October 2015

Hi Kidsreaders,

Are you guys into mashups? You know --- when you take part of one thing and part of another to make something totally new (I was pretty into the “Walking on Sunshine” and “Halo” mashup on "Glee" a few years back).

Well, I hope so, because this newsletter opener is a bit of a mashup of the two things that have been swirling around my mind this month. First, there’s Halloween, because I mean…come on. Awesome costumes, huge bags of chocolate, creepy fake spiders swinging from the trees outside of my apartment building…what could be better?

The other thing is book series, because (as you’ll see later in the newsletter), we’ve done a major overhaul of our series feature this month. We now include close to 200(!) of the biggest, coolest and newest series out there, as well as classics that never go out of style.

So what does a Halloween-Series mashup look like, then? A list of amazing children’s book series inspired costumes, of course! I came up with a few below.

Amelia Bedelia: Amelia is everyone’s favorite housekeeper (and librarian, political candidate and baseball player, depending on the book). For this costume, deck yourself out in a long-sleeved blue or black dress, an apron, black shoes and a flowered hat. But you wouldn’t be Amelia Bedelia without her classic literally-minded mishaps, so those have to be represented, as well. Remember that time she cut up a calendar and mixed it with eggs, flour and sugar when asked to make a “date cake”? Why not bring along a fake cake with the names of months, days of the week and numbers taped to the top? You could also carry around a picture of window curtains (she sketched them when asked to “draw the drapes”) or a baseball base, which she grabbed when her teammates encouraged her to "steal home plate" in PLAY BALL, AMELIA BEDELIA.

Goosebumps: We’re all for getting creative on Halloween, but let’s just remember that originally, people stuck to creepy costumes like ghosts, witches and skeletons --- none of this cheery princess, crayon or knight business. The king of juvenile horror --- R.L. Stine --- is the perfect person to remind us what Halloween is all about. You could wrap yourself in toilet paper to embody the mummy from the fifth book, THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY’S TOMB, or wear a pumpkin mask, jeans and converse sneakers to be pumpkinheads, the shape-shifting aliens from ATTACK OF THE JACK-O’-LANTERNS. Mr. Wood from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY is also a fine choice --- wear a suit and red bow tie and paint lines around your mouth to make it look like you’re made of wood. Remember to carry around a piece of paper with the words that allowed Mr. Wood to enslave his owners: "Karru Marri Odonna Loma Molanu Karrano (you and I are one now). To finish all of these looks, tape the famously oozing Goosebumps logo somewhere to your costume. Eep…I’m getting jumpy just thinking about these!

Origami Yoda: There will be plenty of Star Wars-inspired costumes this year with The Force Awakens coming out on December 16th, but why not give your costume a creative spin, Tom Angleberger style? You have a few choices here…you could go as an ordinary kid and walk around holding an origami Yoda finger puppet (or Darth Vader, or Chewbacca) OR you could go all out and dress as one of these characters but with a paper-y twist. Make Your Chewie outfit out of paper bags and markers so it looks like a puppet. Make your Princess Labelmaker/Leia wig out of brown construction paper with an exaggerated widow’s peak, and be sure to carry around the case file she delivers to Principal Rabbski.

I could honestly go on and on --- if you’re trick-or-treating with a group, you could be Hogwarts students from Harry Potter (like the photo on the right) or you could dress as the pantheon of Greek Gods and Goddesses from Percy Jackson and the Olympians. You could don mouse ears and a tutu and go as Angelina Ballerina, or wear all orange, make some cardboard fins, and draw black and white swirls around your eyes in facepaint to be the Zombie Goldfish.

No matter what though, I’m sure you’ll come up with something great. If you dress in a bookish costume (from a series or otherwise), be sure to email me a picture at shara@bookreporter.com!

But until then, check out the series feature, book reviews, fun roundups, info on the Miami Book Fair and more, and have a happy, creepy, candy-filled Halloween!

--- Shara Zaval (shara@bookreporter.com)

P.S: It may not be obvious, but that photo on the right is series-themed too: Eloise illustrator Hilary Knight is signing my copy of THE 365 DAYS OF ELOISE at the series' 60th anniversary party at the Plaza hotel! (And she would make another great costume by the way --- black jumper, pink bow, stuffed animal dog? You're good to go!)

What's better than a book (and no, we don't mean ice cream)? It's a whole series of books! At Kidsreads.com, we know that a lot of you are all about series. Once you find characters, topics or a fictional world you love, you don't have to leave --- you can just move from one adventure to another to another.

That's why we've decided to give our series feature a major makeover! We've updated the feature so that you'll find nearly 200 fantastic middle grade series, both modern and classic. We also chose to include several major picture book series, and readers from 0-12 will find something in here that appeals to them.

You can find series organized by age and alphabetically, learn the premise of each series and, most importantly, see which book comes after the one you just finished!

We'll also be including periodic "series updates" in our Kidsreads newsletter, so you'll know if we added a new series we think you should check out. So go check it out --- we know you'll love it!
 

Do you spend a lot of time with certain people or animals --- maybe your best friend, your younger brother or your pet rats? Well, if you’re anything like Devon Hughes, those companions might affect your future novel --- Devon spent so much time with her dog and Tabby cat that she started to think like them, and before she knew it, she was writing a book about a team of mutant animals!

You can learn more about UNNATURALS by checking out our special feature, which includes a review, interview and excerpt.

Click here to read the review.
Click here to read interview.
Click here to read the excerpt.
 

We were so excited to participate in two big reveals in the past month! First, we got to show off the cover of the adorable new picture book MOTHER GOOSE'S PAJAMA PARTY, which explores what might be the best sleepover party ever --- The Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon, Little Bo-Peep and the whole gang come over to Mother Goose's house for a night full of stories.

Then, we got to show an exclusive trailer for THE LEAGUE OF UNEXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN, the first book in a hilarious series by Gitty Daneshvari that follows a group of totally unexceptional, run-of-the-mill kids --- kids whose very ordinariness makes them the perfect spies!

Be sure to check out the covers and videos for both books, and then (of course) the books themselves!

Super Freak - Guest Post by Vanessa Barger --- The author of SUPER FREAK talks about some of her favorite middle grade books and how they inspired her own writing.

The Nest - Guest Post by Kenneth Oppel --- The author of THE NEST posts about the inspiration for his newest novel and what scared him as a kid.

Dogs are a man's --- and a woman's --- best friend, as is apparent from the huge amount of books about dogs out there! Some of these books, like LASSIE COME-HOME, have been enjoyed by readers for generations. In honor of the 75th anniversary of this classic tail --- uhh, tale --- we listed 20 great middle-grade and picture books about dogs, both new releases and classics.

This month’s roundup includes THE RAGGEDY ANN 100TH ANNIVERSARY TREASURY by Johnny Gruelle with illustrations by Jan Palmer, a compendium of five classic tales celebrating everyone’s favorite red-headed doll; ¡VÁMONOS! LET’S GO! by Rene Colato Lainez with illustrations by Joe Cepeda, a bilingual celebration of the popular kid’s song “The Wheels on the Bus”; and HELLO RUBY: Adventures in Coding by Linda Liukas, a tale that introduces young ones to “The ABC’s of Programming” through storytelling and interactive activities.
 

THE ODDS OF GETTING EVEN by Shelia Turnage (Children's Fiction, Humor)

The trial of the century has come to Tupelo Landing, NC. Mo and Dale, aka Desperado Detectives, head to court as star witnesses against Dale's daddy --- confessed kidnapper Macon Johnson. Dale's nerves are jangled, but Mo, who doesn't mind getting even with Mr. Macon for hurting her loved ones, looks forward to a slam dunk conviction --- if everything goes as expected.

Of course nothing goes as expected. Macon Johnson sees to that. In no time flat, Macon's on the run, Tupelo Landing's in lockdown, and Dale's brother's life hangs in the balance. With Harm Crenshaw, newly appointed intern, Desperado Detectives are on the case. But it means they have to take on a tough client --- one they'd never want in a million years.

For everyone who's already fallen for Mo and Dale, and for anyone who's new to Tupelo Landing, THE ODDS OF GETTING EVEN is a heartwarming story that perfectly blends mystery and action with more serious themes about family and fathers, all without ever losing its sense of humor.

Click here to learn more about the book.

