Kidsreads Newsletter

Kidsreads.com Newsletter  -  August 2017

Quick Links to Features on Kidsreads.com
Reviews, Authors, Features, Series Books, Coming Soon, Contests,
Read This Newsletter Online

Back to School with Kidsreads

Back to school season is officially upon us! While I know some of you are already settling into your new desks and lockers, others are still squeezing in the last few days of summer. Here at Kidsreads, the new school year means a whole new season of books, series updates and features, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.

Thinking about our readers who are heading back to school reminded me of my own elementary school days. I know that I LOVED back-to-school shopping --- so many three-ring binders and flashy pencil cases --- but I was also excited to meet my new teachers every year. My absolute favorite back-to-school book was MY TEACHER SLEEPS IN SCHOOL by Leatie Weiss, which first released in 1985 (an oldie, but a goodie). I love-love-loved this book and distinctly remember demanding that my grandmother read it to me every night before bed. There was something so magical about wondering what teachers do when they’re not in school, and this book eased a lot of my scary teacher fears and made going back to school fun. My original copy is MIA, so I just bought a new one --- I’m really looking forward to seeing how it holds up!

Here are some more recent back-to-school books you might enjoy:

Picture Books for First Timers:

• FALL IS FOR SCHOOL by Robert Neubecker
• BACK TO SCHOOL WITH BIGFOOT by Samantha Berger and Martha Brockenbrough, with illustrations by Dave Pressler
• KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN!: 10 More Sleeps Until School Starts! by Marjorie Blain Parker, with illustrations by Sophie Burrows
• THE TEACHER'S PET by Anica Mrose Rissi, with illustrations by Zachariah OHora
• HOW TO GET YOUR TEACHER READY by Jean Reagan, with illustrations by Lee Wildish
• HERE COMES TEACHER CAT by Deborah Underwood, with illustrations by Claudia Rueda

Middle-Grade Books for Students Ages 8-12:

• MRS. SMITH'S SPY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS by Beth McMullen
• CLASS DISMISSED and UNSCHOOLED by Allan Woodrow
• MS. BIXBY’S LAST DAY by John David Anderson
• The School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani --- Book 4 is releasing this September!
• MISS ELLICOT'S SCHOOL FOR THE MAGICALLY MINDED by Sage Blackwood
• The Fairy Tale Reform School series by Jen Calonita

Middle-Grade Books for Students Heading to Middle School:

• POTTYMOUTH AND STOOPID: A Middle School Story by James Patterson, with illustrations by Stephen Gilpin
• The I Funny series by James Patterson
• The From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess series by Meg Cabot
• The Misadventures of Max Crumbly series by Rachel Renée Russell
• LIGHTS, CAMERA, MIDDLE SCHOOL! by Jennifer L. Holm, with illustrations by Matthew Holm
• ALL'S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL by Victoria Jamieson

Phew, now that we’re all ready for school, let’s talk about some of our featured reviews for August. Up first, CIRCUS MIRANDUS author Cassie Beasley is back with TUMBLE & BLUE, a magical story of friendship, family and living up to the expectations of the people around you. Cassie really wowed the children’s book world when she burst onto the scene with CIRCUS MIRANDUS. and I am happy to report that she brings that same humor and warmth to TUMBLE & BLUE.

Our reviewer, Liz Sauchelli, says, “The characters, particularly the members of the Montgomery family, are the strongest part of TUMBLE & BLUE. It is they, in tandem with the suspenseful plot and family revelations that slowly spin out, who make the story so excellent. They are funny, relatable and altogether enjoyable." Liz also told me that she actually canceled plans so that she could finish the book in one day --- now that's a great review!

We're also very excited to share our reviews for the first two books in the new Girls Who Code series. Since 2012, the Girls Who Code organization has taught computing skills to and inspired over 40,000 girls across America. Now its founder, Reshma Saujani, wants to bring these fun and informative lessons straight to readers like you! The first two books in the series -- one fiction, and one nonfiction --- will allow readers to learn the basics of coding and are described as "part how-to, part girl-empowerment, and all fun."

You can read more about these books, GIRLS WHO CODE and THE FRIENDSHIP CODE, and see our reviews below. Teen Board Member Grace P., who reviewed THE FRIENDSHIP CODE, has actually attended one of the Girls Who Code summer immersion programs and will be meeting Reshma Saujani in person next weekend at the Decatur Book Festival. Expect to hear all about it in our next update!

Last, but certainly not least, I want to call your attention to PATINA by Jason Reynolds, the second book in his Track series. As anyone who knows me will tell you, I think Jason Reynolds is the coolest guy in the kids' and teens' book world --- and possibly the rest of the world, too. I had the absolute honor of meeting him at last year's National Book Awards ceremony, where he was nominated for the first book in the Track series, GHOST. I loved GHOST, but PATINA hit me right in the feels, as the kids say, and I cannot wait to see which character he focuses on in the third book of the series.

