Wonderstruck

by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck starts out about a little boy in 1977 who has lost his mother.  Unsure how to cope living with relatives that seem to feel more obligation to take him in than actual love, he goes back to the house he and his mother shared.  He is on the phone when it is struck by lightning and becomes deaf.  As we are learning pieces of his story the prose (words) will stop and pictures will tell the story of a deaf girl in 1927 who feels very trapped, finding solace in following the career of actress Lilyan Mayhew.  I spent the whole book entranced by both characters and wondering how they could possibly be connected.  When I found out, I was delighted and touched.

Audience:
About 3rd grade.  It is a really thick book, but so much of the story is told with only pictures that reading it won't be a problem for younger children.

What I Love:
The title of this book is very fitting.  It comes in the text from Ben (the little boy) reading a book about how the purpose of museums is to leave someone 'wonderstruck' but expands to include the wonder of discovering the world and oneself.  It is about feeling lost and alone, then finding a friend and becoming part of something more than yourself.

I don't think I have any words for the pictures, they are gorgeous and they really are worth a thousand words each:

Cautions:
This story is meandering at best.  There are several ideas that aren't really tied together in the end-the idea of museums and the idea of reaching higher than oneself for instance.  I think the author purposely left out a few conclusions to allow the audience to decide what certain things mean.

Wayside School

by Louis Sachar

Wayside School was supposed to be 30 classrooms straight acorss, but someone messed up and made it 30 stories high with one classroom on each story.  This is about the kids on the top floor and their zany teacher. Everything in this book doesn't make sense, except it does.  There's really no way to describe it.  If you enjoy heartwarming outrageousness, this is for you

Audience:
Third on up are completely captivated.  When I did the motions in one chapter, every last one was moving with me.

What I Love:
This book has relevance to the kids.  Every issue addressed, identity, kindness, etc, are very real to students.
Every chapter is its' own story, so kids that were absent didn't loose the thread.
All the 27 students are distinct and memorable

Cautions:
This is a crazy story, suspend all disbelief at the door.
There are lots of characters

Series:
Sideways Stories From Wayside School
Wayside School is Falling Down
Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger

Bonus:
Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School
More Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School

The Nine Lives of Christopher Chant

by Dianna Wynne Jones

Christopher Chant has very vivid dreams about going to other places, just like a lot of people.  Unlike a lot of people, when he gets back his clothes still have the dirt of the other places.  When his uncle finds out about this unique gift, he sends Christopher to all sorts of cool places to collect...something.  He doesn't know what he's getting, but he has lots of fun doing it.  And in this one place, there's this one girl that...enough said.  He meets lots of people and realizes the world is so much bigger than even he thought.

Audience:
Teen, mostly.  The book is too slow to hold the interest of children

What I Love:
Christopher is so charming.  All the characters are very real, even when they're kind of ridiculous   This is a fun light read.

Cautions:
1) This is not one I'd stay up all night reading, it's a lot slower than that
2) These books are not a series so much as companions.  There are recurring characters, but the main character is different in each book.

The Best Christmas Pagent Ever

by Barbara Robinson

"The Herdmans were the worst kids in the history of the world.  They lied and stole things and burned down farmer John's shed."  And one day these children, who do everything wrong, end up at church.  Having nothing better to do they sign up for the main roles in the Christmas Pageant.  The biggest problem with that is they have never heard the story before.  When they are told the Herdmans are outraged that anyone would have to have a baby in a barn.  Also, why didn't anyone get back at Herod?  As they go through the story Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, and the Angel suddenly become more human.  Many are horrified by the simple human touches the Herdmans give, but the narrator of the story sees Mary and Joseph as real people for the first time.  Christmas happened, people saw it, and this year the Herdmans are telling their story.

Audience

Upper elementary and middle school.  It is not geared toward adults or young adults, but I find it delightful.

What I Love About This Book

This book is hilarious!  I laughed all the way through, except the touching parts.  I love the way the book shows small towns and the way they are interconnected.  I love seeing the Christmas story through innocent eyes again.

Cautions

The Herdman's antics are winked at, rather than chastised, in the tone of the book.

Bailey School Kids

by Debbie Dadey and Marcia T. Jones

Liza, Melody, Howie, and Eddie are normal grade school kids.  There lives are slightly more complicated in that they see supernatural creatures everywhere.  It's impossible that the bus driver could be a gargoyle, isn't it?  And there is no way the track teacher could be a mermaid. 

Audience

This is geared toward younger children.  We did it as a read aloud in 1st grade.

What I Love About These Books
I love that the 4 children have different characters and we see the way they settle differences.  All the books are pretty much the same, which appeals to children because they know exactly what they're getting in each book

Cautions
They are formulaic-meaning they repeat themselves.  The books are pretty much the same, but if they are a winner the first 5 times, they will probably be a winner every time.  They are very Scooby-Dooish but geared to younger kids.