 

WHITE HOUSE KIDS: The Perks, Pleasure, Problems, and Pratfalls of the Presidents' Children by Joe Rhatigan and Jay Shin (Children's Nonfiction, Biography)

Living in America's most famous residence might seem glamorous at first --- it's the most fun place any kid could live! There's a bowling alley in the basement, chefs are always available to prepare whatever you're craving, and sometimes presidential aides will even help you with your homework! But life isn't always easy for the youngsters who call the White House home. They're always in the spotlight, and those pesky Secret Service agents are always around. For every perk, there's a problem. From Washington to Obama, see the White House through the eyes of the children and grandchildren. Filled with wacky, weird, and wonderful stories, it shows what it's like to call the president Dad (or Granddad or Uncle). Find out what schools they went to, what mischief they caused, and what pets they had. There are first-person accounts from letters and interviews, fascinating photos, original illustrations, and even a section that follows the children after they left the White House.

Click here to learn more about the book.

 

Nothing exciting happens on the Hill of Dust, in the remote mountains of Mexico in the 1950s. There's no electricity, no plumbing, no cars, just day after day of pasturing goats. And now, without his sister and mother, eleven-year-old Teo's life feels even more barren. And then one day, the mysterious young Esma, who calls herself the Gypsy Queen of Lightning, rolls into town like a fresh burst of color. Against all odds, her caravan's Mistress of Destiny predicts that Teo and Esma will be longtime friends. Suddenly, life brims with possibility. With the help of a rescued duck, a three-legged skunk, a blind goat and other unexpected allies, Teo and Esma must overcome obstacles-even death-to fulfill their impossible destiny. Inspired by true stories derived from rural Mexico, The Lightning Queen offers a glimpse of the encounter between two fascinating but marginalized cultures --- the Roma and the Mixtec Indians --- while telling the heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that spans generations.

Click here to learn more about the book.

 

Do you live in the Miami area? If so, lucky you, and not just because of the weather! On November 20 - 22, you can head to the Miami Book Fair, once of the best book fairs in the country, and see tons of awesome picture book and middle grade authors, including Dav Pilkey, Rick Yancey, Sonia Manzano and Jon Scieszka.

Trying to convince your older siblings to go? Well they can see YA stars like Melissa De La Cruz, Victoria Averyard and Ryan Graudin (who we're hosting a twitter chat with on November 4th at 7PM EST).

We'll send another reminder next month, but seriously...this is one book event that you don't want to miss.
 

New! DREAM ON, AMBER by Emma Shevah (Children's Fiction, Fantasy)

As a half-Japanese, half-Italian girl with a ridiculous name, Amber's not feeling molto bene (very good) about making friends at her new school. But the hardest thing about being Amber is that a part of her is missing: Her dad. He left when she was little and he isn't coming back, so Amber will have to dream up a way for the Miyamoto sisters to make it on their own. --- Reviewed by Aimee Rogers.

New! THE TOYMAKER'S APPRENTICE by Sherri L. Smith (Children's Fiction, Fantasy)

Stefan Drosselmeyer is a reluctant apprentice to his toymaker father until the day his world is turned upside down. His father is kidnapped and Stefan is enlisted by his mysterious cousin, Christian Drosselmeyer, to find a mythical nut to save a princess who has been turned into a wooden doll. Embarking on a wild adventure through Germany, Stefan must save Boldavia’s princess and his own father from the fanatical Mouse Queen and her seven-headed Mouse Prince, both of whom have sworn to destroy the Drosselmeyer family. --- Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

New! STONEBIRD by Mike Revell (Children's Fiction, Friendship)

When 10-year-old Liam's family moves to be near his grandmother who is suffering from dementia, he's left to navigate his new neighborhood, school and grandmother's illness all by himself. The one place he seems to find solace is a rundown church where he finds an over-sized gargoyle that becomes the inspiration for his stories. As his home life gets harder and the bullies more relentless, the gargoyle seemingly brings Liam's stories to life. --- Reviewed by Brianna Robinson.

