Nicholas St. North and the battle of the nightmare king

Title: Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King Book 1 of The Guardians series
Author: William Joyce
Location: J Joyce W.
Level: 7-10 years old

This is the first book in The Guardian series and quite a good start. Nicholas St. North captured me and even after reading the last page I was still in its grasp. It is a well written, imaginative, adventure that is almost a prequel to Santa Claus. This is not a Christmas story and there is no mention of the jolly fellow. Instead it is a story of Omberic, the wizard who protects the town of Santa Claussen, and the man in the moon finding someone who can help them defeat Pitch, the nightmare king And no this book is not likely to give you nightmares. I haven’t read a book like this since The Tale of Desperaux. If your child isn’t reading at the level of this book read it to him/her. You will be creating a childhood memory.
Bottom Line: I loved it! Imaginative and adventurous. Slightly scary in a what’s going to happen way. Nicholas St. North is not jolly or caring at all, but with the help of Omberic and a little girl he begins to transform into a different person. Who knew Santa had such a colorful past!

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.

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!

Heart of Glass

Title: Heart of Glass: Book 3 in the Tales form the Five Kingdoms series

Author: Vivian French

Location: J French

Level: J chapter book

Heart of Glass is the third story in the Tales from the Five Kingdoms series. Vivian French made good on her promise that the bats would have more dialogue in this book. We even meet a new bat, Flo, who helps Gracie. There are some new characters in this book, mostly dwarves and trolls. Somehow Gracie has gone from dwarf-spotting with Marcus to being in a dwarf tunnel, where it isn't good to be a true heart.

The king of trolls wants a princess bride. The dwarves need the trolls' strength for mining more gold quickly. They have a deadline for the royal wedding crowns. They can figure out the princess part later. Will Prince Marcus be talked into doing something unprincely to save Gracie? Will Gubbble destroy everything in his path to get to Gracie? What's that old story about a Trueheart and a troll king?

Bottom Line: If you read any of the previous books in this series and liked them you should like Heart of Glass also. This is an fantasy, adventure story with princes, a good horse, talking animals and a princess, but it doesn't follow the Disney formula. There is no kiss and no happy ever after. The Troll king does not disappear forever. But with a True heart like Gracie involved things are bound to improve.

I could have lived with less of Marigold , whose character is just irritating to me. I did like the new bat Flo.