RICKY RICOTTA AND MIGHTY ROBOT ARE BACK!

These new republished versions pairing Dav Pilkey and illustrator Dan Santat are amazing!  I really like them both separately, but together, they are a mighty force of fun.  I am in love with Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot again.

In the first installment,  Ricky and Mighty Robot find each other after some bullying action by Ricky's schoolmates and a fight against the evil Dr. Stinky, who built Mighty Robot!  

In the fight against the Voodoo Vultures from Venus, Ricky and his Mighty Robot beat them off with some spicy chocolate chip cookies and send them back to Venus!   

More hilarious and updated adventures are coming our way soon.

For readers in 2nd-4th grades. 

KIDS READ! ARTEMIS FOWL

Here's a review by 6th grader Grace of the Montrose Branch:

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer is a book about magic, fairies, and deranged criminal masterminds. Most of the time when you pick up a book and read the word fairies or magic, you would set the book back down. When you read that word, you instantly picture tiny little creatures with wings and flower dresses. Not Eoin Colfer's version. He brought together both fairies and criminal masterminds to make a whole different kind of book. In this book these "fairies" are not wand-carrying Tinkerbells,  but highly advanced creatures who can do magic and are extremely dangerous. This criminal mastermind and his bodyguard set off to find the "People" and attempt to steal their gold, which involves a dangerous plan, luck, and a certain female LEPrecon captain. 

Once you get a hold of this book and start reading you can't put it down. Eoin Colfer has concocted a book with a pinch of humor, a dash of magic, a sprinkle of adventure, and a whole lot of fun. So keep calm and read on!

For readers in 4th-8th grade.

STEAMPUNK FUN

Sophronia is 14 years old, tomboy and middle child of a family of girls who is suddenly told that she will be going to a finishing school, but this isn't any ordinary finishing school.  Unbeknownst to her, Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has vampires, werewolves, and flying airships.  There she learns to fend off all types of foes and becomes embroiled in adventures unlike any she has known before.

Etiquette and Espionage:  Finishing School Book the First by Gail Carriger is a fun steampunk action adventure story.   

For readers in 6th -9th grade

A LIBRARIAN SAVES THE DAY

THE SMASHING SCROLL by Michael Dahl is the perfect mystery for you if you are just starting to read chapter books. Scary things happen. Giant scrolls telling the "World's Last Story" start rolling down the road, threatening to cover the Earth with it's parchment! And of course - the librarian saves the day!

For 2nd - 4th graders.

ANOTHER GREAT SERIES?

I just finished THE ETERNAL HOUR GLASS, the first book in a new series called THE MAGICKEEPERS by Erica Kirov, and this is going to be a fascinating bunch of stories. Intermixing the history of famous magicians, authors and others with a modern day family of Russian magicians, the author has struck upon the possibility of literary gold. Nick Rostov lives a somewhat ordinary life as the son of a washed up Vegas Magician, living in hotels, eating pizza and skateboarding. One day, his grandfather takes him for his birthday "surprise," and Nick finds himself living with an entirely new family, that of the greatest magician in Vegas and throughout the world - Damian! They've brought Nick here to live out his life (and be part of the show) in order to protect him and his magical ability (which he just found out he has) from the evil "shadowkeepers." This is shaping up to be a series worth the read, and perfect for 5th-8th grades.

THE MAGIC HALF OF YOURSELF?

Imagine if there was another you, living in a different time period with a different family, in the same house! That's what happens to Miri when her family moves to a new house in the country - well almost. Miri finds the lens from a pair of eyeglasses taped to the wall in her bedroom, and when she looks through the lens, she ends up in the past! From the author of the "Ivy & Bean" series, THE MAGIC HALF by Annie Barrows is a delightful quick read that's just great for readers just starting out with longer chapter books. For grades 4 and up.

ANOTHER WORLD

Things change from day to day. But very rarely do they change SO much that you leave the world as you know it and go on an adventure in realms unknown. That's what happens to Arthur Penhaligon in the first book of The Keys to the Kingdom series entitled MISTER MONDAY by Garth Nix. On the brink of death due to asthma attack, Arthur is introduced to a world so strange, dark and weird, he saves himself with a mere curiosity for what might happen next. And a special key he is given by an odd, pale man in a wheelchair. Mister Monday himself! An exciting journey through many layers of other worlds, some dark, dreary caves, or jungles full of dinosaurs, with not a lot of hope. For those too old for Lemony Snicket's books, this is a great series kick-off for grades 6 and up.

FRIENDS ARE NOT GOOD GUINEA PIGS

In BULLY-BE-GONE: THE MISADVENTURES OF MILLICENT MADDING by Brian Tacang, Millicent Madding is always looking for ways to improve the lives of those around her. Being somewhat of a scientist, Millicent hangs out with many intelligent individuals - Toneisha the poet, Pollock Wong, the artist, and Juanita Alonso, a violinist. They all have a little trouble with the local bullies, and Millicent devises a concoction to scare them off. Meanwhile, the crazy Uncle who takes care of Millicent since her parents' disappearance, has many surprises and discoveries of his own. A lot is going on in this book, but it isn't hard to keep up with all the entertaining antics. Great for 3rd - 6th grades.

ANIMALS THAT TALK

THE DARING ADVENTURES OF PENHALIGON BRUSH by Sally Jones Rogan.

Penhaligon Brush, a distinguished fox,was orphaned at birth and never knew what happened to his parents. He was raised by a local apothecary who trained Penhaligon to be a strong natural healer. But Penhaligon is bored with his sleepy little town. Until one day his adopted brother sends him a strange note inviting him to his home a few towns away. When Penhaligon arrives, nothing is as it should be, and his brother is MISSING! An exciting adventure begins, with Penhaligon learning a few life lessons along the way. Definitely for kids just starting to read chapter books. 2nd grade and up.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN EMBARASSED BY YOUR MOM?

Well, just imagine how embarassed you'd be if your mom were a pirate! wants to go to school and learn how to read and make new friends, but he lives in a different time dimension and his mother is not cookie baking mini-van driving kind. He must keep everyone from finding out his true identity, until one day, when he can't keep his worlds apart any longer and it's a matter of life and death.

My Mom the Pirate by Jackie French is short, futuristic, historical, pirate, school action pack for readers in 2nd-4th grade.