Mr. Popper's Penguins

by Richard and Florence Atwater

Looking for a great summer read?  Like to go see movies?  Think of reading this book as it is coming out as a new movie on June 17th.  It was originally published in 1937 (yes.....a long time ago) and was also a Newberry Honor winner, truly a classic.  It tells the story of a poor house painter named Mr. Popper and his family, who live in the small town of Stillwater in the 1930s. The Poppers unexpectedly come into possession of a penguin, then get a penguin from the zoo who mates with the first penguin to have 10 baby penguins. Before long, something must be done before they eat the Poppers out of house and home. It is a wonderfully absurd tale that makes kids (and parents) laugh out loud.  This book has simply delighted readers for several generations now.  A perfect summer read or even a family read aloud.  Read it before you go see the movie!!!  I always tell my boys we have to read the book before we go see the movie...a great reading incentive.  :)

 

Max Quick: The Pocket and the Pendant

By Mark Jeffrey

Young fantasy fans will love following Max Quick as he leads them on a high-speed tour of ancient myths, alien kingdoms, and some books you can really throw yourselves into (really).  Max, a pickpocket, a vagabond, an orphan, and a thief, finds himself in a "pocket" where everybody is frozen in time...except for Max.  He journeys across America to figure out the source of the time-stop and along the way meets others who are not suspended in time.  Max and his new friends search together for the cause of this disaster while they are also being chased by relentless and mysterious villains willing to anything to prevent Max from ending the Time-stop. A fresh, fun, and fascinating read that will make readers wish they had their own pause button pressed on time. 

This book was originally published as a podcast audiobook!!

Ellray Jakes is NOT a Chicken!
By Sally Warner

If EllRay can stay out of trouble at school he’ll get to go to Disneyland, but bullies Jared and Stanley are thwarting his efforts. Even though EllRay is the smallest kid in his 3rd grade class, he has a BIG personality. And he will not let Jared and Stanley call him a chicken or get in the way of his going to Disneyland.

This is the perfect book for boys and reluctant readers. A first in a series of many more to come. Full of action and humor, but most importantly, it gets at a very real issue in kids' lives and deals with it in a thoughtful way.

The Secret of Zoom

By Lynne Jonell

Another fun and fantastical story by the author of Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat. Christina lives in an old stone mansion on the edge of a forest surrounded by barbed wire, an electric fence and a sign that states "Tresspassers will be boiled!" Christina's father who is the head scientist at Loompski Labs, located deep within the forest, tries to protect Christina from all the dangers of the world so she is not allowed to do go to school or play with other children . She learns through the use of her computer and is allowed outside for only a short period of time each day. But when a boy from a nearby orphanage talks to her through the fence one day, her life suddenly becomes much more exciting as she discovers a secret tunnel that leads her out of the mansion and into the forest. Once she helps her new friend, Taft, escape the orphanage her life is anything but safe. As Christina and her friend Taft investigate the substance called “zoom,” they discover several things: 1. Zoom can be used as fuel. 2. Orphans are being enslaved to extract zoom from mines. 3. Christina’s long-lost mother may have been killed because of her work with zoom. With the power of zoom, Taft and Christina can fly miniature planes, rescue the orphans (as well as others who have been captured) and uncover the real danger that is lurking at Loompski Labs.

The Magical Ms. Plum

By Bonny Becker Illustrated by Amy Portnoy

Third-grade teacher Ms. Plum is the most popular teacher in the school. Everyone wants to be in her class. Children who have had her speak of their love for her, but then stop talking and just smile mysteriously. Ms. Plum has a wonderful secret: a magic supply closet. It smells of something wonderful and has dark corners filled with wondrous things. When a student is asked to get something from the closet, they return with an animal that perfectly matches what they need. A shy girl is pampered by a group of little monkeys. A loud child returns with a parrot who talks even more than he does. And who knows what the smart boy who sees himself as not needing anything will get!
This book is a delight. Ms. Plum is a mix of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Ms. Frizzle. She solves children’s problems with magic and a modern style. Ms. Plum’s teaching is evident, but the animals and children are the heart of the story, just as they should be. Portnoy’s black-and-white illustrations nicely break up the text, making a book that reluctant readers will feel right at home reading.
Perfect for reading aloud to a class, this is also an ideal book to hand to young readers who can reach the end of a chapter and have some resolution and a sense of accomplishment.