Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
Barbara Park
Illustrated by Denise Brunkus

In this 20th anniversary full-color edition, readers are reminded why both children and adults love a six-year-old who licks her shoes to make them shine. Junie B. Jones captivates readers with her audacious and hilarious perspective. In this first episode of thirty titles, Junie B. shares her experiences and strongly held opinions about her first day of kindergarten. Junie B.’s unique way of characterizing adults in her life such as “Mrs.” and “Principal” is a cause for laughter. When Junie B. decides that she does not want to ride the stupid smelly school bus back home from kindergarten, she cleverly and impulsively devises a plan. She uses her skills of observation and hiding to slip away from the line of students and teacher who are all focused on the arrival of the bus. When Junie B. has the empty school building to herself, she revels in exploration until she finds that the bathroom doors are locked. This delightful edition includes an interview between Barbara Park and Junie B. Jones, and an inside look at the author and the illustrator. 2012, Random House, Ages 5 to 9, $14.99. Reviewer: Krisan Murphy (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780375868412

Max and Zoe at the Library
Illustrated by Mary Sullivan

Max has a problem. He has a habit of making dog ears in the books every time he needs to mark his place in the book. With Zoe’s help, Max desperately tries to remove the folds on the pages so he won’t be fined for damaging a book. While waiting in line to return his book at the school library, Max comes up with a solution that he suggests to Ms. Kim, the librarian. The story moves along in three chapters. Color illustrations provide support for the storyline. This book has a glossary with a pronunciation guide. There are a few questions for discussion and writing prompts for readers to explore. The project at the end of the book focuses on making bookmarks. Some readers may want to check out the publisher’s website for more activities. This adventure is one from the “Max and Zoe” series. 2012, Picture Window Books/Capstone, Ages 5 to 7, $19.99. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9781404862104

Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten
Hyewon Yum

Yum aptly captures the concerns of both parent and child on this major milestone day. In an interesting twist, our narrator, a little boy, eagerly prepares for his first day in “the big kids’ school while his mother is reticent and overly cautious. He has a moment of concern when they reach the classroom door, but as soon as his smiling teacher greets him, he knows he is ready for kindergarten. He enters the classroom and makes friends right away. At the end of the day, he finds his mother nervously waiting for him in the school yard. Just as she has calmed her fears, he asks if he can ride the bus the next day. Yum’s use of color, proportion, and facial expression deftly expresses the feelings of these two characters. There are no extraneous lines in either the text or the illustrations. Together, they convey the emotions of both parent and child. For example, when the little boy is feeling self-confident and his mother nervous, he is seen in color and much larger than she is. The hug they share after school, when both are “normal” size, is full of warmth. Her positive approach will be appreciated by parents as well as children and will help assuage the first-day jitters of both. 2012, Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan, Ages 4 to 6, $16.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780374350048

Oopsy, Teacher
Stephanie Calmenson
Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa

Mr. Bungles, the tardy teacher from Late for School, is back and again nothing seems to be going his way. First, he hits his head getting out of bed, ends up with shampoo in his eye and spills jam on his tie. When he finally makes it to school he ends up letting Nibbles, the class hamster, escape from his cage and a wild romp ensues. The children join their teacher as they chase Nibbles through the gym, across the park and eventually to a pizza stand. Mr. Bungles decides to make the best of things and celebrates the capture with a pizza party. The overtly goofy illustrations are rendered in vivid primary colors. The bouncy, rhyming text pauses at the page turn encouraging listeners to shout out the correct word to finish the phrase (which is printed on its own page in an extra-large font). The colors, rhyme, font and humor make it an ideal read-aloud for K-2 classes. 2012, Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Amy McMillan (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780761358947

