F
UPD
Johnny Swanson (age 8-11)
by Eleanor Updale
adventure ... historical ... enterprise ... mystery
Publisher comments: The secret to instant height? Stand on a box. Want to make your money go further? Roll it down a hill. The answer to smelly feet? Wear a clothes pin on your nose. Eleven-year-old Johnny Swanson is in business. He's raking in the money with his advertising scams and his advice columnist persona, who offers advice on absolutely anything in return for a shilling. But his money-making schemes are getting him in too deep with the wrong kinds of people. Everything is spiralling out of control, and now his own mother is in mortal danger. There's only one thing to be done: Johnny must assume another role as undercover detective!
F
WEE
Pie (age 8-11)
by Sarah Weeks
illness/loss ... friendship ... enterprise
Publisher comments: When Alice's Aunt Polly passes away, she takes with her the secret to her world-famous pie-crust recipe. Or does she? In her will, Polly leaves the recipe to her extraordinarily surly cat Lardo . . . and then leaves Lardo in the care of Alice. Suddenly Alice is thrust into the center of a piestorm, with everyone in town trying to be the next pie-contest winner ... including Alice's mother and some of Alice's friends. The whole community is going pie-crazy . . . and it's up to Alice to discover the ingredients that really matter. Like family. And friendship. And enjoying what you do.
F
COR
The Last Newspaper Boy in America (age 8-11)
by Sue Corbett
adventure ... enterprise ... humor
Publisher comments: Big Heart + Big Brain = Funny, Feel Good Fiction Wilas sidearm throw can land a paper on your porch from twenty yards out. But he doesn't know if he'll be able to put his unusual talent to use because the big newspaper company has canceled delivery to Wilas small town. Well, that was the paper's first mistake. Underestimating Wil was the second. With physics, his clueless brother, and a neighbor girl on his side, Wil fights to save his route. Along the way he just might unravel a carnival mystery, expose a con artist, rescue his little town, and become a big hero.
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
ANG
Dear Lola: or, How to Build Your Own Family: a Tale (age 8-11)
by Judie Angell
enterprise ... friendship ... family
Six parentless kids ranging in age from 5 to 18 run away from the orphanage and, as a family, successfully establish a household miles away until local do-gooders begin investigating.
F
ANG
A Word From Our Sponsor: or, My Friend Alfred (age 8-11)
by Judie Angell
humor ... family ... enterprise
When a 12-year-old boy tries to protect consumers from a dangerous drinking mug, he discovers he must challenge his father's advertising agency.
F
BAG
National Velvet (age 8-11)
by Enid Bagnold
animals ... enterprise
The timeless story of spirited Velvet Brown and her beloved horse has thrilled generations of readers, and will continue to captivate new fans. Fourteen-year-old Velvet is determined to turn her untamed horse into a champion and personally ride him to victory in the world's greatest steeplechase, the Grand National.
F
GIL
Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbread Man (age 8-11)
by Jamie Gilson
family ... enterprise
When the family health food store burns down, 12-year-old-Mitch is even more determined to win first prize in a Bakeathon with his special gingerbread.
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
COT
Millions (age 8-11)
by Frank CottrellBoyce
enterprise ... adventure ... humor
It was a one-in-a-million chance. A bag crammed with cash comes tumbling out of the air and lands right at Damian's feet. Suddenly the Cunningham brothers are rich. Very rich. They can buy anything they want. There's just one problem: they have only seventeen days to spend all the money before it becomes worthless. And the crooks who stole the cash in the first place are closing in, fast. A funny, brilliantly clever and utterly thrilling novel that is, quite simply, unforgettable.
F
NAY
Eddie, Incorporated (age 8-11)
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
friendship ... enterprise
Twelve-year-old Eddie decides to go into business for himself with two friends and soon discovers that a business is not a simple thing.
