F
CLE
Troublemaker (age 8-11)
by Andrew Clements
identity ... humor ... school
Publisher comments: There's a folder in Principal Kelling's office that's as thick as a phonebook and it's growing daily. It's filled with the incident reports of every time Clayton Hensley broke the rules. There's the minor stuff like running in the hallways and not being where he was suppose to be when he was supposed to be there. But then there are also reports that show Clay's own brand of troublemaking, like the most recent addition: the art teacher has said that the class should spend the period drawing anything they want and Clay decides to be extra "creative" and draw a spot-on portrait of Principal Kellings, as a donkey. It's a pretty funny joke, but really, Clay is coming to realize that the biggest joke of all may be on him. When his big brother, Mitchell, gets in some serious trouble, Clay decides to change his own mischief making ways, but he can't seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker.
F
CON
Mishmash Series (age 8-11)
by Molly Cone
humor ... animals
Publisher comments: Mishmash is a very friendly dog. When he moves like a cyclone into Pete's heart, his family's new house, and the neighbor's gardens, life will never be the same! But when Mishmash's well-intentioned enthusiasm leads to messy garages and ruined gardens, it's too much for the grownups to tolerate. Pete realizes Mish must go. How he finds a new home for Mish and gives his favorite teacher a wonderful gift all in one accidental gesture makes for a hilarious, lovable story.
title: Mishmash
F
KES
Philippa Fisher Series (age 8-11)
by Liz Kessler
humor ... identity ... fantasy
Publisher comments: Philippa Fisher would like nothing more than to summon a fairy. Still, she is taken aback when Daisy, the new girl at school, announces that she is Philippa's fairy godmother — or godsister, since they're both the same age. Though the fairy is none too pleased with her mission, she is obliged to see it through and grant her human charge the customary three wishes. Now, if only Philippa would wish for something that makes her life better, not worse! With warmth and whimsy, the creator of Emily Windsnap whisks a traditional theme into a contemporary setting to tell a story of friendship, luck, and how we decide what we really want.
title: Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister
title: Philippa Fisher and the Fairy's Promise
title: Philippa Fisher and the Dreammaker's Daughter
F
OCO
The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis (age 8-11)
by Barbara Oconnor
realistic ... adventure ... humor
Publisher comments: Nothing ever happens in Fayette, South Carolina. That's what Popeye thinks, anyway. His whole life, everything has just been boring, boring, boring. But things start to look up when the Jewell's Holiday Rambler makes a wrong turn and gets stuck in the mud, trapping Elvis and his five rowdy siblings in Fayette for who knows how long. Popeye has never met anyone like Elvis Jewell. Hes so good at swearing he makes Uncle Dooley look like a harp-strumming angel, and he says "So what?" like he really means it. Then something curious comes floating down the creek, a series of boats with secret messages, and it sends Popeye and Elvis into the big world on the hunt for a small adventure.
F
ROB
Wendy and the Bullies (age 8-11)
by Nancy Robinson
friendship ... school ... humor
Publisher comments: Wendy and Karen are so afraid of bullies that they have a Bully Log which charts bullies' descriptions and behavior patterns, a Bully Map which shows where the bullies hang out, and a Strategic War Room where they dream up fanciful plans to rid themselves of bullies forever.
F
STR
Help! I'm Trapped! Series (age 8-11)
by Todd Strasser
spooky ... humor
Jake Sherman has a normal life...until his body is switched!
title: Help I'm Trapped in the First Day of School
F
MAN
Be a Perfect Person In Just Three Days! (age 8-11)
by Stephen Manes
enterprise ... humor
One day at the library, a book falls off the top shelf and hits Milo on the head. It's called Be a Perfect in Just Three Days! The book's author, Dr. K. Pinkerton Silverfish, doesn't look too perfect himself, In the picture on the back cover he's wearing a clown nose, and mustard is dripping down his chin. Milo figures the boor is worth a try anyway. Perfect is obviously the perfect thing to be! But who's ever heard of wearing a stalk of broccoli around your neck for twenty-four hours? And that's only the first day....
sequel: Make Four Million Dollars By Next Thursday!
F
CLE
Lost and Found (age 8-11)
by Andrew Clements
humor ... identity ... school
Publisher comments: Although it's a drag to be constantly mistaken for each other, in truth, during those first days at a new school, there's nothing better than having a twin brother there with you. But on day one of sixth grade, Ray stays home sick, and Jay is on his own. No big deal. It's a pretty nice school, good kids, too. But Jay quickly discovers a major mistake: No one seems to know a thing about his brother. Ray's not on the attendance lists, doesn't have a locker, doesn't even have a student folder. Jay almost tells the school (almost) but then decides that this lost information could be very...useful. And fun. As Ray and Jay exploit a clerical oversight, they each find new views on friendship, honesty, what it means to be a twin, and what it means to be yourself. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and true-to-life, this clever novel is classic Andrew Clements times two: twins!
