her. Temple went to school instead.
  
Today, Dr. Temple Grandin is a scientist and professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Her world-changing career revolutionized the livestock industry. As an advocate for autism, Temple uses her experience as an example of the unique contributions that autistic people can make.

This compelling biography complete with Temple’s personal photos takes us inside her extraordinary mind and opens the door to a broader understanding of autism.

My Two Cents: This is a book that can be read quickly and is totally accessible to kids (although descriptions of the slaughterhouses that Temple improves might be too much for very young readers). Temple's story helps the reader not only understand autism, but also appreciate the value of other kinds of minds as "different, not less." Rita Shreffler, the executive director of the National Autism Association, calls Temple Grandin "a source of inspiration to parents of children with autism who know their kids have abilities that often go unrealized." It would be hard for anyone to read this book and not be inspired by Temple Grandin's compassionate heart and brilliant mind.

Grade Level: 3-5

Additional Resources:

• Watch Temple Grandin's TED talk, "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds"
• Visit one of the most comprehensive resources, with advocacy ideas, events, family services, and information on how you can help: Autism Speaks
• Read author Ellen Notbohm's Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew
• Visit Temple Grandin's website.
• Watch the movie that was made about Temple Grandin's life.

More to Read:

• A story featuring another girl who had autism before it was widely diagnosed: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
• Another girl with autism who figures out how to deal with difficult things: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
• Another kid on the autism spectrum with an interest in science: The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman
• A great book from the perspective of an autistic child's sibling: Rules by Cynthia Lord
• All of Temple Grandin's books (written primarily for adults)

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

From Goodreads: Ramona Quimby is the youngest of all the famous characters in Mrs. Cleary's wonderful Henry Huggins stories. She is also far and away the most deadly. Readers of the earlier books will remember that Ramona has always been a menace to Beezus, her older sister, to Henry, and to his dog Ribsy. It is not that Ramona deliberately sets out to make trouble for other people. She simply has more imagination than is healthy for any one person.

In this book Ramona and her imagination really come into their own. Starting with a fairly mild encounter with the librarian, which is harder on Beezus than anyone else, Ramona goes from strength to strength, winding up by inviting her entire kindergarten class to a party at her home without mentioning it to her mother. The riot that ensues is probably the most hilarious episode in this extremely funny book, which proves that Mrs. Cleary's imagination is almost as lively as Ramona's.

My Two Cents: This is Cleary's only book that features Beezus as the main character, and while I love Beezus and identify with her, Ramona steals the show. It's easy to see why this little girl sparked a whole series, and why that series has been around since my mother was a little girl. Cleary's characters are absolutely endearing and her writing is timeless and lovely. And also hilarious.

Grade Level: 2-5

Additional Resources:

• Check out Beverly Cleary's website
• Check out this fabulous list of resources from Blanchard Elementary.
• Do one of the crafts from Beezus's 202 Things to Do on a Rainy Afternoon, like make a necklace from pumpkin seeds or make furniture from milk cartons.
• Learn to play the harmonica (or mouth organ), hopefully even more musically than Ramona does!
• Do any of the fun things Ramona does in this book--make applesauce, play tiddlywinks, or just blow into a straw as hard as you can to see what will happen. :)

More to Read: 

• All of Ramona's other adventures, beginning with Ramona the Pest and ending (for now) with Just for Me: My Ramona Quimby Journal
• Another classic story of pesky younger siblings: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
• Another mischief-making and totally endearing girl: Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
• Another fabulous sister story with a classic feel: The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall