Memoirs of a Goldfish

Title:  Memoirs of a Goldfish
Author:  Devin Scillian
Location:  JE Scillian
Level: 2-8 years old

In memoirs of a goldfish the goldfish narrator tells us about his dull life.  Well, dull until others start getting added to the bowl.  Soon it is so crowded he wants his bowl back.  Will he miss the other occupants?  Will he ever see them again?  Read the book to find out.

This was my favorite picture book for the past year.  Every group I read it to loved it!  It's humorous, uses some possible new vocabulary, and the artwork enhances the story on each page.  The backgrounds are simple, usually white or light blue, making the main focus the fishbowl.  The narrator's face is quite expressive for a goldfish.  It even has a happy ending.

Bottom Line:  Memoirs of Goldfish by Devin Scillian is a great, humorous story with outstanding artwork.  I loved it and have told many many people about this book.  Find out what it's like to live in a fishbowl that keeps getting more crowded by the day.  I believe this book won a children's choice award.

Vordak the Incomprehensible How to Grow Up and Rule the World

Title: Vordak the Incomprehensible How to Grow Up and Rule the World

Author: Scott Seeger

Level: 8-12 years old

Location: J Seeger S.

Vordak the Incomprehensible has written a guide to ruling the world. Who better to write it than the villain with the biggest ego. Vordak will guide you through all aspects from choosing a villain name, costume and lair to information about superheroes and how to issue an ultimatum. He really wants you to succeed (So he can be the second in command and take your spot if something should happen to you.). You’ll be thankful he went through the trouble of torturing interviewing seventeen illustrators before choosing John Martin. John’s drawings, which are plentiful, really help illustrate Vordak’s instructions and add to the humor. If you enjoy this book, and what person with a brain wouldn’t, look for How to Rule the School on library shelves now.

Bottom Line: Funny! I laughed out loud while reading How to Rule the World. Anyone who likes absurd humor will want to read this book, especially third and fourth grade boys. Plus there are plenty of drawings. Some take up almost an entire page! (Hint if you have a book report and the book has to be a certain number of pages.) I’ll be looking for How to Rule the School to find out what diabolical evil Vordak is planning now.

Zero Gravity - Astronaut Academy

Title: Astronaut Academy zero gravity
Author: Dave Roman
Level: 10-14
Location: graphic novel j astronaut vol.1

Zero Gravity is the first book in a new series of graphic novels that take place in space. This one is older than our other space related graphic novels. The story focuses on the students, who seem to all have crushes on other students, and teachers of the school. The dialog in the book was a bit awkward. It reads almost like it was translated from Japanese, the way people for whom English is a second language might translate literally or phrase words differently. I tried to think of it as being translated and that helped some. Also the story itself did not flow smoothly to me. Each chapter is started by a character introducing him or herself and speaking from his or her view point. Eventually characters are introducing themselves for a second or third time. While there was a story line it felt disjointed. We never find out why Hakita Soy came to astronaut academy and are left guessing about why he is sad. There is some humor. The drawings were good and the black and white panels are easy to follow. So Zero Gravity is alright, but I would rather read the younger space graphic novels Missile Mouse or Zita the Spacegirl. I haven’t ruled out giving the second volume a chance.

Bottom Line: I was looking forward to reading Zero Gravity, the first book in the Astronaut Academy series, which focuses on the students and teachers at the school. I am a bit disappointed due to awkwardness in the dialog and story line. Also with so many graphic novels in color this one is black and white. It is older than other space graphic novels (10-14). I didn’t hate it, but I would much rather read Missile Mouse or Zita the Spacegirl. I’m hoping the second volume will redeem the series for me.

Beauty Queens

Title: Beauty Queens
Author: Libba Bray
Reading Level: Young Adult
Location: YA Bray

Printz Award winner Libba Bray, begins her latest novel, Beauty Queens, with the dramatic plane crash of an entire plane full of Miss Teen Dream contestants. Those who survive find themselves on a deserted island with no adults or food and worst of all, no beauty products! Led by Miss Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins from Texas, the girls focus on staying pageant-ready by practicing their dance routines and relishing all that weight they are losing. But the island is not entirely uninhabited and these Miss Teen Dreamers are in more danger than they ever imagined. As despair and hunger set in, the girls begin to drop their fake personalities and all that competition to band together and survive in style, learning about themselves in the process. Will the Miss Teen Dreamers make it off the island to write a tell-all book about their experiences? Will they fall for some hot, reality-show pirates? Will they break a nail in the process?

