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Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix. Katherine Tegan Books, 2015. 304 pages.  Ages 12-15   Reading Level: Young Adult Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Young Adult 15+ ...

A fun middle-grade series mixes classic mystery elements with wacky situations and wordplay. The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson and Bobbi Behr.  MacMillan Imprint, 2017, ...

Quirky, funny stories written with middle school girls in mind.  Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever. Edited by Betsy Bird. Viking, 2017. 224 pages. Reading Level: Middle ...

Four middle grades kids discuss The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: what stands out in this funny, modern Christmas classic? The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara ...

Bottom line: When the big trucks take over the streets of New York, the pushcarts push back. Support your local vendor. The Pushcart War by ...

Mr. Revere and I: History as told by a horse in this humorous middle grades historical fiction. Mr. Revere and I: An account of a ...

In this far-out fantasy, an alien named Sputnik has to prove earth is worth saving. Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce. ...

Panda-monium offers plenty of hi-jinks, animal facts, and quirky characters as Teddy solves the mystery of the theft of a prized giant panda. Panda-monium by ...

By chapters 8-13, we’re well into the development part of the novel, which (you may recall) I mentioned is the often the most difficult part ...

In spite of language and sexuality issues, this satiric YA novel skewers Political Correctness and provides some welcome perspective on “Social Justice Warriors.” No Good ...

Winner takes all in a bet between siblings Jessie and Evan Treski as they battle it out lemonade-stand style in this realistic fiction novel for ...

This fun, award-winning early reader series features two tough siblings who can't help being nice. The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers.  ...

Today, in my leisure reading, I came across some good "fifty cent" words: pandemonium, benefactors, stratosphere, maligned, facilitate, photons,... I also noticed some terrific literary ...

A funny, chapter book mystery for newly independent readers! A Complicated Case (Detective Gordon) by Ulf Nilsson and illustrated by Gittee Spee. Gecko Press, 2016. ...

After the BFG snatches Sophie from her orphanage, she learns a lot about giants and the BFG makes a new friend in this quirky, British romp. ...

Sunny and warm, this graphic novel combines a wildly implausible plot with distinct personalities—and lots of laughs. Little Dee and the Penguin by Christopher Baldwin.  ...

Miss Penelope Lumley starts to solve some of the Ashton Place mysteries while on holiday by the sea in this fifth volume of the series. ...

Volume 3 of this funny middle grades series has Penelope, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia back in London attempting to save the Swanburne School for Poor ...

Miss Penelope Lumley and her three young charges are off to London in this humorous, satisfying follow-up to the first in the series. The Hidden ...

Though not to be taken at all seriously, this wacky series by Jon Schieszka threads some real science into its far-out storylines. Frank Einstein and ...

A fifth-grade prankster meets his match, joining forces with his rival to pull off the greatest fifth-grade prank of all time. The Terrible Two by ...

This post is part of our "Summer of Great Family Reads" series. Don't miss the initial post full of more excellent recommendations! McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre ...

My Near-Death Adventures (99% True!) by Alison DeCamp. Crown, 2015. 252 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-12 (especially boys) Bottom ...

*Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell. Candlewick, 2014. 50 pages. Reading Level: Easy Readers, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Age 4-8 Rabbit’s friend Robot ...

This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by ...

Almost Super, by Marion Jensen. Harper, 2014, 251 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, Ages 8-12 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) Every four years, on February ...

The book of Proverbs is full of instructions for the simple to obtain wisdom and avoid disaster. Stories about tricksters demonstrate common-grace examples of using ...

Enthusiasm, by Polly Schulman. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2006, 198 pages.  Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12-14 Bottom Line: Enthusiasm, a ...

Now that April Fool's Day is over, I should probably introduce this as my post on April 1st... Recently I had the extraordinary opportunity to ...