F
GUT
Nightmare at the Bookfair (age 8-11)
by Dan Gutman
humor ... adventure ... action
Publisher comments: Trip Dinkleman hates to read. Hates, hates, hates it. All he wants to do is play lacrosse. So when the president of the PTA asks Trip to help her out on his way to tryouts, he is not happy. He is even more not happy when a stack of books tumbles onto his head and knocks him out cold. And he is even more not happy when he wakes up and has absolutely no idea where he is. Now all he wants to do is get home. But after encountering a haunted house, aliens, talking animals, and much, much more, he realizes getting home might be just a little bit harder to do than he thought.
F
MAS
Princess School Series (age 8-11)
by Jane B. Mason
princesses ... friendship ... school ... fantasy ... humor
Publisher comments: With her feet bare (those glass slippers don't fit) and her second-hand gown splattered with mud (thanks, evil stepsisters), Ella's first day of Princess School is off to a lousy start. If she can only find her fairy godmother before the first class begins, Ella is sure she'll put things right. But her FG is off at a convention and Ella is on her own--she'll have to get through the first weeks of Princess School without any bobbity-boo. Ella is terrified--until she meets silly Snow, spunky Rapunzel, and beautiful, sheltered Rose. She begins to realize that with these friends, Princess School could be a LOT of fun.
title: Who's the Fairest
title: Let Down Your Hair
title: Princess Charming
F
TRI
Chicken Little: The Junior Novelization (age 8-11)
by Irene Trimble
adventure ... humor
The sky is falling again, but Chicken Little puts aside his past humiliation, gathers up his trusting friends, and faces the new threat head-on.
F
CHR
Goody Sherman's Pig (age 8-11)
by Mary Blount Christian
humor ... historical
In Massachusetts in 1636, Goody Sherman begins a legal battle over her pig that ends up dividing the legislative department of the colony into two independent branches.
F
GIF
Have You Seen Hyacinth Macaw (age 8-11)
by Patricia Reilly Giff
humor ... friendship ... mystery
Abby and her friend Potsie work on several mysteries: a mysterious new neighbor, a missing person, a theft, and the unusual actions of Abby's brother.
F
GRE
Give Us a Great Big Smile, Rosy Cole (age 8-11)
by Sheila Greenwald
humor ... the arts ... authorship
Uncle Ralph's books about Rosy's two older sisters, a dancer and an equestrian, made them famous. Now it is untalented, 10-year-old Rosy's turn, and when Uncle Ralph gets out his camera determined to make Rosy and her violin his next book, Rosy's troubles begin.
F
HUR
Baseball Fever (age 8-11)
by Johanna Hurwitz
humor ... family ... sports
Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra's dad that cheering for the national pastime isn't completely off base?
F
HUR
The Hot and Cold Summer (age 8-11)
by Johanna Hurwitz
humor ... friendship
Two inseparable ten-year-old boys discover there is room in their friendship for another person and it really doesn't matter that she is a girl.
F
KEH
The Richest Kids in Town (age 8-11)
by Peg Kehret
humor ... friendship ... enterprise
New to town and homesick for his old life, fourth-grader Peter teams up with a classmate to earn money for a trip to his old hometown but all their moneymaking schemes have unexpected results.
F
LEV
For Biddle's Sake (age 8-11)
by Gail Carson Levine
humor ... fantasy ... folklore
The young maiden, Parsley, will eat nothing but parsley, which in Snettering-on-Snoakes grows only in the fairy Bombina's garden. All is well, until Bombina is released from the fairy queen's dungeon. Her crime? Failing to get along with humans. And turning them into toads! Meanwhile, twin princes Randolph and Rudolph are causing trouble at Biddle Castle and pinning everything on their younger brother, Tansy. Prince Tansy cares about Biddle. Randolph and Rudolph don't. But one of the twins will be king, unless Prince Tansy accepts help from a green Biddlebum Toad!
F
PEV
Me, My Goat and My Sister's Wedding (age 8-11)
by Stella Pevsner
family ... humor ... animals
Doug and his friends keep their pet goat a secret from their families, but before long, sightings of the high-spirited animal occur at very inappropriate places.