New! AFTER THE ASHES by Sara K Joiner (Children's Fiction, History, Adventure)

One stifling afternoon, Katrien's world turns upside down when the nearby volcano Krakatau erupts with a terrifying blast. For days, a deathly ash rains down on the Javan coast and everything is soon buried under the dust or destroyed by the tsunamis that follow. Amidst the chaos, Katrien knows her only hope of survival is to flee the jungle with the one person she vowed she'd never befriend. --- Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

New! MOST DANGEROUS: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin (Children's Fiction, History)

Chronicling every action the government had taken in the Vietnam War, The Pentagon Papers revealed a pattern of deception spanning over 20 years and four presidencies, and forever changed the relationship between American citizens and the politicians claiming to represent their interests. A provocative book that interrogates the meanings of patriotism, freedom, and integrity, MOST DANGEROUS explores the man who revealed it all. --- Reviewed by Sydney Scott.

New! A TALE OF HIGHLY UNUSUAL MAGIC by Lisa Papademetriou (Children's Fiction, Friendship)

Bestseller and author of the popular middle grade series Confectionately Yours Lisa Papademetriou is back with a magical, page-turning adventure for readers of all ages --- a touching tale about destiny and the invisible threads that link us all, ultimately, to one another. --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

New! MAGNUS CHASE AND THE GODS OF ASGARD, BOOK 1: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (Children's Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy)

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he barely knows --- a man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. -- Reviewed by Kat Szabo.

New! A BLIND GUIDE TO STINKVILLE by Beth Vrabel (Children's Fiction, Mental Health)

This is a stirring small-town story that explores many different issues --- albinism, blindness, depression, dyslexia, growing old and more --- with a light touch and lots of heart. Beth Vrabel’s characters are complicated and messy, but they come together in a story about the strength of community and friendship. --- Reviewed by Hasnah Farraj.

New! BOOK: My Autobiography by John Agard (Children's Nonfiction, Literary)

Books are one of humankind’s greatest forms of expression, and now Book, in a witty, idiosyncratic voice, tells us the inside story. A wonderfully eccentric character with strong opinions and a poetic turn of phrase, Book tells of a journey from papyrus scrolls to medieval manuscripts to printed paper and beyond --- pondering, along the way, many bookish things, including the evolution of the alphabet, the library (known to Egyptians as "the healing place of the soul") and even book burning. With bold, black-and-white illustrations by Neil Packer, BOOK is a captivating work of nonfiction by one of England's leading poets. --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

New! RHYTHM RIDE: A Road Trip through the Motown Sound by Andrea Davis Pinkney (Children's Nonfiction, History)

Berry Gordy began Motown in 1959 with an $800 loan from his family. He converted the garage of a residential house into a studio and recruited teenagers from the neighborhood --- like Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross --- to sing for his new label. Meanwhile, the country was on the brink of a cultural revolution, and one of the most powerful agents of change in the following decade would be this group of young black performers from urban Detroit. --- Reviewed by Aimee Rogers.

New! THE ENTIRELY TRUE STORY OF THE UNBELIEVABLE FIB by Adam Shaughnessy (Children's Fiction, Adventure)

“What is the Unbelievable FIB?” That’s the question 11-year-old Prudence Potts discovers on a baffling card no one else in Middleton --- except ABE, a new kid with a knack for solving riddles --- seems to see. Then a mysterious man asks for ABE and Pru’s help investigating mythical beings infiltrating the town, and that’s just one of the things Pru finds hard to believe. --- Reviewed by Sydney Scott.

New! THE SAFEST LIE by Angela Cerrito (Children's Fiction, Adventure)

Anna's story is a suspenseful and deeply moving account of the sacrifices endured, the dangers faced and the heroism demonstrated by courageous young victims, their parents and their saviors. It sheds light on yet another tragedy of the Holocaust: rescued children who lost not only their loved ones, but their very identities and Jewish heritage. --- Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

New! SCRAP CITY by D. S. Thornton (Children's Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction)

Would you believe that under the ground, right beneath your city, was another city? Would you believe it was populated with Scrappers, people built of metal and glass and stone? Jerome has no choice but to believe it after he befriends Arkie, a Scrapper. So when Arkie's city is in danger, Jerome knows he must help. But helping Arkie means hurting Jerome's dad, the only real family Jerome still has . . . --- Reviewed by Corinne Fox.

