RULE THE SCHOOL!

If you like books like The Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Captain Underpants, than RAYMOND AND GRAHAM RULE THE SCHOOL by MIKE KNUDSON is for you. It's pact with funny situations about all things school related... I know, I know, only few weeks left to school, but you still have time!

Raymond and Graham are best friends who feel that they have earned the right to rule since they are the oldest in ther school based on their age. However, things almost never turn out to be the way people have planned. And so begins the adventures of these mischievous knuckleheads. The non-stop adventures include from having one's eyebrow shaved to having a severe upset stomach do to too much consumption of prune pudding (go figure!)

For grades 4th and up.

NO REST FOR THE FAMOUS DETECTIVE DUO

Alex just wants to lay low and avoid the fame from the last two mysteries but unfortunately, Yasmeen, his friend and partner, just can't let go of a new mystery that has literally been mailed to them. Someone has just tried to kidnap Alex's baseball coach while he was in a Porta-Potty! In order to capture the criminal though, they have to sort through old bags of trash for clues ...from the Fourth of July picnic.... a month ago! Who Stole Uncle Sam? by Martha Freeman is the third case for Alex and Yasmeen. Great for 5th & older.

WE MISSED YOU...

The readers of the Snacktime reading group met last night to talk about Freak the Mighty and this is what they thought:

Crystal - 3 - The Characters were interesting. I did not think that it was a positive or inspirational story.

Allisyn - 8 - I loved the building of the friendship between the two characters. It was an original story and a good tale of a different friendship.

Brittany - 8.5 - I loved how the friendship grew and developed even though it was a sad ending. I really liked how it played out. It was realistic.

Khristie - 7 - I liked how the book was detailed.

Tamar - 7.5

(The numbers are the rating the reader gave the book. Ten is the highest rating and one the lowest.)

Come and join us next month on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91205 and voice your opinion on The Secret Garden by Frances Hogson Burnett.

MAKEOVERS

Obsessed with the cosmetic industry twelve-year old Lucy comes up with a business plan that will keep the doors to her grandmother's drug store open in My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald. Friendships, family relationships and middle school all play important parts in this sometimes serious, somtimes funny book about a young girl's dreams and ambitions.

This is a light fun read for a hot summer's day. For grades 5 - 8.

TORTUGA IN TROUBLE

This story is a variation of Little Red Riding Hood. Tortuga is bringing a delicious supper to his abuela. Iguana, Conejo and Culebra are following him. But they’re not the only ones who want to steal his dinner. Coyote has his own dinner plans for Tortuga and his grandmother.Includes a glossary of Spanish words used. Full color and funny story written by Ann Whitford Paul, illustrated by Ethan Long.

Kindergarten, ages 5-6

SNACKTIME READERS - JUNE

Join the Snacktime Readers on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. in the Children's Room of the Central Library to talk about this month's book Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. This is the story of two boys who become unlikely friends. Their disabilities, Max's learning and Kevin's physical problems, cause both of them to be harassed by their classmates but when they become friends and form a partnership they become a force to be reckoned with. Kevin opens new worlds of imagination and confidence for Max who in turn carries Kevin, aka "Freak," into the real world.

For grades 4 and older.

MEET THE TROPHY KID!

Being a trophy kid to one of the most powerful Hollywood Power couple can be a big challenge. Joe, who was only three years old when his mom and sister were killed during the war in Yugoslavia happens to be that kid. He is aware of the fact that the only reason his Hollywood parents adopted him was to show their circle of friends that they too can contribute to the well being of others. So you can only imagine how Joe felt when his parents left him all alone in order to attend a charity event to raise awareness for the orphans in the world, or when his parents threw a birthday party for him with kids Joe didn't even know. They were all for a show...

Things do take on a different path when Joe agrees to write an autobiography with the help of a reporter and more secrets of the Hollywood couple gets revealed. However, very unpredictable events do take place in his life, leading him to find things that he was missing all his life. A fun summer read. TROPHY KID OR HOW I WAS ADOPTED BY THE RICH AND FAMOUS by STEVE ATINSKY.