F
WAL
The Barrel in the Basement (age 8-11)
by Barbara Brooks Wallace
fantasy ... folklore ... humor
This is a story about furkens, descendants of a branch of genus elf, who have lost their elfin powers of being able to vanish and now hide fearfully in human houses. They are sadly often mistaken for mice, although don't smell like mice. They smell like warm apricot jam!
F
EIS
The Lexie Series (age 8-11)
by Lisa Eisenberg
friendship ... humor
Whether she's figuring out what to do for the girl scout talent show or planning a birthday party, Lexie is a fourth grader dealing with all the problems and fascinations of everyday life.
title: Happy Birthday Lexie!
F
WAR
The Emma Series (age 8-11)
by Sally Warner
humor ... friendship ... school
Emma Mcgraw is slowly making friends at her new school. But when Cynthia calls her weird, emma is shocked. They are supposed to be best friends! In response, Emma decides that Cynthia's new name should be bossy pants, and she tells everyone in the class. Now the entire third grade is trading nicknames. And while it starts out being funny, Emma begins to see the downside of name-calling. But just when she decides it's time for apologies, her teacher makes the most dreaded call of all, the one to everyone's parents.
title: Best Friend Emma
title: Not-So-Weird Emma
title: Only Emma
F
ORR
Nim's Island (age 8-11)
by Wendy Orr
humor ... friendship ... adventure ... nature ... survival
A girl. An iguana. An island. And e-mail. Meet Nim: a modern-day Robinson Crusoe! She can chop down bananas with a machete, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire with a piece of glass. So she's not afraid when her scientist dad sails off to study plankton for three days, leaving her alone on their island. Besides, it's not as if no one's looking after her; she's got a sea lion to mother her and an iguana for comic relief. She also has an interesting new e-mail pal. But when her father's cell-phone calls stop coming and disaster seems near, Nim has to be stronger and braver than she's ever been before. And she'll need all her friends to help her.
F
LIN
Dumpling Days (age 8-11)
by Grace Lin
realistic ... growing up ... humor ... identity
Publisher comments: This summer, Pacy's family is going to Taiwan for an entire month to visit family and prepare for their grandmother's 60th birthday celebration. Pacy's parents have signed her up for a Chinese painting class, and at first she's excited. This is a new way to explore her art talent! But everything about the trip is harder than she thought it would be--she looks like everyone else but can't speak the language, she has trouble following the art teacher's instructions, and it's difficult to make friends in her class. At least the dumplings are delicious. As the month passes by, Pacy eats chicken feet (by accident!), gets blessed by a fortune teller, searches for her true identity, and grows closer to those who matter most.
F
LIN
The Year of the Dog (age 8-11)
by Grace Lin
realistic ... growing up ... humor ... identity
This funny and profound novel tells the story of young Pacy who, as she celebrates the Chinese New Year with her family, discovers this is the year she is supposed to "find herself."
sequel: The Year of the Rat
F
KRU
Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo Series (age 8-11)
by Nancy Krulik
humor ... magic
A magic wind turns Katie into other people, helping her see things from a different perspective, in these hilarious escapades.
title: Any Way You Slice It
title: Anyone But Me
title: Get Lost!
title: Girls Don't Have Cooties
title: I Hate Rules!
title: Oh, Baby!
title: Quiet on the Set!
title: Who's Afraid of Fourth Grade?
F
HOW
Tales from the House of Bunnicula (age 8-11)
by James Howe
authorship ... humor ... mystery
Dear possible reader of this book: I want to be a writer, just like my uncle Harold, who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula. So I wrote this story. And boy! Did I ever get into trouble! My friend Delilah stopped speaking to me because I put her in my book. Uncle Harold stopped speaking to me because I didn't put him in my book. A writer's life isn't easy! But back to my story: It's about how a talented and lovable (not to mention smart) wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie saves the world from a disgusting, evil menace named...oops, that would give away the story. But trust me, this menace is disgusting and evil, all right!!! Your friend, Howie
title: Nighty-Nightmare
F
FLE
The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School (age 8-11)
by Candace Fleming
humor ... school
An unlikely teacher takes over the disorderly fourth-grade class of Aesop Elementary School with surprising results.
F
DOW
From the Highly Scientific Notebooks of Phineas L. Macguire (age 8-11)
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
humor ... friendship ... math/science/technology
Here's what you need to know about Phineas L. MacGuire, boy-scientist extraordinaire, aka Mac: 1. He's allergic to purple, telephone calls, and girls, and can prove it. 2. He's probably the world's expert on mold, including which has the highest stink potential. 3. He does not have a best friend. He does, however, have an un-best friend, who he does not ... repeat, not ... want to upgrade to best friend status. But disaster strikes when his teacher pairs Mac and his un-best friend together for the upcoming science fair. Worse, this un-best friend wants the project to be on dinosaurs, which is so third grade. Worse still, it seems as though everyone else in his class finds the un-best friend as unlikeable as Mac does. But, being a boy-scientist, once Mac notices this, he just might have to do some investigating....
title: Phineas L. Macguire -- Erupts! The First Experiment
F
CAT
The Chocolate Touch (age 8-11)
by Patrick Skene Catling
folklore ... humor
John Midas loves chocolate. He loves it so much that he'll eat it any hour of any day. He doesn't care if he ruins his appetite. He thinks chocolate is better than any other food! But one day, after wandering into a candy store and buying a piece of their best chocolate, John finds out that there might just be such a thing as too much chocolate....
F
BYA
The Cybil War (age 8-11)
by Betsy Cromer Byars
friendship ... humor
Simon learns some hard lessons about good and bad friendships when his good friend Tony's stories involve him in some very troublesome and complicated situations.
F
CLE
No Talking (age 8-11)
by Andrew Clements
friendship ... realistic ... humor ... school
The fifth-grade girls and the fifth-grade boys at Laketon Elementary don't get along very well. But the real problem is that these kids are loud and disorderly. That's why the principal uses her red plastic bullhorn. A lot. Then one day Dave Packer, a certified loudmouth, bumps into an idea ... a big one that makes him try to keep quiet for a whole day. But what does Dave hear during lunch? A girl, Lynsey Burgess, jabbering away. So Dave breaks his silence and lobs an insult. And those words spark a contest: Which team can say the fewest words during two whole days? And it's the boys against the girls. How do the teachers react to the silence? What happens when the principal feels she's losing control? And will Dave and Lynsey plunge the whole school into chaos? This funny and surprising book is about language and thought, about words unspoken, words spoken in anger, and especially about the power of words spoken in kindness...with or without a bullhorn.
F
BOS
Series: The Name of This Book Is Secret (age 8-11)
by Pseudonymous Bosch
mystery ... adventure ... action ... humor
Publisher comments: Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn't want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For it concerns a secret. A Big Secret.
title: The Name of This Book Is Secret
title: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
title: This Book Is Not Good For You
title: This Isn't What It Looks Like
title: You Have To Stop This
F
BAK
The Tales of the Frog Princess (age 8-11)
by E. D. Baker
princesses ... humor ... folklore ... magic ... fantasy ... action
After reluctantly kissing a frog, an awkward, fourteen-year-old princess suddenly finds herself a frog, too, and sets off with the prince to seek the means--and the self-confidence--to become human again.
title: The Frog Princess
title: Dragon's Breath
title: Once Upon a Curse
title: The Salamander Spell: A Prequel to the Tales of the Frog Princess
F
BAB
Jack Plank Tells Tales (age 8-11)
by Natalie Babbitt
humor ... enterprise ... authorship
Because he is too nice to be a pirate, Jack Plank looks for a new career, but each night he tells tales of why the one job he looked into that day is wrong.
F
KIN
Pigs Might Fly: a Novel (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
enterprise ... humor ... growing up
Daggie Dogfoot, the runt of the litter, is in danger. The pigman, who takes all runts from their pens, is coming for him! But Daggie is a pig of remarkable qualities, and he's not about to let the Pigman get him. Instead, he runs away and decides to learn how to fly. But when he tries leaping off a cliff, he discovers another talent, a talent he'll need to save the entire farm.
F
MAN
Chocolate-Covered Ants (age 8-11)
by Stephen Manes
enterprise ... humor
Max and his little brother Adam make a bet about eating chocolate-covered ants.
F
SMI
The War With Grandpa (age 8-11)
by Robert Kimmel Smith
family ... humor
Peter is thrilled that Grandpa is coming to live with his family. That is, until Grandpa moves right into Peter's room, forcing him upstairs. Peter loves Grandpa but wants his room back and has no choice except to declare war.
F
KIN
Martin's Mice (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
friendship ... humor
A farm cat who doesn't want to catch mice keeps a family of them as pets in the barn; but then he is given away to a townswoman and acquires a new perspective.
F
HIC
The Peter Potts Book of World Records: a True Account of the Astounding Feats of Peter Potts and Joey Gootz as Witnessed and Sworn to by Me, Peter Potts (age 8-11)
by Clifford B. Hicks
humor ... enterprise ... family
Although he is angry and confused because of the impending arrival of his older sister's baby in a family he thinks is already perfect, twelve-year-old Pete finds a welcome distraction in his best friend's disastrous attempts to set several new world records.
