My Life As A Potato

My Life As A Potato 

by Arianne Costner

Ben Hardy's bad luck with potatoes has followed him from California to his new school in Idaho!  When he accidentally injures the school mascot, Steve the Spud, Ben is forced to take his place. Not wanting anyone, especially his friends and his new crush Jayla, to find out that he's the one in the mascot's costume, Ben tries to keep his new role as Steve the Spud a secret. However, as Ben becomes more popular, he's finding it is harder to keep his secret mascot identity hidden. 

This entertaining realistic fiction is part of the 2021 - 2022 Maine Student Book Award list! This is s great choice for anyone looking for a humorous story.

Demon Dentist

Demon Dentist
by David Walliams
illustrated by Tony Ross

Something strange is happening in Alfie's town!  Children are putting their teeth under their pillows only to wake up to find toenails, spiders, and other horrible surprises the next morning.  Alfie, who has a fear of the dentist after a tooth-pulling fiasco, suspects that the new dentist, Ms. Root, is the cause.  Can he prove that this new dentist is evil?

Demon Dentist reminded me a lot of books by Roald Dahl.  It's both humorous as well as creepy, with many unique, entertaining characters!  It is also full of many fun illustrations that add to the humor of this exciting story.  I enjoyed this book and recommend it for fans of Roald Dahl.

Author's website: https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/

You Are Not a Cat!

You Are Not a Cat!
by Sharon Flake
illustrated by Anna Raff

Duck wants to be a cat, much to the annoyance of his friend Cat.  As Cat unsuccessfully gives numerous reasons as to why Duck cannot possibly be a cat, the happy-go-lucky Duck continues to frustrate his feline friend. Much to Cat’s exasperation, Duck soon finds another animal to be!

This humorous tale, told through speech bubble dialogue between Duck and Cat, will have many readers laughing! Our two main characters are very comical, often having exaggerated expressions that emphasize their emotions. I think that many fans of Mo Willems’ Piggie and Elephant stories will enjoy this funny tale.  

Book trailer:

Author's website: http://www.sharongflake.com/

Illustrator's website: http://www.annaraff.com/

The Doldrums

The Doldrums
by Nicholas Gannon

Archer B. Helmsley was born a dreamer.   Growing up in his grandparents' unique home, Archer is surrounded by unusual items collected by his explorer grandparents throughout their travels.   All he wants is adventure, but after his grandparents disappear on an iceberg in Antarctica, his mother barely lets him even leave the house.    When Archer comes up with the idea for the ultimate adventure,  finding his missing grandparents, he and his friends Oliver and Adelaide must come up with a clever plan to get them to Antarctica before his parents, and their scary new teacher Mrs. Murkley, find out what they're up to!

The Doldrums is a humorous book about friendship and adventure.  Full of unique characters, charming illustrations, and many funny moments, this is a book that I know many readers will enjoy!   I was often reminded of the Roald Dahl classic Matilda as I read this, particularly with the character of Mrs. Murkley, who is very much like Matilda's Mrs. Trunchbull.   The ending of this book left me, and will likely leave other readers, curious about what will happen next with Archer, Oliver, and Adelaide.   Fortunately, it looks like author Nicholas Gannon plans to continue with this series and future adventures are in store for these three friends!

Author's website:  http://www.nicholasgannon.com/

Book trailer: 

Have I Got a Book for You!

Have I Got a Book for You!
by Melanie Watt

Are you a fish in need of an umbrella?  Or a penguin who needs an icebox?  Perhaps you are a mole who needs a vacuum?  No? That's okay, because Mr. Al Foxword, one of the most sly salesmen you'll ever meet, has a book just for you!  That's right, and he'll do whatever he can to sell you this book, even throw in an extra bookmark.  

This hilarious book, written and illustrated by the author of the Scaredy Squirrel series, shows how far a sly fox will go to sell someone anything, including a book!   The bright, funny illustrations of the persuasive Al Foxword attempting to make a sale make this book even more entertaining!  

Author's website: http://melaniewatt.blogspot.com/

The Worst Class Trip Ever

The Worst Class Trip Ever
by Dave Barry

Wyatt's class trip to Washington, D.C. has gone from bad to disastrous!    A smelly hotel room and a directionally challenged teacher are the least of his problems after his best friend Matt gets kidnapped by two men who could possibly be terrorists with a plot to attack the White House.   Of course, if Matt hadn't accused the two men on the airplane of having a missile, maybe they wouldn't be in this mess at all!   Now Wyatt has to save his best friend and, possibly, also the White House!

This hilarious story had me laughing many times while I read it!    This story is an excellent combination of humor and action.  It's a great choice for anyone looking for a funny, school-themed story.

The Odd Squad: Bully Bait

The Odd Squad: Bully Bait
by Michael Fry

Nick just doesn't fit in with anyone else at his school.   The shortest kid in seventh grade, he finds himself frequently being stuffed inside his own locker by a school bully.  After another locker-stuffing incident, Nick finds himself being forced by his guidance counselor to join the Safety Patrol, along with two other classmates, Molly and Karl,  who also don't fit in very well at school.   Although they get off to a rough start, the three members of the Safety Patrol decide to work together to combat bullying at their school.