F
PER
Rickshaw Girl (age 8-11)
by Mitali Perkins
the arts ... enterprise
Naima is a talented painter of traditional alpana patterns, which Bangladeshi women and girls paint on their houses for special celebrations. But Naima is not satisfied just painting alpana. She wants to help earn money for her family, like her best friend, Saleem, does for his family. When Naima's rash effort to help puts her family deeper in debt, she draws on her resourceful nature and her talents to bravely save the day. Naima is a talented painter of traditional alpana patterns, which Bangladeshi women and girls paint on their houses for special celebrations. But Naima is not satisfied just painting alpana. She wants to help earn money for her family, like her best friend, Saleem, does for his family. When Naima's rash effort to help puts her family deeper in debt, she draws on her resourceful nature and her talents to bravely save the day.
F
PAT
The Winner's Walk (age 8-11)
by Nancy Ruth Patterson
animals ... enterprise
Case Callahan isn't a star swimmer like his sister, Quinn. He's not a champion horse trainer like his father, or a popular stage actor like his mother. Still, Case is determined to make his mark. But one effort after another (talent show, science fair, junior horse show) is a terrible failure. It isn't until Case comes upon a lost dog that he finds his path to success. The dog, whom Case names Noah, is certainly one of a kind; what other golden retriever can answer the telephone and put dishes in the dishwasher? Together Case and Noah seem destined to become a trophy-winning team. Noah, however, is so smart because he was trained to be a service dog, and when Case learns about his dog's past, he realizes there is more than one way to be a winner.
F
KEN
Me and the Pumpkin Queen (age 8-11)
by Marlane Kennedy
family ... illness/loss ... enterprise
Mildred's Guide to Growing a Giant Pumpkin 1. Get the right seeds. These days, no one grows a Pumpkin Show winner without Howard Dill's Atlantic Giant seeds. 2. Convince your dad that having a pumpkin patch in your backyard is a good idea. 3. Make sure that your dogs stay far, far away from your seedlings. 4. Don't let your busybody aunt interfere with your "pumpkin obsession," no matter how much she wishes you were interested in boys or clothes or anything other than pumpkins. 5. Find a best friend who can help out in a pinch. 6. Never, ever, ever give up.
F
DAV
The Lemonade War Series (age 8-11)
by Jacqueline Davies
friendship ... brilliant protagonist ... enterprise ... math/science/technology
Evan Treski is people-smart. He is good at talking with people, even grownups. His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math-smart...but not especially good at understanding people. She knows that feelings are her weakest subject. So when their lemonade war begins, there really is no telling who will win...and even more important, if their fight will ever end.
title: The Lemonade War
title: The Lemonade Crime
American Girl Today Series (age 8-11)
enterprise ... growing up
Stories of modern girls who make things happen.
title: Nicki by Ann Howard Creel F CRE
title: Thanks to Nicki by Ann Howard Creel F CRE
title: Kailey by Amy Goldman Koss F KOS
title: Marisol by Gary Soto F SOT
title: Jess by Mary Casanova F CAS
title: Lindsey by Chryssa Atkinson F ATK
title: Mia by Laurence Yep F YEP
title: Bravo, Mia! by Laurence Yep F YEP
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
VAN
Benjy in Business (age 8-11)
by Jean Van Leeuwen
enterprise ... sports ... school
Benjy needs a new catcher's mit, and decides to go into business to earn the money to buy it. He tries everything from lemonade stands to dog-washing operations, and learns more than the value of a dollar along the way.
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
HIT
An Even Break (age 8-11)
by Sid Hite
sports ... enterprise
It's tough getting work in a small town, but 12-year-old Frisk Tilden has managed to get the summer job every kid wants. He's manager of the back room of Billy Compton's hardware store. The back room has some pool tables and pinball machines, and nobody under 15 is allowed--except Frisk. Not only does Frisk have to rack up and clean up, but he must earn the respect of the teenage boys. Dan Breedon, the best pool player in town, helps Frisk earn their respect and even teaches him to play pool. On the day of the annual Wilma Eight-Ball Tournament, Frisk unexpectedly finds himself in the spotlight. All he needs to win is an even break.