F
GIL
Do Bananas Chew Gum? (age 8-11)
by Jamie Gilson
humor ... school
Able to read and write at only a second grade level, sixth-grader Sam Mott considers himself dumb until he is prompted to cooperate with those who think something can be done about his problem.
F
EST
The Witch Family (age 8-11)
by Eleanor Estes
traditions ... humor ... fantasy
Old Witch, Little Witch Girl, Weeny Witch, and two real girls in a fantasy that blends the worlds of reality and imagination. A Halloween classic about the power of make-believe.
F
KIN
Charlie Muffin's Miracle Mouse (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
humor ... enterprise ... animals
After many unsuccessful attempts, lonely mouse farmer Charlie Muffin finally breeds a green mouse, finds true love, and wins the Best of Show at the Grand Mouse Championship Show.
F
KIN
Mysterious Miss Slade (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
humor ... animals ... friendship
When eight-year-old Patsy and her younger brother befriend their old neighbor and her many animals, the children help the mysterious lady change her life. All the village children think Miss Slade is a witch. Perhaps it's the patch on her eye. Or maybe it's the ancient caravan she lives in, surrounded by six dogs, six cats, several goats, and a lot of chickens. But Jim and Patsy Reader know better. To them, Miss Slade is the eccentric neighbor who lets them ride her donkey, shares her lunch of chips and cookies, and makes them laugh out loud. But Miss Slade is still a mystery to Jim and Patsy. Why does she speak like an aristocrat? And where did she get that gold sovereign? It turns out Miss Slade does have a secret after all...one that brings trouble when discovered. Luckily, she has some friends...human and canine...who can help.
F
GUT
The Get Rich Quick Club (age 8-11)
by Dan Gutman
humor ... friendship ... enterprise
We, the members of the Get Rich Quick Club, in order to form a more perfect summer, vow that we will figure out a way to make a million dollars by September. We agree that neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night will prevent us from achieving our stated goal, till death do us part. Gina Tumolo and her Get Rich Quick Club are determined to make their summer pay off. They're going to make a pact and hatch a scheme, and their small-town life will never be the same again.
F
FLE
The Whipping Boy (age 8-11)
by Sid Fleischman
folklore ... humor ... adventure ... growing up
A Prince and a Pauper. Jemmy, once a poor boy living on the streets, now lives in a castle. As the whipping boy, he bears the punishment when Prince Brat misbehaves, for it is forbidden to spank, thrash, or whack the heir to the throne. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like one another. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.
F
LEV
Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (age 8-11)
by Gail Carson Levine
princesses ... fantasy ... humor ... folklore
In this humorous retelling of a Perrault tale, a lonely young farm lad uses his unusual inventive ability to pass a nearly impossible test and win the hand of the neighboring princess.
F
LEV
Fairest (age 8-11)
by Gail Carson Levine
folklore ... humor
The fairy Lucinda has once again given a dreadful gift. This time it's a mysterious magical mirror. The gift is disastrous when it falls into the hands of Aza, who never looks in a mirror if she can help it. In the Kingdom of Ayortha, Aza is most definitely not the fairest of them all. Many spurn her. Many scoff at her. She keeps out of sight. But in a land of singers, Aza has her own gift, one she's come by without fairy intervention: a voice that can do almost anything, a voice that captivates all who hear it. In Ontio Castle, merry Prince Ijori is drawn to it, and vain Queen Ivi wants to use it for her own ends. Queen Ivi would do anything to remain the fairest in the land.
F
LEV
Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg (age 8-11)
by Gail Carson Levine
fantasy ... humor ... voyages/journeys
Fairy Haven is abuzz with news about its latest arrival, Prilla. It's bad enough that she has no idea what her special talent is, but some of her behavior is remarkably, well, human. Prilla is heartbroken that she does not seem to fit in. She desperately needs help from Mother Dove, the most important creature in Neverland, who created and cares for the magical egg that prevents all who live in Neverland from growing old and dying. But tragedy strikes as the island is hit by a hurricane, and the Never egg is destroyed. Mother Dove must pick three fairies to set out on a dangerous quest to repair the egg. She chooses Rani, the best water-talent fairy; Vidia, the most selfish, but fastest fast-flying-talent fairy; and, to everyone's surprise ... Prilla. The three embark on a journey filled with danger, sacrifice, and adventure. The fate of Neverland ... and their world as they know it ... rests on their shoulders.
