Book Bytes

" This book was never meant to exist. No one needs to know the details. Just know this: there's a Merry, a Larry, a missing tooth, and a teachers' strike that is crippling Timmy Failure s academic future. Worst of all, Timmy is banned from detective work. It's a conspiracy of buffoons. He recorded everything in his private notebook, but then the manuscript was stolen. If this book gets out, he will be grounded for life. Or maybe longer. And will Timmy's mom really marry Doorman Dave?"

Meet Desmond Cole! A fearless eight-year-old who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Oh, and he just so happens to be my new best friend…and thank goodness! Because I’m afraid of everything.

Third-grader Max pursues neighborhood adventures with his dad as they both adjust to recent changes in their family.

One thing led to another . . .

Have you ever heard those words? Sometimes it means "Things got better." That's not what it means in this book. In this book, Iggy gets an idea--a perfectly fine idea--and then, unfortunately, the principal shows up, and then, even more unfortunately, there's an incident with a basketball, and then, before you know it, Iggy's flying through the air.

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.

Stella Endicott loves her teacher, Miss Liliana, and she is thrilled when the class is assigned to write a poem. Stella crafts a beautiful poem about Mercy Watson, the pig who lives next door--a poem complete with a metaphor and full of curiosity and courage. But Horace Broom, Stella's irritating classmate, insists that Stella's poem is full of lies and that pigs do not live in houses. And when Stella and Horace get into a shouting match in the classroom, Miss Liliana banishes them to the principal's office. Will the two of them find a way to turn this opposite-of-a-poem day around?

A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling.

by Wendy Mass ; illustrated by Oriol Vidal.

"At the flea market nine-and-a-half-year-old Chase and his younger sister Ava acquire an old suitcase filled with rows of carefully packed strange objects, and when they handle one of the objects (a dragon-headed doorknob) they find themselves in King Arthur's castle, on a mission to save the King--and pursued by a strange man whom they first saw at the flea market, who is after their suitcase"

by Jack Chabert ; illustrated by Sam Ricks.

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, but he will need some help from his friends.

by Alan Katz ; illustrated by Alex Lopez.

"When Milton Worthy learns his classroom's pet ferret is the evil mastermind behind a dastardly plot for world domination, it's more than just about any kid could handle. But then not every kid is the son of a member of the super-secret, super-awesome Society of Substitutes! Now it's up to Milton and his substitute teacher mom to save Beacher Elementary School before time runs out"

by Jack Chabert ; illustrated by Sam Ricks.

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, but he will need some help from his friends.

by Jack Chabert ; illustrated by Sam Ricks.

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, but he will need some help from his friends.

by Jack Chabert ; illustrated by Sam Ricks.

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, but he will need some help from his friends.

by Sally Warner ; illustrated by Jamie Harper.

Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes's attempts to defend himself against the class bully always end up getting him in trouble, but he promises to do his best when his dad offers to take him to Disneyland if he can be good for an entire week--which may be a few days too long.

Have you ever heard those words? Sometimes it means "Things got better." That's not what it means in this book. In this book, Iggy gets an idea--a perfectly fine idea--and then, unfortunately, the principal shows up, and then, even more, unfortunately, there's an incident with a basketball, and then, before you know it, Iggy's flying through the air.

How did it all happen? It's really hard to explain. You'd better read the book.

by Lauren Tarshis ; illustrated by Scott Dawson.

"For eleven year-old Hugo Ballard, flying on the Hindenburg is a dream come true. Hugo, his parents, and his four-year-old sister Gertie, are making the thrilling four thousand mile journey across the Atlantic in a zeppelin as big as the Titanic. But as the zeppelin gets ready to land, a blast rocks the Hindenburg and fire consumes the ship. The entire disaster lasts a mere thirty-two seconds, but in those few seconds, Hugo finds himself separated from his family and in a desperate race to escape the flames. The Hindenburg is doomed. And so, it seems, is Hugo. Will he survive this historic disaster?"

The continuing story Eerie Elementary: The School is Alive!

Bill Harley ; illustrated by Adam Gustavson.

Charlie Bumpers is sure he does not stand a chance of getting along with his fourth grade teacher and despite his best efforts to be neat and well-behaved, he always seems to be in trouble until he discovers her secret.

And now for more of the story for everyone who voted yes! 

by Jack Chabert ; illustrated by Sam Ricks.

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, but he will need some help from his friends.

Princess Serena (or Princess Pulverizer, as she prefers) doesn't want to be a princess--- she wants to be a knight! But first, she must complete a Quest of Kindness and prove she has what it takes to be a hero.

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them, but he will need some help from his friends.