School 100 Years Ago
Allison Lassieur

Clothes 100 Years Ago is a reading level 2 series book about Western styles of clothing for children, teenagers and adults of the early 1900’s. Featuring black and white photos of children and adults dressed in typical clothing of 100 years ago, differences in daily clothing are clearly illustrated especially in the “What’s Different” section. A photo glossary shows fabric swatches in color as well as black and white mini-pictures of stockings and drawers. Clothing customs were also different 100 years ago. Little children, both boys and girls, wore long dresses until they were about 4-5 years old. Boys wore long stockings and knee pants until they were out of their teens. Girls wore knee length dresses until they were grown women; then they wore long dresses. Victorian sailor suits were popular for young children of both ages. Clothes 100 Years Ago helps children at reading level 2, grades 1-4, to make contrasts and comparisons between clothing customs of today and long ago. Also recommended from the “100 Years Ago” series are the following titles, by the same publisher and author: School 100 Years Ago, Food 100 Years Ago, Phones 100 Years Ago, and Toys 100 Years Ago. Amicus, Grades 1-4, $16.95. Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (Children’s Bookwatch, October 2011).

ISBN: 9781607531647

Too Shy for Show-and-Tell
Beth Bracken
Illustrated by Jennifer Bell

Sam is so quiet and withdrawn that no one knows anything about him. Sam loves trucks, chocolate cake, and dogs. No one knows. When the teacher announces the coming of show-and-tell time, Sam thinks of a great thing to bring, but he is scared about showing it. He tries to miss school that day, but his mom knows he is not sick. He tells the teacher he has forgotten his item. She says he can just talk about it. Sam is terrified. He is sure he would mess up. When Sam’s turn comes, he pulls a paper from his backpack. He takes a deep breath and shows a picture he has drawn of his new dog. He talks about his dog without fainting or throwing up or crying. Everyone claps. Sam feels better. He starts thinking about what to bring for the next show-and-tell. Sam appears as a giraffe in a tall turtleneck shirt. His teacher is an ostrich and his classmates are other animals. The colorful illustrations cover the pages and depict the characters’ emotions in sensitive ways. A comforting story for shy children. 2012, Picture Window Books/Capstone, Ages 4 to 7, $22.65. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9781404866546

8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel [Divided By] 1 Dog = Chaos
Vivian Vande Velde
Illustrated by Steve Björkman

When sassy squirrel Twitch is threatened by an owl, the open door of the nearby elementary school seems like a godsend. The principal’s dog (over whose nose Twitch has trampled in his escape from the owl) thinks otherwise, though, so the chase is then on, and Twitch darts in and out of every classroom in the building trying to keep out of the indignant dog’s grasp while enlisting aid from various class pets (each of whom narrates a chapter) in the process. That turns out to be a surprisingly successful recipe for a middle-grades novel; the storytelling is smart and snappy, and the tone is highly humorous. Additionally, each pet’s narrative voice is both entertaining in its individuality and faithful to that animal’s characteristics: the third-grade class’ neon tetras, for example, keep repeating (somewhat mindlessly) “We are in a school,” while the science-lab geckos speak alternate lines (“NEWTON: Sometimes we get mangoes. I like mangoes. GALILEO: I know you do. I prefer the houseflies, which are crunchier. NEWTON: But not as sweet”), and the fifth grade’s corn snake favors words with sibilant syllables (“Sneaky and slithery, yes. But stroke my skin and see: I’m not the slightest bit slimy”). Björkman’s slightly scratchy black-and-white illustrations effectively echo the text’s light, comic tone, and they successfully serve to punctuate, but never interrupt, the narrative flow. This will be an easy sell to animal lovers and those looking for a quick, funny read, but it also sits up and begs to be read aloud; creative adults and kids might also be able to develop it into a comedic readers’ theater production. 2011, Holiday House, Grades 2, $15.95. Reviewer: Jeannette Hulick (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, November 2011 (Vol. 65, No. 3)).

