JON SCIESZKA IS A KNUCKLEHEAD!

If you were ever curious about where authors get funny stories from or how they were as a kid, browse through a copy of this autobiography by Jon Scieszka. You know his books, The Stinky Cheese Man, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, and many others. With five brothers, it's a wonder they all survived the rambunctious early years. Yep! There were six boys in the Scieszka family. No girls (except their mom, of course). After reading this, don't try any of their stunts, they're only funny because they survived to tell the tales.

Funny observations from the mind of Jon Scieszka in Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka. For readers in 6th & up.

JUST WHERE IS AWAY?

The island she was born on seemed like a paradise and life with her mother and friends was ideal until one day when everything suddenly changed. Milagros was forced by circumstances to start off on an incredible adventure that took her to the place where magic and reality meet.

Best for grades five through eight.

TRAVELS WITH GULLY THE DOG!

Gully is one smart, sophisticated dog who gets to spend his summers on the Seine River in France and the rest of the year in New York's Manhattan Island. He eats gourmet food and is exposed to art and culture all the time. He is very picky with his friends and prefers to hang out with french poodles instead of mutts and other breeds.

However, things are about to change beyond believe for him because his owner has fallen in love with a French professor and she unfortunately is allergic to dogs and Gully has no idea what is going to happen to him.

You need to read the book to find out, I promise you will not want to put it down once you start...

For grades 4th and up.

ADVENTURE, FANTASY AND ROMANCE ALL ROLLED TOGETHER

Julie, grandaughter of a witch, sister to Puss in Boots, and child of Rapunzel and the Prince. Wow! What a load to carry around, especially in this modern world where everyone thinks fairy tales are just that... tales. But Julie just grits her teeth and bear the burden along with her mother to keep The Wild from expanding and taking all the storybook characters back into its fold. But somehow, someone made a magic wish in the wishing well and unleashed The Wild. Her family, friends, and even the townsfolk have been pulled into repeating old tales over and over again and are trapped within the Wild. Julie has no choice but to battle the Wild for control of everyone she loves.

In this second installment, Julie's father, The Prince, suddenly appears at her grandmother's motel. She had not seen him since she had to reluctantly leave him behind at the magic castle. What is the Wild up to? It has never willingly released a fairytale character before. Now it has taken over her town and captured her mother. No matter what she tries, it seems that the Wild is always one step ahead of her. Along the way, crossing the country, she enlists the help of other fairytale characters and a boy like herself until everything converges at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. And it is anything but a happy ending.

Both books by Sarah Beth Durst are a fantastic and complex adventure woven into a world of fantasy and the modern headed by a spunky heroine who just won't give up. A great, fast, fun read for 6th grade readers and older.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND CRAZY GLUE OR SUPER MEGA GONZO GLUE?

The junk drawer is one of Roscoe Riley's favorite off-limit places. With his mother's permission, Roscoe goes through the drawer and tries to find supplies that he could bring to school for his teacher, Ms. Diz. First grader, Roscoe Riley is a lovable character. He is charming, and he tries to help out whenever he can. But even helpful kids make bad decisions. Inside the bag of supplies for Ms. Diz lies the Super Mega Gonzo Glue. Unfortunately, when Roscoe uses the glue in the class program, his plan to help Ms. Diz backfires and the program ends with fingers pointing at Roscoe Riley.

A fun new read by Katherine Applegate, author of the Animorphs series. Readers in the third grade and older will cheer or giggle, knowing that there's a Roscoe Riley in every classroom.

MARCH SNACKTIME READERS

Like a good mystery story? Room One by Andrew Clements fits the bill and is this month's selection for Snacktime Readers. Join us for snacks and discussion at the Central Library, Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. It's always a good time.

For grades 4 and older.

THE GIRL BEHIND THE SMILE?

Only twelve when the reader first meets Betta in THE SMILE by Donna Jo Napoli, the next dozen years of her life are shared along with some of the history of Italy in this title. Not only does she meet and become friends with many famous people from the Medicis to Leonardo di Vinci, the main character becomes involved in the history of her country as the author tells her version of the story behind the very famous painting.

For grades 6 and older.

THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION!

Black History Month is coming to an end, and you probably have done few book reports on the African-Americans who have changed the course of our history. However, in THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION: MARIAN ANDERSON AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS by Russell Freedman you will find a great story not only about the struggles of the African-Americans but also about Marian Anderson who was an incredibly talented singer who fought for the equal rights of blacks just so she could sing and enhance her music career. Her encounter with Mrs. Roosevelt led her to do many great things to contribute to this great cause and be one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement.

For grades 4th and up.

ROSCOE RILEY RULES #3

Roscoe wishes he had a trophy. He is the only member of his family to not win one. His sister, Hazel, has many trophies, and Roscoe is quite envious of her. How far will Roscoe go to win a trophy? Will he tell a fib to his parents, or swap a hand-made sweater that his grandmother made with love? From the author of Animorphs, Katherine Applegate writes Don't Swap Your Sweater For A Dog from the Roscoe Riley Rules series. This is another fun read, with lessons for Roscoe Riley to learn- hopefully his third grade readers will too!

NAKED BUNYIP DANCING

Yes, that is the title. NAKED BUNYIP DANCING by Steven Herrick with pictures by Beth Norling is a new twist on the novel in poetry format. The teacher is a blissed-out hippy teaching math to the students while singing and playing guitar. There's girls who like boys, boys who think girls are gross, kids with family problems, kids with behavior problems. It's all here. Only it's written as a series of poems. Sometimes the poem is the student. Sometimes the poem is about a student. Here is a sample from the book:

"Sophie and poetry ~

I waited until the end of class
and I went to Mr. Carey's desk

and asked him

in a really quiet voice,

in case anyone was outside listening,

if I could read a poem

in the school concert

instead of singing.

A poem of my own

on any topic I like.
He smiled so wide

I thought his face would split!

Simple.

And I've got months to write it!"

This book would probably be best for kids 6th grade and up.

ARMIG & SAYAT NOVA

Armig is a shy boy who longs to sing with the great singer Sayat Nova who happened to be one of the best Armenian musicians of all time. Ever since his father's passing, he has become more of a recluse and while his friends are out playing and having a good time, he is looking after sheep and doing chorus that are suitable for older people. He has put aside his dreams of singing at all, let alone the great Sayat Nova.

Things do change due to an accidental encounter with the great musician who finds out what Armig's father has done in the village and vows to make the boy's life better. ARMIG & SAYAT NOVA by KATIE ATIKIAN and the illustrations by ALISON ATIKIAN.

For grades 4th and older.