Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

by Judi Barrett

Can you imagine a place where ready to eat food falls from the sky?  All the houses have open roofs to let in the food, and it rains/snows three times a day.  It's a pretty great setup until the whether goes haywire and destroys the town (school was canceled when a ginormous pancake covered it).

Audience:
I loved it in 1st grade and I could picture some kids in kindergarten loving it.

Why I Love It:
I think the setting and the artwork are enchanting.  You can feel the differences in the season and time of day though the pictures.
I like the idea of ready-made food falling from the sky.

Cautions:
I liked the movie, but this is nothing like it.  We don't get to know anyone in Chewandswallow and there is no machine making it happen.  The book has a much more fairy tale feel to it.

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

Charmed Life

by Dianna Wynne Jones

Cat doesn't mind living in Gwendolyn's shadow, she is the most powerful witch in the world after all.  When she is summoned to Chrestomanci Castle to train as the next Chrestomanci, she pitches a fit .  She doesn't want the current Chrestomanci anywhere near her.  She has a secret, one about both her and Cat, that she can't stand anyone finding out.

Audience:
Twelve and up for reading level, eight and up for content

What I Love:
All the characters are so clever and enjoyable.  They had me lauging out loud and rolling my eyes more than once.

Cautions:
This is a really slow moving novel.  Until it was at the climax I wasn't that in to it.  Howl's Moving Castle is still my favorite by far of all her books.

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.

Christmas Trolls

by Jan Brett

 Trolls, in an attempt to have the Christmas they see at Treva's house, start stealing Christmas decorations.  It doesn't bring them happiness because the trolls are quarelsome and have no idea what the holidays are about.  When Treva finds them, she sets them straight and together everyone enjoys a happy Christmas

Audience:
I'd go 1st grade on up with this one

What I Love:
The illustrations are breathtaking and the story is heartwarming.  Jan Brett's famous borders are great in this, so pay attention to them.

Cautions:
This is slower than you'd expect from a children's book

Town Mouse Country Mouse

by Jan Brett

Town Mouse and Country Mouse are best friends who visit each other.  It's exciting to be in a new place, but both decide they's rather live in their own home.

Audience:
I'd go 1st grade on up with this one

What I Love:
The illustrations are breathtaking and the story is heartwarming.  Jan Brett's famous borders are great in this, so pay attention to them.

Cautions:
This is slower than you'd expect from a children's book

Annie and the Wild Animals

by Jan Brett

When Annie's cat disappears, she sets out food to get her back.  She is surprised when the local wildlife responds instead, but starts welcoming anything that sets foot in the yard.  I think it's set in Alaska.

Audience:
Kindergartners love it, so did my 4th graders

What I Love:
Jan Brett's books always have intricate borders and wonderful illustrations

Cautions:
This isn't Christmas, but it's definitely winter