Series

1. Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots
2. Werewolves Don't Go to Summer Camp
3. Santa Claus Doesn't Mop Floors
4. Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball
5. Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips
6. Frankenstein Doesn't Plant Petunias
7. Aliens Don't Wear Braces
8. Genies Don't Ride Bicycles
9. Pirates Don't Wear Pink Sunglasses
10. Witches Don't Do Back Flips
11. Skeletons Don't Play Tubas
12. Cupid Doesn't Flip Hamburgers
13. Gremlins Don't Chew Bubble Gum
14. Monsters Don't Scuba Dive
15. Zombies Don't Play Soccer
16. Dracula Doesn't Drink Lemonade
17. Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats
18. Martians Don't Take Temperatures
19. Gargoyles Don't Drive School Buses
20. Wizards Don't Need Computers
21. Mummies Don't Coach Softball
22. Cyclops Doesn't Roller-Skate
23. Angels Don't Know Karate
24. Dragons Don't Cook Pizza
25. Bigfoot Doesn't Square Dance
26. Mermaids Don't Run Track
27. Bogeymen Don't Play Football
28. Unicorns Don't Give Sleigh Rides
29. Knights Don't Teach Piano
30. Hercules Doesn't Pull Teeth
31. Ghouls Don't Scoop Ice Cream
32. Phantoms Don't Drive Sports Cars
33. Giants Don't Go Snowboarding
34. Frankenstein Doesn't Slam Hockey Pucks
35. Trolls Don't Ride Roller Coasters
36. Wolfmen Don't Hula Dance
37. Goblins Don't Play Video Games
38. Ninjas Don't Bake Pumpkin Pie
39. Dracula Doesn't Rock and Roll
40. Sea Monsters Don't Ride Motorcycles
41. The Bride of Frankenstein Doesn't Bake Cookies
42. Robots Don't Catch Chicken Pox
43. Vikings Don't Wear Wrestling Belts
44. Ghosts Don't Ride Wild Horses
45. Wizards Don't Wear Graduation Gowns
46. Sea Serpents Don't Juggle Water Balloons
47. Frankenstein Doesn't Start Food Fights
48. Dracula Doesn't Play Kickball
49. Werewolves Don't Run For President
50. The Abominable Snowman Doesn't Roast Marshmallows
51. Dragons Don't Throw Snowballs
52. Beasts Don't Read Magazines

Jr. Chapter Books Series

1. Ghosts DO Splash In Puddles
2. Reindeer DO Wear Striped Underwear
3. Cupid DOES Eat Chocolate-Covered Snails
4. Pirates DO Ride Scooters
5. Dragons DO Eat Homework
6. Wizards DO Roast Turkeys
7. Vampires DO Hunt Marshmallow Bunnies
8. Cavemen DO Drive School Buses
9. Snow Monsters DO Drink Hot Chocolate

Special Editions

1. SE Swamp Monsters Don't Chase Wild Turkeys [Thanksgiving]
2. SE Aliens Don't Carve Jack-O-Lanterns [Halloween]
3. SE Mrs. Claus Doesn't Climb Telephone Poles [Christmas]
4. SE Leprechauns Don't play fetch [St. Patrick's Day]
5. SE Ogres Don't Hunt Easter Eggs [Easter]

Super Specials

1. SS Mrs. Jeepers Is Missing
2. SS Mrs. Jeepers' Batty Vacation
3. SS Mrs. Jeepers' Secret Cave
4. SS Mrs. Jeepers In Outer Space
5. SS Mrs. Jeepers' Monster Class Trip
6. SS Mrs. Jeepers On Vampire Island
7. SS Mrs. Jeepers' Scariest Halloween... EVER!
8. SS Mrs. Jeepers' Creepy Christmas

The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by E. L. Koingsburg

Claudia, like all young people at some point, wants to run away.  She's aware enough to know that roughing it isn't for her, so she decides to run to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her brother Jamie.  While there, she comes across an angel reputed to have been carved my Michelangelo.  She and Jaime make it their mission (mostly at Claudia's insistence) to discover the statues true origins.  Eventually they contact the owner of the statue (Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) to discover the truth.  The eccentric woman shows Claudia  that the precious statue has been filling the same need that caused her to run away in the first place, and give her the insight to return home.

Audience

This book is slower paced but very witty.  Those who like action wouldn't care for this, but the mystery was enough to keep me going.  The story is told my Mrs. Frankweiler whose style is very sharp and enjoyable.  It's typical to be introduced to this one in 4th grade.

What I Love About This Book

I thought it was mostly a story of self discovery.  It's funny and lighthearted, but I think most children can relate with Claudia and her undefinable need.

Cautions

Two main characters have no qualms about cheating.  Also, the children run away and come back with no regrets about the pain they caused their loved ones.