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
LEW
Winnie Mae (age 8-11)
by H. B. Lewis
magic ... enterprise
A boy discovers the power of dreaming as he brings a model of the famous plane the Winnie Mae to life.
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
WAG
Partners (age 8-11)
by Karen Waggoner
animals ... math/science/technology ... enterprise
Third grader Jamie's dream of raising mice as pets is threatened by his sister's ugly cat Caliban, and by his partner and older brother Gordon's notion of selling the baby mice for profit.
F
POR
Fat Fanny, Beanpole Bertha, and the Boys (age 8-11)
by Barbara Ann Porte
humor ... enterprise ... mystery
When Bertha's father vanishes in the Bermuda Triangle, and Fanny's theater agent parents are secretly divorced, the girls decide to teach Fanny's triplet brothers to tap-dance to raise money.
F
O'C
How to Steal a Dog (age 8-11)
by Barbara O'Connor
growing up ... family ... enterprise
Georgina Hayes is desperate. Ever since her father left and they were evicted from their apartment, her family has been living in their car. With her mama juggling two jobs and trying to make enough money to find a place to live, Georgina is stuck looking after her younger brother, Toby. And she has her heart set on improving their situation. When Georgina spots a missing-dog poster with a reward of five hundred dollars, the solution to all her problems suddenly seems within reach. All she has to do is ``borrow'' the right dog and its owners are sure to offer a reward. What happens next is the last thing she expected.
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 Great Brain Does it Again
title: The Return of the Great Brain
title: The Great Brain at the Academy
title: The Great Brain Reforms
F
COO
The Beloved Dearly (age 8-11)
by Doug Cooney
humor ... friendship ... enterprise
Ernie is an ambitious young entrepreneur who runs pet funerals. Business is good--there are a lot of dead bunnies and expired ant-farm colonies--but it goes through the roof once he hires Swimming Pool, a tomboy who's a great crier. However, Ernie gets greedy and refuses to give Swimming Pool the raise she deserves. So Swimming Pool goes out on her own. This is a hilarous and touching book about commerce and friendship.
F
COL
Rich and Famous: the Further Adventures of George Stable (age 8-11)
by James Lincoln Collier
enterprise ... the arts
Catalog: George suddenly finds himself the darling of a New York television company where plans are made to turn him into a singing, guitar-playing teen-age idol.
F
CLE
The Last Holiday Concert (age 8-11)
by Andrew Clements
enterprise ... the arts ... school
Publisher comments: It all started when Hart Evans zinged a rubber band that hit Mr. Meinert, the chorus director. Actually, it started before that, when Mr. Meinert learned he was out of a job because the town budget couldn't afford music and art teachers. Mr. Meinert got so mad at Hart that he told the sixth graders he'd had it ... they could produce the big holiday concert on their own. Or not. It was all up to them. What happens when a teacher steps aside and lets the kids run the show? Not what Mr. Meinert would have predicted. And not what Hart Evans would have guessed, not at all.
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
BUT
The Trouble With Jenny's Ear (age 8-11)
by Oliver Butterworth
math/science/technology ... friendship ... humor ... enterprise
Catalog: Two boys experiment with electronics, and meet with extraordinary results. Jenny can hear people's thoughts!
F
CUR
The Flint Future Detectives Series (age 8-11)
by Christopher Curtis
brilliant protagonist ... mystery ... enterprise ... humor
In the first book, Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, Mr. Chickee, the genial blind man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious bill with 15 zeros on it and the image of a familiar but startling face. Could it be a quadrillion dollar bill? Could it be real? Well, Agent Fondoo of the U.S. Treasury Department and his team of Secret Government Agents are determined to get that money back! But Steven and his best friends, Russell and Zoopy the giant dog, are more than a match for the Feds. After all, Steven is the president of the Flint Future Detectives Club, and the inventor of fantastic spying and detecting equipment such as the Snoopeeze 9000!