I am a huge Libba Bray fan and have adored her other novels, so I was fairly confident I would feel the same about Beauty Queens. From Bray’s snarky humor to the “commercials” for various beauty products like “Lady Stache Off” and reality shows like “Captain Bodacious IV: Badder and More Bodaciouser,” that appear between chapters, this book was a lot of fun from start to finish. I really did not think I would get attached to any of the characters since they are all beauty pageant contestants but Bray deftly reveals their real personalities and the various reasons they got into pageants. I have to say, I loved all the characters in the end, even the super ditzy one. If I were on a deserted island, I would definitely want Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins on my side; maybe she could teach me to break the bad guy’s necks.

One of my favorite things about this novel is Bray’s message that you don’t need Lady Stache Off, eye creams, wrinkle-remover creams, tanning creams, bleaching creams, breast implants, breast reduction, butt implants, lipo, botox or anything designed to make all girls look like cookie-cutter, carbon copies of each other. It’s good to be different. So when our society tries to put you in a box and make you conform to our social mores or our narrow standard of beauty, be confident and live the life you want. I am thrilled that Bray delivered her message in this hilarious, exciting romp with some amazing beauty queens. Oh, and she does throw in some hot pirates!

The Bottom Line: Beauty Queens is just amazing! Libba Bray does a great job of delivering a hilarious story and great characters while simultaneously slamming our image-obsessed, reality show culture. This is a book that makes you proud to be a girl, no matter your age, and I highly recommend it.

Squish- Super Amoeba

Title: Squish Super Amoeba(vol.1)
Author: Jennifer and Matthew Holm
level:juvenile
Location : coming soon to J graphic novel Squish

Super Amoeba is the first book in the new Squish graphic novel series by the Holm sister and brother team. If you recognize their name from Babymouse be warned there is not a drop of pink ink in this book. It has definite boy appeal. Don't walk away girls! You may like this series too. Squish is a school aged amoeba who has to deal with a bully who is way bigger. He loves reading super hero comic books, tacos and twinkies. His best friend, Pod, is working on solving global warming, sort of. Sometimes Pod doesn't seem like the best amoeba friend. There is a bonus at the end of the book; a science experiment and how to draw Squish.

Bottom Line: This book is a great start to the new Squish series about an amoeba. I liked being able to read Squish's comic book with him. There is some humor and actual science (very unobtrusive to the story) I actually like the book better than the last Babymouse- Mad Scientist ( sorry Babymouse) and want to see how it will develop.

Lunch Lady and the Bale Sale Bandits

Title: Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit
Author: Jarrett Krosoczka
Level: juvenile
Location: J graphic novel Lunch

How dare someone steal the goodies from a school bake sale! Who doesn't love cookies and cupcakes!? The lunch lady will find out. While it may not take long to figure out the culprit, this book is a fun read with humor, action, and of course the Lunch Lady's special gadgets for solving a mystery. You'll be entertained and perhaps wondering just what those lunch ladies are thinking when they look at you like that in line.

Bottom Line: Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit is an entertaining, light read full of action and humor. The bandit is menacing. Lunch Lady knows how to handle a scooter like a pro dirt biker. I liked it of course.

Guys Read: Funny Business

Title: Guys Read: Funny Business
Edited by: Jon Scieszka
Level: 8-12
Location: J Guys

Funny Business is based around the theme of—what else?—humor, and if you’re familiar with Jon and Guys Read, you already know what you’re in store for: ten hilarious stories from some of the funniest writers around. Before you’re through, you’ll meet a teenage mummy; a kid desperate to take a dip in the world’s largest pool of chocolate milk; a homicidal turkey; parents who hand over their son’s room to a biker; the only kid in his middle school who hasn’t turned into a vampire, wizard, or superhero; and more. And the contributor list includes bestselling author, award winners, and fresh new talent alike.
Bottomline:
Some of these stories were just too silly or gross for me, but I did find a few quite funny. My favorite, and I recommend to anyone perusing the book, is "Your Question for Author Here". It was a parody of Dear Mr. Henshaw, which was one of my favorite books as a kid. This one was written by Jon Scieszka and Kate DiCamillo - and it was hilarious! Great funny short stories for any reluctant reader!

Chester's Masterpiece

Title:  Chester's Masterpiece
Author:  Melanie Watt
Reading Level:  Picture Book
Location:  JE WATT

Chester is back with his fat red marker! After stealing author Melanie Watt's art supplies and eating her computer mouse (which, by the way, tastes like chicken), Chester decides that he will write a better story than Watt ever could. In his first attempt at storytelling, Chester steals the lines from a familiar Christmas poem with a few additions of his own. Watt decides to inform Chester of his mistakes and attempts to assist him in his writing venture through post-it notes. After learning what elements make up a story, Chester makes a couple interesting attempts and gloats until his marker finally runs out of ink.

