FOR DINNER - DIRT OR SMELLY SOCKS

James' father tells him some outrageous tales to get him to eat broccoli, smelly lasagna, slimy eggs, lumpy oatmeal, and repulsive milk ( I'm with you on this one, James).  The story James is told is that if he doesn't eat the smelly lasagna, then the troll chef that made it will have to go back to his awful job at the rat circus.  When James turns down smelly broccoli, his other food choices are sweaty socks, the finest dirt or specially chewed gum. Delishhhh! 

The stories keep getting wilder and wilder with an increasing less gullible James. By the end of the story, James knows how it works and just gives in to the delicious eggs sitting in front of him.  Tales For Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider is for beginning reader in 1st - 2nd grades who enjoy silly humor.  

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.

HAMSTERS, HO!!

The Great Texas Hamster Drive: An Original Tall Tale by Eric A. Kimmel

Pecos Bill and Slue Foot Sue are now married and have five kids. The littlest one, a girl named Sal, who Bill can't help but give her anything her little heart desires, wants just one little hamster. How much trouble can one little pet be? Well, since this is a tall tale, Sal didn't get just one hamster, but two! And boy did they multiply!!! I'm sure you can guess what happens next.

This is a cautionary tale to all you little ones out there who are thinking of geting a pet hamster. Beware! You might get more than you bargained for.

A picture book for ages 5 and older.