New! THIS SIDE OF WILD: Mutts, Mares, and Laughing Dinosaurs by Gary Paulsen (Nonfiction, Memoir, Animals)

Gary Paulsen is an adventurer who competed in two Iditarods, survived the Minnesota wilderness and climbed the Bighorns. None of this would have been possible without his truest companions: animals. Sled dogs rescued him in Alaska, a sickened poodle guarded his well-being and a horse led him across a desert. His understanding and admiration of animals is well known, and in THIS SIDE OF WILD, which has taken a lifetime to write, he proves the ways in which they have taught him to be a better person. --- Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts.

New! RULES FOR STEALING STARS by Corey Ann Haydu (Children's Fiction, Family)

When Silly is brought into her sisters' world, the truth is more exciting than she ever imagined. The sisters have discovered a magical place that gives them what they truly need: an escape from the complications of their home life. But there are dark truths there, too. Silly hopes the magic will be the secret to saving their family, but she's soon forced to wonder if it could tear them apart. --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

New! THE DOLDRUMS by Nicholas Gannon (Adventure, Children's Fiction)

Archer B. Helmsley wants an adventure. His grandparents were famous explorers...until they got stuck on an iceberg. Now Archer's mother barely lets him out of the house (as if that would stop a true Helmsley). Archer enlists Adelaide --- the girl who, according to rumor, lost her leg to a crocodile --- and Oliver --- the boy next door --- to help him rescue his grandparents. --- Reviewed by Emma Kantor.

New! "WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?" (All the Wrong Questions) written by Lemony Snicket with illustrations by Seth Godin (Children's Fiction, Mystery)

On all other nights, the train departs from Stain'd Station and travels to the city without stopping. But not tonight. You might ask, why is this night different from all other nights? But that's the wrong question. Instead ask, where is this all heading? And what happens at the end of the line? --- Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

New! SECRET CODERS by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes (Graphic Novel, Computer Science, Friendship)

Welcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes. --- Reviewed by Charles Payseur.

New! IT'S YOUR WORLD: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going! by Chelsea Clinton (Children's, Inspirational, Social Issues)

In a book that tackles the biggest challenges facing us today, Chelsea Clinton combines facts, charts, photographs and stories to give readers a deep understanding of the world around them --- and how anyone can make a difference. With stories about children and teens who have made real changes big and small --- in their families, their communities, in our country and across the world --- this book will inspire readers of all ages to do their part to make our world a better place. --- Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

New! THE GOLDEN COMPASS GRAPHIC NOVEL, VOLUME 1 (His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman, (Graphic Novel, Fantasy)

Lyra Belacqua is content to run wild among the scholars of Jordan College, with her dæmon familiar always by her side. But the arrival of her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, draws her to the heart of a terrible struggle --- a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, and a mysterious substance known as Dust. As she hurtles toward danger in the cold far North, Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: she alone is destined to win --- or to lose --- this more-than-mortal battle. --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

New! THE BLACKTHORN KEY by Kevin Sands (Fantasy, Mystery)

Following a series of murders, an apothecary's apprentice must solve puzzles and decipher codes in pursuit of a secret that could destroy the world in this suspenseful debut novel. --- Reviewed by Rebecca Czochor.

New! THE ASTOUNDING BROCCOLI BOY by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Humor, Action & Adventure)

Rory Rooney likes to be prepared for anything. But Rory isn't prepared when he suddenly and inexplicably turns green and finds himself stuck in an experimental hospital ward. The doctors are just as baffled as Rory is, and that's when he begins to wonder: What if this isn't caused by his genes, or a virus or something he ate? What if it's something even more extraordinary? --- Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

New! THE FALL by James Preller (Social Issues, Fiction)

As Sam explores the events leading up to his classmate Morgan's suicide, he must face a difficult and life-changing question: Why did he keep his friendship with Morgan a secret? And could he have done something --- anything --- to prevent her final actions? --- Reviewed by Hasnah Farraj.

New! THE SLEEPER AND THE SPINDLE by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell (Picture Book, Fairy Tale, Fantasy)

In this captivating and darkly funny tale, Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell have twisted together the familiar and the new as well as the beautiful and the wicked to tell a brilliant version of "Snow White's" (sort of) and "Sleeping Beauty's" (almost) stories. This story was originally published (without illustrations) in RAGS & BONES (Little, Brown, 2013), and this is the first time it is being published as an illustrated, stand-alone edition. --- Reviewed by Rebecca Czochor.