Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery
by James Ponti

Florian Bates has an after-school job: working for the FBI! His use of T.O.A.S.T. (Theory of All Small Things) has caught the attention of the FBI after he discovers clues about a museum burglary that others have overlooked. Now the twelve-year-old is on the case of the art thefts. Will he, with a little help from his new friend Margaret, help the FBI solve the mystery?

What a fun book! As I read this entertaining mystery,  I thought of other art-related mysteries, including Chasing Vermeer and Eddie Red Undercover. This book will be a hit with fans of mystery fiction. This was one of those books that, when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I was done. The conclusion of this action-filled mystery hints at future adventures for Florian and Margaret.

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

Go, Otto, Go!

Go, Otto, Go!
by David Milgrim

Otto the robot misses his family, so he decides to build a spaceship so that he can go visit him!  After working hard to make his new spaceship, he takes off!  Will his spaceship get him home to his family?

What a cute book!  This is part of "The Adventures of Otto" series, which follows Otto the robot and his various animal friends.  Go, Otto, Go! recently won a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor.   With large font, repetitive text, and entertaining illustrations, this humorous story is a great choice for beginning readers.



Author's website: http://www.davidmilgrim.com/index.html

Maxi's Secrets

Maxi's Secrets (or, what you can learn from a dog)
by Lynn Plourde

Being new isn't easy, but for Timminy it's extra hard: he's smaller than any other kid in his grade and his dad is the new assistant principal at his school. The one good thing about his family's move is Maxi, the Great Pyrenees puppy that his parents let him get. When Timminy realizes that Maxi is deaf, he decides to do whatever he can to help his active new puppy. Maxi, with her entertaining personality, also helps Timminy make new friends as well as breaks the ice between him and one of his bullies. Just as things seem to be getting better, however, Timminy and his family receive news about their beloved dog that will change everything.

This was such a wonderful book! I've always been a big fan of Lynn Plourde and was so excited to read her first chapter book!  This is definitely an emotional story and will likely bring tears to many readers.  I'll be honest, there are sad parts, but the most important part of this book is the bond betwen Timminy and Maxi and how this sweet dog helps Timminy learn to deal with the changes and struggles he encounters.   I highly recommend reading Maxi's Secrets!  

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

The Cat From Hunger Mountain

The Cat From Hunger Mountain 
by Ed Young

Lord Cat has everything imaginable in his home on Hunger Mountain: the tallest pagoda to live in, the finest clothes to wear, and the most extravagant food.  Most importantly to this story, Hunger Mountain has delicious rice to harvest and, sadly, much of this rice is wasted as it is washed down the Great River.  When a drought and subsequent famine forces his workers to leave, Lord Cat is left without anyone to serve him.  When the hungry cat wanders down the mountain to beg for food, he is led to a kind monk who feeds him a meal of the same rice Lord Cat wasted for years, teaching the greedy feline a valuable lesson.

I loved this book!  It sends a wonderful message about sharing as well as not being wasteful or greedy.  Ed Young's beautiful collage illustrations are outstanding!  The pictures incorporate such an engaging variety of color, pattern, and texture.   I found myself going back and admiring the illustrations over and over again!

Author's website: http://edyoungart.com/

The Blobfish Book

The Blobfish Book
by Jessica Olien

The cover of this book shows a cartoonish pink blobfish excitedly tearing through the cover.  While one may initially assume this is a fiction book, once inside it is clear from the photographs of various deep sea creatures that there is much more to this book than our boisterous (and slightly impatient) pink friend.

This nonfiction book is an excellent introduction to deep sea animals for younger readers.  Large, nearly page-sized photographs of intriguing animals such as anglerfish and viperfish are paired with brief, yet informative, explanations of what these creatures are.  The appearance of the comical blobfish, with his speech-bubble dialogue, adds humor to this engaging book.  The final page includes recommended websites to learn more about the different deep sea animals shown.

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

Hippopotamister

Hippopotamister 
by John Patrick Green

When the old City Zoo falls apart, Hippo's friend Red Panda takes off in search of better things in the outside world.  After several visits back to the zoo, Red Panda convinces his unhappy friend to become a Hippopotamister and join him in finding a new, better job.  Although Hippo does well in every job he tries, Red Panda's spectacularly hilarious mistakes makes the pair less than successful in staying employed!  Frustrated and unhappy, Hippo returns to the zoo, where he finds a way to put his new talents to good use.

This is a great choice for growing readers ready to try a comic book.  Most of the pages have only one or two panels, with occasional pages of three or more.  The amusing illustrations are large, colorful and engaging.  Combined with the entertaining dialogue, this funny graphic novel will likely bring about laughter in many readers.

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

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!
by Ben Clanton

When a waffle-loving narwhal meets a jellyfish while out for the swim, it is the start of an exciting new friendship!  Narwhal and Jelly may have little in common, but that doesn’t stop them from having some great adventures together, including creating a fun-loving “narwhal” pod with a variety of other sea creatures and using their imaginations to turn a blank book into a wild story. 

Told in short chapters, this cute graphic novel is a great choice for growing readers.  I like how author/illustrator Ben Clanton uses a combination of comic book panels as well as full paged spreads. The story also includes a short chapter with facts about the two sea creatures.  The simple, yet engaging, illustrations are done in mostly pale blues and greys, with an occasional burst of yellow and other bright colors throughout the book.

Fans of Mo Willems Piggie & Elephant books will want to give this story a try! The next book in this fun new series will be published in May, I’m looking forward to the continued adventures of these entertaining sea creatures.

Book website: http://www.narwhalandjelly.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/

Some Kind of Happiness

Some Kind of Happiness
by Claire Legrand

Forced to spend her summer with grandparents she has never met while her parents deal with their marital issues, eleven-year-old Finley finds an escape in her beloved notebook. In her notebook she writes lists as well as stories about Everwood, an imaginary place that she has created.  When she sees a large forest behind her grandparents’ home, she  realizes that this is the magical place that she has been writing about. Imagination combines with reality as she and her cousins turn the forest into a real-life Everwood. As she continues to struggle with frequent bouts of sadness and anxiety, Finely realizes her newly discovered Everwood is also home to a past tragic event and a long-hidden family secret.

Combining reality and fantasy, this is a wonderful story that I think many readers will enjoy.  This was one of those books I could not put down until I finished!

Author's website: http://www.claire-legrand.com/

The Infamous Ratsos

The Infamous Ratsos
by Kara LaReau
illustrated by Matt Myers

font-family: "Gentium Book Basic", serif; font-size: 16px;">Being tough can be hard!  That’s what Louie and Ralphie Ratso realize after numerous failed tries to demonstrate their toughness.  Wanting to be tough, like their father Big Lou, they attempt a series of pranks, only to have them backfire with hilarious results.   Will they ever prove how tough they are?

I can see why this book was recently named a Geisel Honor book!  It is a great choice for any reader, but especially growing readers wanting to try a chapter book.   It has short chapters, great illustrations, and a funny story! A heartwarming ending brings this humorous tale to a satisfying conclusion.  I hope author Kara LaReau continues to write about this entertaining rat family.

Author's website: https://karalareau.com/