This humorous installment in the Chester series goes beyond the predecessors by having Chester write most of the narrative. A real treat the continuation of having Chester writing the inside flaps of the book cover and copyright page. His mischievous nature comes out in the narrative and also in his little drawings. What makes this series particularly interesting is the artistic style. Watt uses a combination of 3D-Computer, pencil, and watercolor that makes it a feast for the eyes. Many of the pages consist of lined paper where Chester, who is done in watercolor, writes with his red marker. The author's voice is made apparent by using post-it notes written in pencil usually scolding Chester.

Bottom Line:  All of the Chester books are just so much fun to read and this one is no exception.  This is a  great story to help teach preschool to second grade about elements of a story and still have fun doing it.  Even if you are a child at heart, you will love this book and Watt's storytelling.

Lunch Lady and the summer camp shakedown

Title: Lunch Lady and the summer camp shakedown

Author: Jarret Krosoczka

Level: J

Location: graphic novel J Krosocczka vol.4

The Breakfast Bunch kids are on their way to their first sleep away summer camp ( with no technology). Guess who they run into as they get off the bus - the Lunch Ladies! The camp legend of a swamp monster seems to have come true. Everytime the swamp monster shows up another activity is cancelled. Can camp get any worse? Can the Lunch Lady figure out who is behind the swamp monster in time for some fun?

Bottome Line: Cool gadgets that remind me of Inspector gadget. I read this book to a group of 5-8 year olds who voted it their favorite of everything I read. Several boys wanted to know if there were more books. Definitely some humor. I heard snickers as I was reading.

A Really Nice Prom Mess

Title: A Really Nice Prom Mess

Author: Brian Sloan

Reading Level: YA

Location: YA Sloan

Cameron Hayes is excited to go to his senior prom, especially when his date is the most attractive girl at school. The problem is, he would much rather be at the prom with...his boyfriend. They are both deeply in the closet and forced to go on double dates with girls to avoid anyone knowing about their sexuality. Things get worse when Cameron picks up his date. Virginia, the crass, foul-mouthed (and homophobic) bombshell beauty. The entire novel is a hilarious tale of one night involving parties, fights, a high-speed police chase, a go-go dancer and plenty of drama! Brian Sloan uses very realistic teenage dialogue and you can't help by continue to turn the page with this edgy novel. The characters are refreshingly honest and easy to relate to.

Bottom Line: This is a very underrated page-turner that is a must read for older high schoolers. Brian Sloan is a very talented writer in the YA genre and I really wish he would write more. One warning: Don't read it on a school night because you will be up all night waiting to see how the night of madcap adventures all end.

The Composer Is Dead

Title: The Composer Is Dead
Author: Lemony Snicket
Reading Level: J
Location: J Snicket

Someone has killed the composer! The question is who did it...

Instruments such as the Harps, the Violins and the Trumpet are all personified in this cleverly funny mystery. As the detective tries to solve the murder, all the instruments are suspects with questionable motives...but plausible alibis. I knew this would be a witty, fun read coming from Snicket who crafted the dark humor A Series Of Unfortunate Events books and established himself as the Tim Burton of modern children's literature. One great line is when the narrator describes the composer as no longer composing, but "decomposing". Many classical music references are made that the adults can enjoy too. You may even learn a thing about orchestras and symphonies. Accompanied is a CD with Lemony Snicket narrating and followed by a performance by the San Fransisco Orchestra. Despite the grim subject, the story is in a picture book format suitable for young elementary school children who can appreciate a well-crafted darker comedy.

Bottom Line: Snicket once again proves that he doesn't need a 300+ page chapter book to develop a captivating storyline. I recommend this book to any fan of classic music or a silly but creative plot with a surprise ending.

The Robe of Skulls

Title: The Robe of Skulls

Author: Vivian French

Location: J French

Reading Level: Juvenile

The cover of this book reminds me of Cruella from 101 Dalmations. Lady Lamorna is out to collect something too, but it's not puppies. She wants a new robe and will stop at nothing to get it. She has magic and helpers; a troll who has a problem with his head, and a beautiful girl who is not what she seems at first sight. This is a fast-moving fun book with a great cast of characters from the funny talking bat to the castle orge. They're all traveling about the Kingdom of Gorebreath trying to escape from or find another. You'll have to read it to find out why. Black and white pictures are scattered throughout the story. This isn't Disney's fairytale!

Bottom Line: Liked it, liked it, liked it. Lots of fun, quick moving, and short. Characters you want to see in a movie and repeat their lines back to a friend. In fact, I'm hoping this is made into an animated film.