ISBN: 9780823423644

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit
Tommy Greenwald
Illustrated by J.P. Coovert

Many people try to earn extra credit in life. They try to earn extra credit with their boss at work by coming in extra early or buying the boss his or hers favorite Starbucks. Some try to earn extra credit at home with their parents by doing extra chores or babysitting their younger siblings. Then there are the teacher’s pets, the students that just cannot get enough of school. The title of this middle reader may mislead some, but do not be deceived, Charlie Joe is not one of those people that like to earn extra credit⿦well unless showing up to class on time can earn him some extra credit. When it comes to school, though, Charlie Joe likes to avoid even regular credit like the plague. All through his early years of school, he seemed to manage getting by with as little effort as possible. Now he is in middle school and things are getting a little tricky. His latest report card drives his parents to desperate measures and now Charlie Joe needs to learn how to earn some extra credit. So what could drive a guy like Charlie Joe to earn extra credit? The threat of spending his long anticipated summer at camp is enough. Middle school students will love this humorous read along with Charlie’s free advice concerning extra credit. 2012, Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan, Ages 9 to 12, $14.99. Reviewer: Justina Engebretson (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9781596436923

Drama
Raina Telgemeier

When sixth-grader Raina falls and severely damages her two front teeth, a series of painful and sometimes experimental dental procedures follows over the course of the next several years. Through middle school and into high school, Raina endures braces, headgear, retainers, and root canals, before finally obtaining false front teeth, all with the aim to obtain a perfect smile. But teeth aren’t all Raina is concerned with-as a growing teenager, she’s trying to find her niche with friends who don’t always accept her, crushing on boys at school, surviving an earthquake in her city, San Francisco, and feeding her passion for art. Raina Telgemeier’s colorful and clean design makes this a highly appealing and accessible graphic novel memoir. The events and relationships presented, based on the author’s own experiences during the late 1980s and early 1990s, make an honest and compelling story. Through optimism, humor, and a supportive family, Raina grows into a confident young adult who loves herself enough to smile and really mean it. 2010, Scholastic, Ages 10 to 14, $21.99. Reviewer: CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2011).

ISBN: 9780545132053

From Chalkboards to Computers: How Schools Have Changed
Jennifer Boothroyd

Whether reading, writing, or arithmetic, the way children learn in school has changed dramatically over the past decades. Full page photographs, in black and white, depict children choosing books from a card catalogue in a library, playing ball games in old-style gym uniforms, and teachers writing on chalk boards. These pictures contrast with full color images of boys and girls using dry-erase boards connected to computers, students using backpacks instead of book straps, and school cafeterias where children pay with lunch money computed in electronic lunch accounts. The images do a good job of expressing the huge change in schools that has taken place since the early part of the twentieth century, even without the accompanying text. The text, presented in two to three short sentences per page, is set apart in contrasting color and type or highlighted in text boxes. The visuals are energetic, colorful and engaging. This book, one in the “Comparing Past and Present” series, closes with a list of names to know, a glossary, a list of further reading, an index, and would be a good addition to a preschool or lower elementary school library. 2012, Lightning Bolt Books/Lerner Publication Company, Ages 5 to 10, $25.26. Reviewer: Hazel Buys (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780761367444

Marty McGuire Digs Worms!
Kate Messner
Illustrated by Brian Floca

The enthusiasm and excitement of young elementary students is exemplified by third-grader Marty McGuire. Marty’s school has a motivating new speaker, Amelia Ranidae. She tells the students to create a project to help save the environment and win a mysterious award. Marty teams up with her best friend Anne to win, plus a little help from her Grandma Barb. The trio sets-up a box of worms in the school’s cafeteria that will eat the students leftover food, thus eliminating waste and creating a fantastic fertilizer. Grandma Barb does however give a few simple rules; one being not to over feed the worms. Nevertheless, Marty’s impatience gets the best of her, causing the worms to escape and making quite a few of her classmates upset. This is a fantastic book for new-chapter readers. The black-and-white sketches are found throughout the book and add a break for young readers. The language of Marty McGuire is the best part of the book from the “clickety-clackety shoes” to the “crocodile snap.” These phrases give sound and strong visuals to anyone who reads the book. This is a perfect book for a classroom or at home. 2012, Scholastic, Ages 6 to 9, $5.99. Reviewer: Sally S. Hoffman (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780545142458

Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind
Valerie Hobbs

Have you ever been the new kid at school? Minnie McClary has just moved to Mojave, and she’s the new kid on the block. She’s lonely and misses her old friends. Why did her family have to move? Setting foot inside Mojave Elementary School, Minnie worries about making friends and fitting in. She doesn’t know anyone at school and on the very first day Minnie makes the mistake of telling the entire class to be quiet. What could be more embarrassing? Soon Mindy meets Amira, and the two girls become friends. Mindy also enjoys learning from her new teacher, Miss Marks, who wears jeans and has a tattoo on her foot. Mindy loves writing in her journal, and pursuing self-discovery. But the people of Mojave challenge Miss Marks as a teacher, and Mindy worries that Miss Marks will lose her job. Should Mindy speak up, even if she can’t change the course of events? Young readers will enjoy meeting this courageous heroine, who steps out of the pages of this book and becomes larger-than-life in the reader’s imagination. 2012, Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan, Ages 9 to 13, $16.99. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D. (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780374324964

Star of the Week
Ben Clanton

Jasper John Dooley is getting ready for a very busy week at school. He is the Star of the Week! What exactly does this involve? “Monday, Show and Tell. Tuesday, Family Tree. Wednesday, Science Experiment. Thursday, I Share My Talent. And on Friday, Special Snack” (p. 9-10). However, Jasper’s excitement is overshadowed by the arrival of his friend Ori’s baby sister who looks like a watermelon – a watermelon who cannot stop screaming! Jasper’s Show and Tell presentation on Monday is a disaster! Not only do his classmates not appreciate his collection of lint, but they are much more interested in Ori’s stories about his baby sister. As a result, while preparing for Tuesday’s Family Tree presentation, Jasper decides that his small family needs another member. At first, he wants to borrow Ori’s sister, but that turns out to be impractical. He decides to create his very own brother out of wood. His imaginary brother Earl starts to complicate his life very quickly. Earl becomes his Science Experiment on Wednesday. He is also banned from the classroom when he “starts” a fight in the schoolyard. Just as Jasper thinks that his “Star” week is getting better, Ori’s problems with his crying sister come to a head. He stays over at Jasper’s house just to get some sleep! His sister simply will not stop crying! When the two friends go to Ori’s house to see his crying sister, Jasper manages to quiet her down. He truly is the “Star of the Week!” This is an engaging, funny and very beautifully written novel for young children about the difficulties of having babies in the house. This early chapter book with its amusing black and white illustrations will definitely capture the interest of young readers. “Being the Start of the Week was not going as well as Jasper John Dooley had expected.” (p. 60). The attention is not on him – it is on Ori and his difficulties with his crying baby sister. Not only does the imaginative Jasper learn about babies, but he also learns to care for others and to support his friends. Readers will learn that families come in all shapes and sizes, and you should appreciate and love the one that you are given! 2012, Kids Can Press, Ages 7 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Myra Junyk (Resource Links Reviews, June 2012 (Vol. 17, No. 5)).

ISBN: 9781554535781

Stealing Air
Trent Reedy

Brian is getting ready to attend a new school because of his dad’s new job. He enjoys skateboarding, flying airplanes and hanging out with his friends. But his dad sold their Cessna to pay for the new business and Brian needs to make new friends. His first day of meeting people doesn’t exactly end well. He makes an enemy of the local bully, gets befriended by a social outcast, and must begin keeping secrets from his family. Brian must decide how to handle the bully, commit social suicide, and fly a plane without a cockpit in this wild and crazy tale of boys growing up. If he can make the right decisions he will be able to make lifelong friends, save his dad’s business, and stay alive. Young boys will revel in the daring exploits and moan with sympathy at the stories of school and social life. The book is about life, decisions, and trust. While the crazy stunts pulled are not for timid parents, the message is something that every parent wants their child to embrace. It is a must read. 2012, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, Ages 8 to 12, $16.99. Reviewer: Tima Murrell (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780545383073