F
IBB
The Great Ghost Rescue (age 8-11)
by Eva Ibbotson
humor ... adventure ... spooky
Humphrey is a small ghost with a big problem. His family has lost their home, and they're off to find a new haunting ground. But soon Humphrey and his parents discover that ghosts all over the country are being turned out as dank castles are converted to cheerful tourist hotels. Humphrey knows something must be done to help the homeless ghosts. And with the help of a sympathetic schoolboy named Rick, maybe he can do something to aid all the ghosts of England after all. . . .
F
WIN
Hank Zipzer Series (age 8-11)
by Henry Winkler
school ... friendship ... humor
Life (and school) isn't easy for Hank, but he always finds a way out of the hilarious situations he finds himself in.
title: The Life of Me: Enter at Your Own Risk
F
CUY
Invisible in the Third Grade (age 8-11)
by Margery Cuyler
traditions ... humor ... magic
Alex has fun fooling his family and his fellow third graders when he finds a brand of bubble gum that turns him invisible, but his pranks get out of hand on Halloween night.
F
TRA
Mary Poppins Series (age 8-11)
by P. L. Travers
growing up ... magic ... humor ... fantasy
An extraordinary English nanny blows in on the East Wind with her parrot-headed umbrella and magic carpetbag and introduces her charges, Jane and Michael, to some delightful people and experiences.
title: Mary Poppins
F
FIT
The Great Brain Series (age 8-11)
by John D. Fitzgerald
adventure ... humor ... brilliant protagonist ... enterprise
The best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old. Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is a silver-tongued genius with a knack for turning a profit. When the Jenkins boys get lost in Skeleton Cave, the Great Brain saves the day. Whether it's saving the kids at school, or helping out Peg-leg Andy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain always manages to come out on top ... and line his pockets in the process.
title: The Great Brain
title: More Adventures of the Great Brain
title: Me and My Little Brain
title: The Return of the Great Brain
F
CLI
Scared Silly (age 8-11)
by Eth Clifford
humor ... mystery
Catalog: Sensible eleven-year-old Mary Rose, constantly at odds with her imaginative seven-year-old sister Jo-Beth, finds that they need to work together when an unplanned visit to a strange shoe museum and house of magic illusions involves them in the disappearance of a Chinese emperor's shoes.
F
CLI
Help I'm a Prisoner in the Library (age 8-11)
by Eth Clifford
humor ... mystery ... adventure
Catalog: Two girls spend an adventurous night trapped inside the public library during a terrible blizzard.
F
CLI
Harvey's Marvelous Monkey Mystery (age 8-11)
by Eth Clifford
humor ... animals ... mystery
Catalog: Harvey finds himself embroiled in a mystery when a monkey appears at his bedroom window in the middle of the night.
F
CLE
Lunch Money (age 8-11)
by Andrew Clements
humor ... friendship ... authorship ... school ... enterprise
Catalog: Twelve-year-old Greg, who has always been good at moneymaking projects, is surprised to find himself teaming up with his lifelong rival, Maura, to create a series of comic books to sell at school.
F
DEL
Kitty From the Start (age 8-11)
by Judy Delton
humor ... friendship ... school
Kitty moves to a new neighborhood and eventually makes a successful transition into her new third grade.
F
BRO
The Freddy The Pig Series (age 8-11)
by Walter R. Brooks
adventure ... humor
Adventure and misadventure are in the air when Freddy the Pig joins the action.
title: Freddy and the Dragon
F
SER
Stinker's Return (age 8-11)
by Pamela F. Service
humor ... adventure ... science fiction
Catalog: Alien agent Tsynq Yr, still inhabiting the body of a skunk, returns to Earth and enlists Jonathan and Karen's help in finding a souvenir from Washington, D.C., for a threatening space despot.
F
RYL
Gooseberry Park (age 8-11)
by Cynthia Rylant
friendship ... humor
When a storm separates Stumpy the squirrel from her newborn babies, her animal friends come to the rescue.
F
HOW
The Celery Stalks at Midnight (age 8-11)
by James Howe
spooky ... mystery ... humor
Chester the cat is more than ever convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire when there is a harvest of white vegetables on the morning after the night that Bunnicula was probably wandering through the neighborhood.
