Author/Illustrator: Jarrett. J. Krosoczka
Publisher: Random House Graphic, 2009
A couple of lines form the book:
Lunch Lady: He hasn't been sick once in twenty years.
Betty: You're right! Not once in twenty years.
Kalowski: Maybe he ate some of yah shepahd's pie yestahday!
Lunch Lady: Can it, Kalowski!
Serving Justice! And Serving Lunch!
Fun series for young to early middle grade readers.
Title: Bad Guys
Author/Illustrator: Aaron Blabey
Publisher: Scholastic, 2016
Lines from the book:
Wolf: I said GET OVER HERE.
What's the problem?
Oh, I see.
Yeah, I get it . . .
You're thinking, "Oh it's the big bad scary wolf. I don't want to talk to him. He's a MONSTER."
Is he or isn't he. Meet the bad guys and see if any good comes from it.
A series fun for young to early middle grade readers.
Title: Investigators
Author/Illustrator: John Patrick Green
Publisher: First Second, 2020
Lines From Book:
Brash: Mango! Get offa my case!
Mango: Oh. Sorry, Brash.
Brash: Our new V.E.S.T.S*s are in the S.U.I.T. ** case, along with our new undercover assignment.
Mango: Is it cowboys? I hope it's cowboys!
Alligators, Mango and Brash are on the case. Can the investigate and find the missing chef?
Another fun series for early middle grade readers. You'll find some drawing tips at the end of the book.
Title: Agent Moose
Author: Mo O'Hara
Illustrator: Jess Bradley
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends, 2020
A few lines from the book:
Owlfred: Anonymoose, I have your chocolate milk. Shaken, not stirred.
Anonymoose: I'm going to be the laughing moose of the forest . . .
Owlfred: Ah, you've seen the morning paper, then?
Humor, odd factual tidbits, and a mystery for early middle grade readers. Yes, it's a series too.
Title: Fox and Rabbit
Author: Beth Ferry
Illustrator: Gregerly Dudas
Publisher: Amulet Books, 2021
Lines from the book:
Fox: Now I see a crab.
Rabbit: Me too.
Fox: I just made that you. I didn't really see a crab. Stop copying me.
Rabbit: I wasn't copying you, I was being nice.
Fox: Humph.
Five friendship stories in one book. Sweet characters. This series is great for early middle grade readers.
Title: Mischief and Mayhem
Author/Illustrator: Ken Lamug
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 2021
Lines from the book:
By day, she's an ordinary kid with an ordinary cat.
She does ordinary kid stuff. like going to the park . . .
Kids: Whoopee!
Reading lots of books . . .
Missy: Ugh!
And doing cool science stuff.
KAPOOF!
Find out if Mischief AKA Missy and Mayhem AKA Gizmo are cut out to be supervillains in this super fun middle grade graphic novel.
Title: A Bird Will Soar
Author: Alison Green Myers
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, 2021
Opening:
Chapter One
Mysteries
The wonder of things --
of wings
of sky
of Mother Nature's secrets
packed inside
scattered seeds.
The world is filled with mysteries. Clues everywhere-- cracked shells, forgotten feathers, deep prints left in soft soil.
This is so beautifully written. A quiet story about a boy, his family and a family of eagles and eaglets. Axel lives with autism and is striving to navigate the world through secrets and truths. When a tornado damages Axel's home and the nearby eagle's nest, his world feels twisted and torn, but sometimes those tears are the very things that help you heal.
Middle grade (4th -7th) 400 pages. This would make a great read aloud.
Well, here you go! A list of great books kids beginning to read through middle grade. I have another stack that I will share in a few days. I also have a stash of wonderful picture books to for more holiday shopping ideas.
Sign in and comment on this post, to be entered to win a book from this list. I will be giving away my copy of Agent Moose, Investigators, Lunch Lady, and Mischief and Mayhem. Deadline to enter is November 30th at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced December 1st.
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