title: Mr. Chickee's Funny Money
title: Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission
F
BON
Edwina Victorious (age 8-11)
by Susan Bonners
family ... letters/journal ... enterprise
When Edwina's great-grandaunt and namesake decides to move to a nursing home, Edwina is recruited by her mom to help clean out her aunt's attic. There she discovers a cache of letters from Aunt Edwina, who had been an activist, to various public officials, all requesting improvements in public locations around town. Then Edwina notices a local playground in sorry disrepair and decides to do some letter-writing of her own. She types up her plea, copies her aunt's signature, and mails it to the mayor. Edwina doesnt feel she's being completely underhanded: after all, she is signing her own name, even if the handwriting is forged. And when the mayor responds with fast action (he hopes for a political contribution from Aunt Edwina) Edwina begins writing more letters. But it is only a matter of time before she must reveal her true identity, both to the mayor and to her great-grandaunt.
F
WHI
Charlotte's Web (age 8-11)
by E. B. White
friendship ... animals ... enterprise
Wilbur the pig is desolate when he discovers he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner, until his spider friend Charlotte comes up with a plan to save him.
F
STO
Not-so-normal Norman (age 8-11)
by Cynthia Stowe
animals ... enterprise
While his father is out of work because of a back injury, Anthony decides to try to earn money and his first job is watching a huge tarantula named Norman.
F
HER
Nothing But Trouble, Trouble, Trouble (age 8-11)
by Patricia Hermes
enterprise ... growing up
To prove to her parents that she is grown up enough to babysit, Alex tries to stay out of trouble for two weeks.
F
HEN
Born to Trot (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
enterprise ... animals
As he learns about the famous Hambletonian, sire of the American trotter, young Gib White dreams of some day having his own filly become a champion trotter.
F
HAA
Uncle Daney's Way (age 8-11)
by Jessie Haas
enterprise ... family ... animals
When his great-uncle Daney comes to live with Cole's family after being crippled in a logging accident, the two work together all summer to find a way to make enough money to buy feed so they can keep Daney's old horse.
F
GOF
Goldie, the Dollmaker (age 8-11)
by M. B. Goffstein
enterprise ... the arts
Goldie, the dollmaker, created each doll with great love and sincerity, and the pleasure from this and her acquisition of a lamp whose maker was equally careful made her poverty and loneliness bearable.
F
GUT
The Million Dollar Kick (age 8-11)
by Dan Gutman
enterprise ... sports
Whisper Nelson remembers scoring a point for the opposing team in her last soccer match four years ago. So when she wins a chance to kick a goal past a professional soccer player for a million dollars, she is torn. Should she risk further humiliation and failure in front of all of Oklahoma City?
sequel: The Million Dollar Shot
sequel: The Million Dollar Strike
sequel: The Million Dollar Putt
sequel: The Million Dollar Goal
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
WU
The Abacus Contest (age 8-11)
by Priscilla Wu
enterprise ... short stories ... school
In a small city in southern Taiwan, six children experience hopes and fears as they enter the school contest.
F
HOL
Paperboy (age 8-11)
by Isabelle Holland
bigotry ... family ... enterprise
In 1881 in New York City, teenaged Kevin O'Donnell, ever conscious of the prejudice against the Irish poor, struggles to support his sick father and young sister by working as a messenger for a prominent newspaper, but finds his job threatened when he is falsely accused of stealing from his employer.
F
SEL
The Cricket in Times Square Series (age 8-11)
by George Selden
friendship ... enterprise
The adventures of a country cricket who unintentionally arrives in New York and is befriended by Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat.
title: The Cricket in Times Square
title: Harry Kitten and Tucker Mouse
title: Chester Cricket's New Home
title: Tucker's Countryside
title: Chester Cricket's Pigeon Ride
title: The Old Meadow
title: Harry Cat's Pet Puppy
F
MER
The Toothpaste Millionaire (age 8-11)
by Jean Merrill
humor ... math/science/technology ... enterprise ... brilliant protagonist
Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower doesn't set out to become a millionaire. He just wants to save on toothpaste. Betting he can make a gallon of his own for the same price as one tube from the store, Rufus develops a step-by-step plan with help from his friends, classmates, and math teacher. By the time he reaches the eighth grade, Rufus makes more than a gallon - he makes a million!