F
HOW
Howliday Inn (age 8-11)
by James Howe
humor ... mystery ... spooky
Harold and Chester are sent to the Chateau Bow-Wow when the Monroe family goes on vacation. When a French poodle involved in a messy love triangle disappears, Chester and Harold enter the crime-detection business.
sequel: Return to Howliday Inn
F
LAW
Ben and Me (age 8-11)
by Robert Lawson
humor ... historical
The true story of Ben Franklin, as told by his closest friend and advisor, Amos the mouse. According to Amos, it was really he who was responsible for Ben Franklin's inventions and discoveries.
F
CLE
Socks (age 8-11)
by Beverly Cleary
humor ... realistic ... friendship ... family ... animals
Socks is one happy cat. He lives with a nice young couple called Brickers who play with him, pet him, feed him treats, and always have a warm lap for him to sit in. Then a new baby joins the family Suddenly, the Brickers are sharing their laps and love with Charles William, and Socks is getting into trouble. He runs from a phantom dog, wrestles with Nana's best wig, and fights Old Taylor the tomcat for his territory. But as Charles William grows, Socks discovers that he has a new friend and a new way to be a part of the family.
F
CLE
Otis Spofford (age 8-11)
by Beverly Cleary
humor ... school ... realistic ... friendship
There was nothing Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement, particularly at school. A less resourceful teacher than Mrs. Gitler would have found him pretty hard to take. But even Mrs. Gitler did not entirely relish the bullfight at the fiesta arranged for the P.T.A. meeting. Otis was disappointed at not being the toreador, but as the front half of the bull he managed to steal the whole show, to the annoyance of his classmates and his teacher. It was then that Mrs. Gitler suggested that Otis might someday get his comeuppance.
F
ATW
Mr. Popper's Penguins (age 8-11)
by Richard and Florence Atwater
enterprise ... humor
Mr. Popper starts out with one penguin in his house, but before he knows it there are twelve.
F
LOW
Sam Krupnik Series (age 8-11)
by Lois Lowry
growing up ... realistic ... humor ... family
Sam Krupnik enters school with some very strong ideas about what he wants to be and how. Fans of this series will enjoy the same author's books about Anastasia, his big sister, as well.
title: All About Sam
title: Attaboy, Sam!
F
NAY
The Grand Escape (age 8-11)
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
humor ... adventure ... animals
It's a scary world out there. If only Marco hadn't read a newspaper article about a ranch and become determined to see one. If only Polo hadn't found himself longing for the mother he barely remembered as a soft-warm-wiggle-purr-milk-tongue. Then the two tabbies might have been content to remain pampered house cats forever. But when their owners leave a door open, Marco and Polo can't resist the temptation to escape to the outside world.
F
HOW
Bunnicula (age 8-11)
by Deborah and James Howe
humor ... mystery
This book is written by Harold. His fulltime occupation is dog. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe and their sons Toby and Pete. Also sharing the home are a cat named Chester and a rabbit named Bunnicula. It is because of Bunnicula that Harold turned to writing. Someone had to tell the full story of what happened in the Monroe household after the rabbit arrived. Was Bunnicula really a vampire? Only Bunnicula knows for sure.
F
FLE
Jim Ugly (age 8-11)
by Sid Fleischman
adventure ... mystery ... animals ... humor
Twelve-year-old Jake is thrown into an uneasy alliance with proud, one-man dog, Jim Ugly, when the dog's owner, Jake's father, suddenly disappears. Confident that Jim Ugly can pick up Jake's father's trail, boy and dog set out on the adventure of their lives.
F
COV
Magic Shop Series (age 8-11)
by Bruce Coville
fantasy ... friendship ... magic ... humor
Problems of the real world are nothing compared to the problems stirred up in Mr. Elives' Magic Shop, where young customers leave with more than they bargained for.
title: Jennifer Murdley's Toad
title: Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
F
BLU
Freckle Juice (age 8-11)
by Judy Blume
growing up ... humor
If Andrew had an amazing number of freckles like Nicky, his mother would never know if his neck was dirty. One day after school, Andrew works up enough courage to ask Nicky where he got his freckles. When know-it-all Sharon overhears, she offers Andrew her secret freckle juice recipe, for fifty cents. It's a lot of money, but Andrew is desperate. At home he carefully mixes the strange combination of ingredients. Then the unexpected happens...
F
SEI
Mean Margaret (age 8-11)
by Tor Seidler
humor ... family
A pair of newlywed woodchucks, a squirrel, a testy snake, a skunk, a couple of bats, and a family named Hubble have their lives turned topsy-turvy by a tyrannical toddler named Margaret.
F
SMI
Chocolate Fever (age 8-11)
by Robert Kimmel Smith
humor
Henry Green eats so much chocolate he comes down with chocolate fever. How will he get out of this sticky situation?