Zero to Hero
Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

Moving is not something Billy Broccoli wants to do and the new house is not his idea of a fun place. So Billy flatly refuses to get out of the car once his family pulls up to their new house. However, as Billy sits in the car, Rod Brownstone, the bully from next door, makes an appearance and Billy decides to get out. Billy has a new house to deal with and an unlikeable neighbor. It could not get worse, or could it? Billy discovers his room in the house is purple and it has a teenage ghost–who wants to make Billy a special project. The ghost, Hoover Porterhouse, has been having some difficulty passing his “ghost” lessons and higher up authorities, let Hoover know that he needs to help someone if he is to pass his lessons. With Billy selected Hoover sets out to help him. However, through various incidents, Hoover promptly manages to make Billy’s life miserable. Fortunately, that changes as the tale continues and Hoover actually helps Billy make friends in his new middle school. Characters are well-drawn and readers will identify with many of the scenarios introduced. Witty humor abounds and carries this story at a good pace. In addition, it is apparent that Buddy and Hoover will turn up in sequels that promise to be as much fun as other books by Winkler and Oliver. For a fun read, this book hits the mark and will appeal to boys and girls alike. 2012, Scholastic, Ages 8 to 12, $17.99. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780545298872

Awkward
Marni Bates

Seventeen-year-old Mackenzie Wellesley is just fine being the invisible awkward girl who cares more about getting into a good college than going to parties. Her high school life is defined by what group you belong to–“Notables” (the popular crowd) or “Invisibles.” So when a video of her accidentally knocking down a popular football player in the school hallway gets posted on YouTube, her first reaction is to hide from the inevitable jeers of her fellow classmates. This proves to be an impossible task as she never misses a day of school, and she still has to tutor “Notable” Logan Beckett. The video soon goes viral and big-time media outlets begin calling and showing up at Mackenzie’s school for interviews. In a classic Cinderella story for the twenty-first century, Mackenzie receives all the perks of social media fame: an invitation to hang out with a popular band backstage at a concert, countless designer clothes and shoes, and a guest spot on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Life has certainly thrown Mackenzie into the spotlight, and she must decide if it is all worth possibly losing her identity. Awkward never ceases to be completely entertaining. Mackenzie is a lovable, authentic character who many readers will instantly feel as if they know and understand. She is the girl we laugh with, cringe over, and ultimately root for. Written from Mackenzie’s perspective with tons of social media and pop culture references, teens will just…get it. This is a great recommendation for reluctant readers. 2012, Kensington, Ages 12 to 18, $9.95. Reviewer: Lindsay Grattan (VOYA, February 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 6)).

ISBN: 9780758269379

Don’t You Wish
Roxanne St. Claire

“Careful what you wish for” is brought to life in this parallel universe story. Annie Nutter is an Invisible–plain, brainy, bullied. Her family is struggling economically. Her real estate agent mom has had no sales and her eccentric dad spends precious resources on improbable inventions. Annie’s mother has a mini-meltdown and wishes aloud that she had married her first love, the billionaire cosmetic surgeon to the stars, Jim Monroe. During a lightning storm, Annie, who has been standing in front of her dad’s latest magical mirror invention, is zapped into the life of Monroe’s gorgeous, snooty daughter, Ayla. Just one hiccup–Annie is still Annie inside. As she adjusts to living in ridiculous luxury and being one of the It girls at school, she baffles the Monroes (in this life, her mom is miserably married to Dr. Monroe, who is a cheating cad) and her cruel posse with her considerate ways and discomfort with denigrating the Invisibles at her new school. She is put off by her hunky boyfriend and his caveman needs, and instead is drawn to outcast Charlie who shoulders his home-based burdens with graceful maturity, caring for his wheelchair-bound twin sister and mother. The allure of the rich-but-nasty life wears thin. Ayla/Annie is desperate to get back to her old life which includes turning back the clock and undoing the accident that put Charlie’s sister in the chair. A charming tale that will especially appeal to kids who feel themselves to be Invisible, tormented, and in need of empowerment skills. 2012, Delacorte/Random House, Ages 12 to 18, $20.99 and $17.99. Reviewer: Beth Andersen (VOYA, June 2012 (Vol. 35, No. 2)).