Full of quirky characters, humorous illustrations, and many funny moments, The Odd Squad: Bully Bait is an entertaining book that many readers will enjoy, particularly those who like Diary of a Wimpy kid and similar series.   Bully Bait is the first in The Odd Squad series, so there will be more adventures of these three friends in future books!  

Book Trailer: 

The Abominables

The Abominables 
by Eva Ibbotson 
illustrated by Fiona Robinson

When young Agatha Farlingham is kidnapped by a yeti during a family camping trip, she soon realizes that the creatures are not the mean, violent animals that many believed them to be.  Rather, she finds that her new yeti family is kind and caring and devotes her life to teaching her new friends manners and how to speak.   Years later, as a new hotel is built close to the home of the yetis, the aging Agatha worries about how her yetis will survive without her and enlists the help of two children, Ellen and Con,  to transport the yetis to her family home in England.   With the help of truck driver Perry, Ellen and Con help to bring the quirky family of yetis on a long journey to England.   The journey is not a quiet one, however, as the travelers find themselves involved in many wild adventures along the way!  Will they make it safely to the childhood home of their dear friend Agatha?  And, when they arrive, will they be accepted by her family?

This imaginative tale is full of adventure and humor.  Author Eva Ibbotson has written a heartwarming story that challenges the notion that yetis are violent creatures and instead has portrayed them as gentle, loving, and frequently quirky characters.   With its fun illustrations and exciting adventures, this story will be a hit with many readers!

Desmond Pucket Makes Monster Magic

Desmond Pucket Makes Monster Magic
by Mark Tatulli

Desmond Pucket has created many ingenious, gross pranks.   Unfortunately, the sixth-grader's creative tricks have gone too far and he finds himself left with just three chances to prove that he has changed.  If he doesn't, then it will be a new school and missing out on the class trip to Crab Shell Pier.   Will the prankster be able to change his ways?

What a funny book!  I found myself laughing many times as I read this story.   In addition to the humorous writing, author Mark Tatulli includes many hilarious illustrations that only add to the humor of this great book.   Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and similar books will want to read this book!

Book website: http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/landing/desmondpucket/


Book trailer:
 

Fortunately, the Milk

Fortunately, the Milk 
by Neil Gaiman 
illustrated by Skottie Young 

Upon discovering that his family is out of milk, Dad takes what should be a quick trip to the corner store to get more. His hungry children, anxiously waiting for milk for their breakfast cereal, grow anxious as time passes. Finally, their father returns, disheveled and with a strange tale of a wild adventure that includes being abducted by aliens and encounters with pirates to explain his lengthy absence. 

Full of humor and unlikely adventures, this book was a quick and entertaining read.   Accompanying illustrations added to the humor of this fun, light-hearted book.  


Author's website: http://www.neilgaiman.com/
Book trailer: 

The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School

The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School
by Candace Fleming

Nobody wanted to be the teacher of the soon-to-be fourth graders at Aesop Elementary School.   They were notorious for their bad behavior.   Just when school principal Mrs. Struggles was giving up hope of finding them a teacher,  Mr. Jupiter arrives on the last day of school.   Full of unusual teaching credentials, including a job as a translator for Bigfoot, he is awarded the job after admitting he attended Aesop as a fifth grader.  Can he handle the infamous class that no one else wanted? 

Similar to Louis Sachar's Wayside School series, The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School humorously tells the stories of the different students and teachers at Aesop, including librarian Paige Turner who transforms herself soon after meeting Mr. Jupiter.   Keeping with the fable theme, most chapters end with a moral.   This funny book is a great choice for readers looking for a humorous story and will also work well as a read aloud.  

Author's website:   http://www.candacefleming.com/

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
illustrated by Joe Berger

After Mr. Tooting loses his job, he begins to drive his family crazy with a series of unusual home improvement projects!    Just when his family thinks things couldn't get any wilder, Mrs. Tooting brings home a dilapidated 1966 camper van home for her husband to work on.  Despite its poor condition, Mr. Tooting and son Jem successfully restore the van.   On a trip to purchase parts for their van, they discover an old-fashioned engine that they decide to use in their van.   However, once the engine is installed, the Tooting's camper van suddenly has a mind of its own!     The family soon learns that their unusual van has wings and is determined to fly them to places all over the world, including Paris and Egypt!    What does their unusual van want and where will it take them next?

I have not yet read the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming, but after reading this story I know what's next on my reading list!  I think of lot of readers will enjoy this story.   It is a wonderful combination of humor, fantasy and adventure!  I also recently learned that Frank Cottrell Boyce has followed this sequel with another book,  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time, so I am looking forward to reading that book soon as well. 

Book Website:  http://uk.chittyfliesagain.com/the-book.html