F
SCI
The Time Warp Trio Series (age 8-11)
by Jon Scieszka
knights/castles/dragons ... fantasy ... humor
In the first installment, Knights of the Kitchen Table, Joe, Fred, and Sam are sent back in time by a magic book, they find themselves face-to-face with giants, dragons, wizards, and the Knights of the Round Table. Each book finds our trio in another wacky time travel adventure.
title: Knights of the Kitchen Table
title: The Not-So-Jolly Roger
title: The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy
title: Your Mother Was a Neanderthal
title: 2095
title: Tut, Tut!
title: Summer Reading is Killing Me!
title: See You Later, Gladiator
title: Viking It and Liking It
F
SAC
Sideways Stories From Wayside School (age 8-11)
by Louis Sachar
humor ... school
Humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways.
sequel: Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger
sequel: Wayside School is Falling Down
F
ROC
How to Eat Fried Worms (age 8-11)
by Thomas Rockwell
realistic ... friendship ... school ... humor
Billy makes a bet, then has to make good on it...fifteen worms in fifteen days. As hilarious as it is disgusting, Billy stands up for what's right in his own way.
F
KIN
Babe: The Gallant Pig (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
brilliant protagonist ... enterprise ... humor
A piglet destined for eventual butchering arrives at the farmyard, is adopted by an old sheep dog, and discovers a special secret to success.
F
KIN
Ace: The Very Important Pig (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
enterprise ... humor
Ace is an intelligent, lovable, unlikely pig hero.
F
EST
The Moffats (age 8-11)
by Eleanor Estes
humor ... family
Meet the Moffats. There is Sylvie, the oldest, the cleverest, and-most days at least-the responsible one; Joey, who though only twelve is the man of the house...sometimes; Janey, who has a terrific upside-down way of looking at the world; and Rufus, who may be the littlest but always gets in the biggest trouble.
F
ERI
Hank the Cowdog Series (age 8-11)
by John Erickson
humor ... mystery
In the first installment, Hank the Cowdog, head of ranch security, is framed for the murder of a chicken and becomes an outlaw with the coyotes.
title: The Case of the Haystack Kitties
title: Every Dog Has His Day
title: Faded Love
title: The Fling
title: The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
title: The Garbage Monster From Outer Space
title: It's a Dog's Life
title: The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
title: the Phantom in the Mirror
title: Slim's Goodbye
title: The Case of the Deadly Ha-ha Game
title: The Case of the Missing Cat
title: The Case of the Shipwrecked Tree
title: The Case of the Twisted Kitty
title: Lost in the Blinded Blizzard
title: The Case of the Booby-Trapped Pickup
F
DAH
The Witches (age 8-11)
by Roald Dahl
fantasy ... humor
Publisher comments: Would you know a real witch if you saw one? They don't ride on broomsticks. They don't wear black capes or pointy hats. In fact, they don't look like witches at all. But one thing is certain: A real witch is the most dangerous of all living creatures. So you'd better learn to know one when you see one!
F
DAH
Matilda (age 8-11)
by Roald Dahl
identity ... brilliant protagonist ... school ... humor
Publisher comments: Matilda is a genius. Unfortunately, her family treats her like a dolt. Her crooked car-salesman father and loud, bingo-obsessed mother think Matilda's only talent is as a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in their miserable lives. But it's not long before the sweet and sensitive child decides to fight back. Faced with practical jokes of sheer brilliance, her parents don't stand a chance.
F
DAH
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (age 8-11)
by Roald Dahl
enterprise ... humor
Publisher comments: Candy for life and a tour of Willie Wonka's top-secret chocolate factory was the prize for buying a candy bar containing a Golden Ticket. Here is the exciting, hilarious, and delicious story of the five prizewinners.
sequel: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
F
DAH
The BFG (age 8-11)
by Roald Dahl
humor ... fantasy ... friendship
Publisher comments: When orphan Sophie is snatched from her bed by a Giant, she fears that he is going to eat her. But as he explains in his unique way of talking, "I is the only nice and jumbly Giant in Giant Country! I is THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT! I is the BFG." The BFG tells Sophie how he mixes up dreams to blow through a trumpet into the ears of children.
F
BAU
A Cat of a Different Color (age 8-11)
by Steven Bauer
humor
Catalog: An orphan girl and a strange cat save the villagers of Felicity-by-the-Lake from the proclamations of a greedy, selfish and mean mayor.

Hoover Elementary School, Sat Aug 25 11:55:31 2012
Other themes and genres