ISBN: 9780385741569

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters
Meredith Zeitlin

Kelsey Finkelstein hopes that teenage angst will be a thing of the past when she starts her Freshman year of high school with her close friends, Em, Cassidy, and JoJo. When she is inadvertently photographed wearing a gaudy red blazer picked out by her mother, and the photo is published in the school newspaper on the first day of the school year, her hopes are not only obliterated, but this mishap begins a long string of unending disasters. Her easy friendships crumble in the face of boy crushes and other challenges. This novel portrays fourteen-year-olds drinking liquor at parties and in homes, being high on pot, and a supporting character’s coming of age same-sex relationship. Adults are portrayed as dorky and generally clueless, except for one glimpse of hope for Kelsey’s mom–however fleeting the moment. Despite the obstacles she faces, Kelsey reaches beyond her insecurities. By the end of the book all of the conflicts and relationships Kelsey experiences are brought to a satisfying conclusion–with the hope that her next school year will be better than the last. 2012, G. P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Young Readers Group, Ages 14 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Krisan Murphy (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780399254239

The Whole Story of Half a Girl
Veera Hiranandani

On one of the last weeks of fifth grade, Sonia Nadhamuni’s father loses his job, and her parents tell her that next year she cannot attend her beloved private school with her best friend. Sonia is devastated, but when she begins sixth grade at the public school, two girls want to be her friends and she makes it onto the cheerleading team. Things at home, though, are not going as well. Sonia’s dad is fighting depression, and between his health and the questions she gets from her classmates on if she is Jewish or black or white, Sonia has to learn how to make herself happy by being the multifaceted girl she is. The opening of this book contains many cliché events that happen so fast the reader does not have time to connect with Sonia’s emotions or feel any sympathy for her. Sonia’s dad loses his job, she is told she cannot attend her private school, her best friend stops talking to her, fifth grade ends, summer vacation comes and goes, and sixth grade starts–all in the first thirty-four pages. Once Sonia is fully immersed in her new school, her classmates are introduced, and her father’s health issues become more complex, the characters gain third dimensions and make the reader care about Sonia. This book is a good addition to collections that need ethnically diverse characters, and for younger teens who want a solid contemporary, realistic book about friends and families. 2012, Delacorte/Random House, Ages 11 to 14, $16.99. Reviewer: Deena Lipomi (VOYA, December 2011 (Vol. 34, No. 5)).

ISBN: 9780385741286

The List
Siobhan Vivian

Each year just before homecoming, a list is distributed to the student body of Mount Washington High School ranking the prettiest and ugliest girl of each grade. Some glory in their newfound status and recognition (both negative and positive) while others don’t handle things quite so well but each girl gets a chance to tell of her experiences in the multi-narrator story. There is some adult presence as the administration steps in to find out who is behind it, issues warnings and offer support but the resolution and consequences are ultimately left to the girls, maintaining the book’s authentic voice and reactions. Each girl deals with the issues of popularity, self-esteem, peer pressure, cruelty, and perceived beauty in unique but realistic ways. The girls run the gamut from jocks to nerds to cheerleaders, freshmen to seniors, ensuring wide appeal to girls of all ages and groups. This is a book that will have readers talking and hopefully evaluating their own self-images and ideas of popularity and what is truly important. 2012, Scholastic Press, Ages 13 to 18, $17.99. Reviewer: Amy McMillan (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9780545169172

Updated 8/1/12

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