Just Jake - by Jake Marcionette

This book was written by a sixth-grade boy.  That in itself is a good reason to check it out, but its interesting storyline, fun characters, and creative twists make it a good pick for any kid 2nd-7th grade, at least.

The story focuses on a sixth-grade boy named Jake (a coincidence?), and his first year of middle school in a new state, where he has no friends.  He hopes to transfer his popularity from his old school, but it doesn't work that way, and he's suddenly at the bottom of the social ladder, struggling to make any friends at all, to avoid the school bully, and to survive living with his explosive teenage older sister.  To his advantage, Jake is a creative guy, a good artist, and he is full of confidence.  Will those talents be enough to help him not only survive but thrive in his new school? You'll find out, but the journey through that sixth-grade year is not an easy one, and it's Jake's struggles and solutions that make this book a winner.

Read this book to be inspired. This author is pretty awesome (his character's favorite word), and if he can do it, why not you, too?

Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius - by Frank Asch

This is a book that will leave you wondering what is real and what is imagined.  Young Alex loves to create things with cardboard boxes and other bits of junk he's collected, but his biggest challenge comes when his pesky little brother threatens to foil his latest invention.  When Alex is forced to reveal his plans for escape into outer space in his cardboard spacecraft, he must find a way to prevent his brother Jonathan from ruining everything.

There is plenty of sibling rivalry, fancy space and inventor's talk, and creativity in this short but fun book.  The reader won't know where the truth ends and Alex's fantastic imagination begins as this book moves from the bedroom to far above the Earth.  It will appeal to young inventors, older siblings who have to deal with little pests, space fans, and anyone wanting a curious but rewarding short book.

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians - by Jarett J. Krosoczka

I had high hopes for this book because my 2-year-old loves this author's picture book so much (Punk Farm, Bath Tub Pirates, My Buddy Slug, Giddy Up Cowgirl), but it was a bit of a disappointment.  It was a little hard to follow, the plot was pretty weak, and it just didn't hold my attention.  I'm obviously not the target audience for this book, and it may be just right for an early reader who wants to move from comics to graphic novels.

The illustrations are great and the characters are pretty goofy, so there's something redeeming about the book, but I would never spend money on any book in this series.  There are so many good graphic novel series out there, keep looking and you'll find something more interesting.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and other Natural Disasters - by Lenore Look

Alvin is one nervous kid.  In fact, in his second grade class, he hasn't spoken a word all year!  Get him on his favorite topic, which is all the terrible things that could happen to him at every moment of his life, and he won't stop talking.  Alvin is a great character, stuck between a nosy little sister and a too-cool older brother, and his adventures had me laughing all through the book.  In this second book of the series, Alvin's dad decides to bring him camping, and this has Alvin totally freaked.  The way he deals with his fear and the hilarious things that happen on the trip are very fun reading.  This is a very realistic, likable character, and a great new series.

This is a great short novel for second, third, or fourth graders, though the writing is witty enough that anyone older is also likely to enjoy it.  One thing that could help a child reading this book is to learn a little about Henry David Thoreau before reading, or as his name pops up early in the book.  

The Dunderheads - by Paul Fleischman

Here's a school story that will have you cheering.  A class full of oddball kids (sounds kind of like The Fabled Fourth Grade, doesn't it?) has to deal with an evil, nasty teacher, worse than Ms. Viola Swamp.  Her name is Miss Breakbone, and she is the nastiest of nasties.  She has an electric chair in her classroom, and gives herself a gold star whenever she makes a student cry.  When she confiscates one student's toy cat, which was to be a gift to his mother, she has gone too far.  When the students form a group (The Dunderheads) and develop a plan to get even with Miss Breakbone, the story really heats up.

Though this is classified in my local library as an "easy picture book", it's so much more than that.  It's more like a   mini-novel for third graders, but the interesting characters and detailed, hilarious wording and illustrations will make it a favorite of older children as well.  This will make an ideal fourth grade read-aloud for me, and I can't wait to try it out. This book is kind of like a simpler version of Gordan Korman's Swindle, but better, and with more memorable characters.  Check it out.  It will only take you ten minutes to read, but your laughter will continue for much longer.

Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts! - by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Fake names, weird collections, competition with a really smart girl, and some pretty cool science.  This book has all of this and more!  I'd put off reading this for a while because it looked kind of silly, but boy was I wrong.  It's a great book!  The writing really pulls you in and gets you caring about these characters, with plenty of funny little twists to hold your interest.  The story is a good one, and this should be a good series.

Phineas is a pretty cool kid, and an interesting main character.  Read this stories if you like science, school stories, authors who seem to get what it's like to be a kid, and series books.

Scaredy Squirrel - by Melanie Watt

What do you think of squirrels?  My experience is that even though they're super cute, they still like to throw acorns at my head and yell at me whenever I come near their tree.  This book is about one little squirrel who is so nervous about everything that he NEVER leaves his tree.  There's plenty of food there, and safety.  He's afraid of just about everything, from killer bees and germs to green martians.  Only when he accidentally falls from the tree one day does our hero realize that the world isn't quite so scary after all.

This short picture book is very cute, written and illustrated by the same person in a very funny way.  There are more in the series, so we haven't seen the end of Scaredy Squirrel!

Oggie Cooder - by Sarah Weeks

How can a lonely, strangely-dressed fourth grade boy rocket from anonymity (when nobody knows you) to FAME in the blink of an eye? And how on earth could eating processed American cheese have anything to do with it? As weird as this sounds, Ms. Weeks answers these questions in a hilarious page-turner of a novel with great illustrations and lovable characters.

Oggie Cooder has a special gift, charving (for a definition, try reading the book), which is really what the whole book is about. Or maybe it's about the difference between being happy and being popular. Then again, maybe the big idea is that the friends we've been looking for may be those who have been there by our side all along. How about you stop trying to figure out what the book is about, go get yourself a copy, and just read it. You'll get a good laugh, and won't regret it. Besides, it's pretty short, so you'll be able to finish quickly and move on to Sarah Weeks' other great book, Regular Guy.

Clementine - by Sara Pennypacker

What has curly red hair, a baby brother with a million vegetable nicknames, and the ability to drive her teacher, principal, and neighbors absolutely bonkers? Third grader Clementine, of course! She is a spunky little girl who lives with her parents and brother in the basement of a large city apartment building, where her dad is in charge of maintenance. Clementine tends to think a little different than most people, and things she sees as perfectly fine (coloring her friend's head and hair bright red with ultra-permanent markers) don't make as much sense to other people. While most adults would use words like inattentive and hyperactive to describe her, kids would just say funny.

This charming book is basically a collection of related short stories about Clementine, describing a week of her life. Most of the incidents are very funny, but there are some tender moments too, and everything seems to work out in the end. It is a good book for readers looking for a laugh, especially those who enjoy Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones stories.

Shredderman - by Wendelin Van Draanen

Nolan Byrd is tired of being terrorized and humiliated by Bubba, the school bully, while the teachers and principal do nothing about it. A smart kid, Nolan decides to take matters into his own hands, and he turns a school project into a mission to do something about Bubba, once and for all.

This is a truly wonderful story that will appeal to anyone who's ever been teased or bullied, like I was in elementary school. It is very well-written, a study of believable characters, and a very interesting fifth-grade classroom, all told first-hand from Nolan's point of view. It's a feel-good book, at least at the end, when the bad guys get what's coming to them.

The illustrations every few pages really add to the story, making the reading experience even better. Readers who enjoy lots of action, nerdy kids who turn out to be not-so-nerdy, and stories where the good guys win will all love this book, and I'm guessing everybody else will, too.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Want to laugh so hard you nearly fall out of your seat? Read this book. Author Louis Sachar is at his best when he's telling silly stories about the teachers and students of Wayside School, a ridiculous place where anything can happen. This book is full of unlikely happenings, tricky wordplay, and enough goofy scenes to bring a smile to anyone's face. Read this when you need cheering up, then try creating your own characters to add to the school.

The Legend of Spud Murphy - by Eoin Colfer

An evil librarian who has the stealth of a ninja and a potato gun hidden under her desk? This funny book by the author of Artemis Fowl follows two brothers to their local public library, where they have their fair share of adventures, get into some big trouble, and discover a thing or two about Spud Murphy, the feared librarian. This is a great book for fans of humorous, well-written books. It is just right for readers who are in the mood for a smart, pretty quick read, and a good laugh.

Thanks to my buddy Yasha for introducing me to this series.