Drum Roll, Please
By Lisa Jenn Bigelow If you are ready to be transported to summer camp, Drum Roll, Please is just what you need! Melly attends music camp with her best friend but she experiences much more than an improvement in her drumming. As well as managing her own self doubt and learning how to survive at sleep away camp in the isolated Michigan woods, there are difficult times with her best friend, her parents impending divorce, and a surprising first crush on a girl. Through Melly’s eyes, Bigelow paints a vivid picture of the woods, camp site, and the emotional roller coaster Melly is riding. The friendships between the characters are delicate and complex and realistically portrayed. Melly’s first crush is explored innocently without unnecessary focus or dramatization. A beautifully written, well executed story full of heart where each page turn brings more feels. Suitable for middle- grade readers and up. Embrace your inner rocker and enjoy!
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The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee by Deborah Abela
(Publication date: April 2018) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. From beginning to end this contemporary middle-grade title is filled with heart (and intriguing words, complete with definitions). It follows the story of India Wimple, a shy, kind spelling lover from a small town in rural Australia. India dreams of participating in a spelling bee on TV and her eccentric, supportive family do everything they can to make this happen despite financial hardships. Like India, the secondary characters are equally memorable from Nanny Flo to her severely asthmatic brother, Boo. Important themes abound from the importance of determination and overcoming self-doubt, family bonds, kindness and friendship, community spirit and, of course— S.P.E.L.L.I.N.G. This page-turning book will appeal to anyone who loves splendiferous stories and will likely be a classroom staple in no time. @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit Stu Truly By Dan Richards
(On sale date: 7/3/18) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. In this hilarious middle-grade novel a sixth-grader’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of a new girl. Stu is a video game loving, meat-eating guy who has never paid attention to girls. The arrival of vegetarian Becca changes everything. Suddenly Stu finds himself doing crazy things like stapling his finger, eating raw Brussel sprouts, pretending he is vegetarian, and spending a great deal of time lost for words with his heart thumping and stomach twisting. His best friend, Ben, is also distracted by a girl— Becca’s friend, Kirsten. By day, Stu finds himself helping Becca plan a protest to encourage more vegetarian lunch options at school. By night- he gets pulled into his father’s plans to create a float for the annual town parade, promoting meat consumption and his butcher shop. As expected, tension rises to a laugh-out-loud level. A perfect book for middle-schoolers navigating first crushes and anyone wanting some comic relief in their life. Fast paced and delightfully witty. Enjoy! @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit How to be a Supervillain: Born to be Good by Michael Fry
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This follow-on tale to How To Be A Supervillain is just as quirky, hilarious, and absurd. From the tickling super skill of the narrator, Victor, to the diverse secondary characters, including The Smear, Moldy Dave, and Anvil Head! Even abstracting from the humor of the superhero’s names and traits, the plot will ensure readers continue to turn pages— who wouldn’t want to know the outcome of a battle between a whole bunch of Supervillains and the alien Commodore who trapped them to use as galaxy entertainment. Oh, and if that’s not enough, the narrator wants to give up his supervillain life to become a civilian librarian and no one’s pleased about that either. A great middle grade read, either as a stand-alone title or follow on from book one. The large number of illustrations provide another layer of entertainment and will be a great help for reluctant and struggling readers. @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit Door By JiHyeon Lee
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. From the moment your eyes take in the cover of this wordless picture book you will be enticed inside its magical pages. A boy finds a key and follows a flying bug through the human world to a door. Inside, he finds a new land and unique creatures. He plays, picnics, swings, climbs trees, and even attends a wedding with his new friends. And discovers that there are many doors and many unique communities still to be explored. Language and appearance are not barriers to making friends here, everyone is welcoming and accepting. A perfect message for an exquisitely illustrated book. This is a work of art to keep forever. @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit
Marwan’s Journey by Patricia de Arias (Illustrations by Laura Borràs) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This powerful picture book follows the journey of a young boy, Marwan, a refugee seeking a new home. The writing conjures beautiful images and is relatable to anyone on a journey to find a new home. Despite his situation, Marwan’s voice is filled with hope for a brighter future. This is an ideal picture book for explaining the plight of refugees and an ideal mirror for those on such a journey themselves. The beautiful illustrations are a perfect complement to the wonderfully crafted text. @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit
Hazelnut Days by Emmanuel Bourdier (Illustrations by Zaü) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Hazelnut Days depicts a difficult, underrepresented situation— being a child with a parent in prison. The text is honest and contemplative, and the characters are well developed. The length of the text and the way the story is told make it more suited to older readers. It is heart-warming that despite his father’s faults, this young boy is able to find things he admires in his dad. The illustrations pair well with the seriousness of the text. @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit
Where The Watermelons Grow By Cindy Baldwin Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Where The Watermelons Grow takes us on a journey with twelve-year-old, North Carolina girl, Della Kelly who tiptoes from her bed one steamy summer night only to discover her mother hearing voices that aren’t there. As the days progress, Della watches her Mama fall deeper under the veil of an acute episode of schizophrenia. Initially it’s just small things like her mother fearing watermelon seeds are toxic and air conditioners are bad for your health. But these irrational concerns and non existent voices become stronger until Della can no longer recognize her mother in the body of the woman who stands before her. Desperate to prevent her mother’s downward spiral, which has previously ended in a hospitalization, Della takes it upon herself to shoulder an increasing amount of responsibility - from household chores to caring for her eighteen month old sister, and helping her daddy on the struggling, drought-ridden farm. And when that doesn’t work, she seeks some medicinal honey from the legendary, local Bee Lady- who, much to Della’s despair, advises Della to heal her own aching heart and let the medical professionals care for her mother. Throughout the book, Della’s journey continues to be heart achingly sad but Cindy Baldwin’s beautiful writing gently wraps around your heart and mesmerizes, compelling you to read on like only a master storyteller can. And Baldwin’s secondary characters are just as rich and alive as her heroine. Especially Della’s exhausted but loving father, her loyal best friend, Arden, and new neighbor, Miss Lorena. Where The Watermelons Grow is a must-read story full of love and hope despite the seriousness of the mental illness portrayed. Grab an ice cold plate of watermelon, a patch of summer sun, a box of tissues, and get ready to walk in Della’s shoes. It’s an experience not to be missed. @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit
Hilde Cracks the Case: Hero Dog! By Hilde Lysiak with Matthew Lysiak (Illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. One of the most critical features of a successful early chapter book series is the voice of the main character. And in this series, the voice is spot on. The author, Hilde, is a ten-year-old writing about events loosely based on her own real-life experiences as a junior sleuth. In Hero Dog, Hilde is intent on solving a baffling case. Various baked goods, among other things, have gone missing on none other than the day of the local Bake-Off Bonanza. Is the culprit a dog with a sweet-tooth? A disgruntled neighbor? A jealous Bake-Off contestant? Armed with her trusty notepad and pen, Hilde cycles around the town of Sellinsgrove interviewing those who have had items stolen and questioning the police and suspicious people. She records her thoughts in a notebook, the pages of which are scattered throughout the text. The reader follows along with Hilde and her sister Izzy (who takes photographs) every step of the way from their first clue to solving the mystery. This is a fast-paced, page turning story that will leave young readers feeling empowered to take charge, follow their dreams, and trump age barriers through perseverance and hard work. Go Hilde! @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit
Sticker Girl Rules The School by Janet Tashjian (Illustrations by Inga Wilmink) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Sticker Girl is a chapter book series about Martina, a Hispanic girl who finds a magical sticker sheet. When peeled off, the stickers come to life – which may or may not be a good thing depending on who or what the sticker is, the sticker’s personality, and the situation. In this book in the series, we see Martina campaign for a place on the student council. Thanks to various stickers (including a talking cupcake and zombie D.J!), she ends up being elected class president. As president, her duties include organizing an important class trip, a role which her shy personality isn’t comfortable with. To make matters worse, one of the stickers appears intent on becoming best friends with Bev, Martina’s closest friend. In this page-turning adventure, age appropriate text is paired with super cute illustrations. The possibilities are endless when unpredictable, difficult to control stickers are involved! |
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