F
MCC
Homer Price (age 8-11)
by Robert McCloskey
math/science/technology ... humor ... enterprise ... brilliant protagonist
Six episodes in the life of Homer Price including one in which he and his pet skunk capture four bandits and another about a donut machine on the rampage, pushing out donuts just as regular as a clock can tick.
sequel: Centerburg Tales
F
LEV
My Life As a Fifth-Grade Comedian (age 8-11)
by Elizabeth Levy
enterprise ... school ... humor
Bobby's constant clowning has the principal threatening to send him to the School for Intervention, just one step away from reform school. Luckily, Bobby's teacher gives him one last chance: to organize a schoolwide laugh-off and get teachers and students to compete. Bobby knows he's got to make the contest a success. Will he be able to prove to everybody that he's finally got his act together?
F
KIN
A Mouse Called Wolf (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
adventure ... enterprise ... the arts
Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse (``Wolf,'' for short) has a big name for such a little mouse. But the name fits. His favorite pastime is listening to Mrs. Honeybee, the lady of the house, play the piano. If only he could sing along to the music! One day, to his surprise, out of his mouth comes a perfect melody. It's not long before Wolf is singing everything he can imagine, all to Mrs. Honeybee's accompaniment. Then an accident leaves Mrs. Honeybee in danger, and it's up to Wolf to save her...the only way he knows how.
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
HEN
Stormy: Misty's Foal (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
enterprise ... adventure ... animals
A raging storm slashes across Assateague and Chincoteague islands. Water is everywhere! The wild ponies and the people must battle for their lives. In the midst of the storm, Misty-the famous mare of Chincoteague-is about to give birth. Paul and Maureen are frantic with worry as the storm rages on... will Misty and her colt survive? This is the thrilling story of the hurricane that destroyed the wild herds of Assateague, and how strength and love helped rebuild them.
F
HEN
Misty of Chincoteague (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
enterprise ... adventure ... animals
Nobody could capture the Phantom, the wildest mare on the island. Paul and Maureen had their hearts set on owning her. They worked hard to earn the money she would cost. On Pony Penning Day, Paul not only brings in the Phantom, but her newborn colt as well. Can Paul and Maureen possibly earn enough to buy them both?
F
GAR
Stone Fox (age 8-11)
by John Reynolds Gardiner
adventure ... enterprise
Ten-year-old Willy needs to win the big dogsled race in order to pay the back taxes on his grandfather's farm, but that means beating the huge Indian mountain man, Stone Fox.
F
FLE
Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (age 8-11)
by Ian Fleming
fantasy ... enterprise
Two children persuade their father, an inventor, to purchase and restore an old car which turns out to have magical powers.
F
FLE
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (age 8-11)
by Ian Fleming
fantasy ... enterprise
Two children persuade their father, an inventor, to purchase and restore an old car which turns out to have magical powers.
F
DUB
The Twenty-One Balloons (age 8-11)
by William Pene Dubois
enterprise ... adventure ... voyages/journeys
Publisher comments: When Prof. William Waterman Sherman was found adrift in the Atlantic clinging to the debris of twenty-one balloons, all America was rocked with curiosity.
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
AVI
The Secret School (age 8-11)
by Avi
enterprise ... school
Publisher comments: More than anything, Ida Bidson wants to become a teacher. To do that, she must finish eighth grade, then go on to high school. But her dream falters when the one-room school in her remote Colorado town shuts down. Her only hope is to keep the school open without anyone finding out. Yet even a secret school needs a teacher. Ida can't be it. Or can she?

Sat Aug 25 11:55:25 2012
Other themes and genres