For grades 4th and up.

DEAR GRAN,

I know that you are almost ninety years old, so I won't expect a reply from you very often. That's okay, because I just want to practice typing on my new computer.

Annabelle

Dear Gran,

Why haven't you answered my first letter?

Gran, You've Got Mail! by Jo Hoestlandt is a delightfully quirky little French book of letters written between Annabelle and her great-granmother. Great for reluctant readers 5th & older.

LOIS LOWRY STRIKES AGAIN!

I am beginning to think that Lois Lowry can write about anything. Author of award winning books like Number the Stars and The Giver, not to mention the Anastasia Krupnik series among other greats, she's managed to pen a fabulous story for the "dark comedy" genre that will remind you of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket! THE WILLOUGHBYS is an atypical story about a miserable family with misearble parents who decide they don't like their kids anymore, hire a nanny and leave town. The oldest boy is the bossiest kid you'll ever meet, the twins have the exact same name but alternate days they can wear the one sweater they own, and the only girl is really the smartest but is too shy to say anything. Down the street lives a miserable candy bar inventor who lost his family. But the two families intertwine in very strange ways, and make for a delightful tale. For grades 4 and up.

THEODOSIA ONCE AGAIN

Theodosia, our young heroine, is back in Victorian England with her family in this second mystery adventure. After mummies from museums all over London appear repeatedly at the doorstep of her father's museum, Theodosia realizes she must use her magical skills and knowledge of ancient Egypt to outmanuever a sinister secret society from turning London into a city of Chaos, keep her father from being imprisoned and as if these weren't enough, free herself from the tutors that her grandmother insists that a proper young ladies need. Phew, this is one busy girl!

For those looking for some armchair excitement. Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris by R.L. La Fevers is for 5th & older.

MAN IN THE MOON

What if someone gave you the power to change your life? Would you do it? Or would you just let things happen naturally? MAN IN THE MOON by Dotti Enderleis a story about a girl who is struggling in her daily life due to her father's unemployment and her brother's terminal illness. She goes to sleep hoping that at least in her dreams she can see the bright side of life.

One day, a man who happened to be an old friend of her father's shows up and with her mother's objection, stays with the family...

Things start changing in ways that even the girl didn't dream of. In this part mystery, part suspense and part fantasy story, all readers will find something enjoyable.

For grades 4th and older.

FAVORITE FAIRY TALES

The Twelve Dancing Princesses was always one of my most favorite fairy tales--the story of twelve sisters who elude their father and dance the night away wearing out their shoes every night. It has all the elements of a good story, princesses, dancing, mystery, magic and romance. In Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball the author takes the fairy tale and further develops the story. In addition to the above elements she has included evil kings, princess and kindly old crones. The story is taken to new heights and has become something not to be missed.

For grades 5-8.

LILLY'S BIG DAY

LILY’S BIG DAY (El Gran Dia de Lily)
This time Lilly’s becomes very excited to become the flower girl for her teacher and the school nurse, until her parents inform her that since he hasn’t asked, that probably won’t happened. A niece of her teacher named Ginger has been chosen to become the flower girl which it makes Lilly both sad and mad. The book teaches a wonderful lesson in coping with something that sometimes doesn’t go according to the way everyone expect it. Kindergarten, ages 4-8. Spanish edition written by Kevin Henkes, translated by Maria Candelaria Posada.

HOLY MYSTERY, GIRLS!

In New York, The Red Blazer Girls are enlisted by an alumni's mother to decipher clues to a valuable birthday gift hidden 20 years earlier. As the intrepid seventh graders of St. Veronica's, an elite all girls Catholic school, begin to search the church and school, they realize that others are also interested in The Ring of Rocamadour.

This new mystery by Michael D. Beil is a page turner with a little romance, academics, religion and a bit of teen angst thrown in for good measure. For readers in 5th & older wanting something beyond Nancy Drew series.