As always, be sure to check out our series update below. We've added new titles for 37(!) different book series this month, including The Magic Tree House series, the Lucy & Andy Neanderthal series and the Pennyroyal Academy series.

Happy reading,

--- Rebecca Munro (Rebecca@bookreporter.com)

Featured Review: TUMBLE & BLUE by Cassie Beasley

Featured Reviews: Girls Who Code Series
by Reshma Saujani

GIRLS WHO CODE: Learn to Code and Change the World by Reshma Saujani (Nonfiction) 
Audiobook available, narrated by Reshma Saujani.
Since 2012, the organization Girls Who Code has taught computing skills to and inspired over 40,000 girls across America. Now its founder, Reshma Saujani, wants to inspire you to be a girl who codes! Bursting with dynamic artwork, down-to-earth explanations of coding principles and real-life stories of girls and women working at places like Pixar and NASA, this graphically animated book shows what a huge role computer science plays in our lives and how much fun it can be. Whether you’re a girl who’s never coded before, a girl who codes, or a parent raising one, this entertaining book will have you itching to create your own apps, games and robots to make the world a better place. Reviewed by Kat Baumgartner.

THE FRIENDSHIP CODE: Girls Who Code, Book 1 by Stacia Deutsch with a foreword by Reshma Saujani (Contemporary Fiction)
Audiobook available narrated by Sisi A. Johnson and Reshma Saujani.
Loops, variables, input/output --- Lucy can’t wait to get started with the new coding club at school. Finally, an after school activity that she’s really interested in. But Lucy’s excitement turns to disappointment when she’s put into a work group with girls she barely knows. All she wanted to do was make an app that she believes will help someone very special to her. Suddenly, Lucy begins to get cryptic coding messages and needs some help translating them. She soon discovers that coding --- and friendship --- takes time, dedication, and some laughs! Reviewed by Grace P., Teen Board Member.

Now in Stores: PATINA by Jason Reynolds

Featured Review: THORNHILL by Pam Smy

Featured Review: LAUGH OUT LOUD by James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, with illustrations by Jeff Ebbeler

New Reviews

THE LIST by Patricia Forde (Dystopian Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Imogen Wilde.
The city of Ark is the last safe place on Earth. To make sure humans are safe, everyone in Ark must speak List, a language of only 500 words. Everyone that is, except Letta. As apprentice to the Wordsmith, Letta can read all the words that have ever existed. One day her master disappears and the leaders of Ark tell Letta she must shorten List to fewer words. Then Letta meets a boy who somehow knows all the words that have been banned. Letta's faced with a dangerous choice: sit idly by and watch language slowly slip away or follow a stranger on a path to freedom...or banishment. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

JOURNEYS: Young Readers' Letters to Authors Who Changed Their Lives, compiled by the Library of Congress Center for the Book and edited by Catherine Gourley (Letters)
Culled from the Letters About Literature contest of the Library of Congress Center for the Book, the fifty-two letters in this collection --- written by students in grades four through twelve --- reveal how deeply books and poetry affect the lives of readers. Offering letters that are as profound as they are personal and as moving as they are enlightening, this collection, which also features artwork by some of the contest entrants, provides a glimpse into young people’s lives and their connections --- both expected and unexpected --- to the written word. Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts.

BEYOND THE DOORS by David Neilsen (Horror)
When a family disaster forces the four Rothbaum children to live with their aunt Gladys, they immediately know there is something strange about their new home. Strangest of all are the doors --- there are none. Every doorway is a wide-open passageway! Their unease only grows when Aunt Gladys disappears for long stretches of time, leaving them alone to explore the strange house. When they discover just what Aunt Gladys has been doing with all her doors, the shocked siblings embark on an adventure that changes everything they believe about their family and the world. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

THE TINY HERO OF FERNY CREEK LIBRARY written by Linda Bailey with illustrations by Victoria Jamieson (Fiction)
Eddie is a tiny green bug who loves to read and who lives behind the chalkboard in the fourth-grade classroom with his parents, his 53 brothers and sisters and his aunt Min. But when Aunt Min goes to the school library to read a book and never returns, Eddie leaves the comfort of his home for the first time and makes the dangerous trek through Ferny Creek Elementary School to find her. Reviewed by Aimee Rogers.

HEDY'S JOURNEY: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust
written by Michelle Bisson and illustrated by El Primo Ramón (Nonfiction/History)
It is 1941. Hedy and her family are Jewish, and the Nazi party is rising. Hedy's family is no longer safe in their home in Hungary. They decide to flee to America, but because of their circumstances, sixteen-year-old Hedy must make her way through Europe alone. Will luck be with her? Will she be brave? Join Hedy on her journey --- where she encounters good fortune and misfortune, a kind helper and cruel soldiers, a reunion and a tragedy --- and discover how Hedy is both lucky and brave. HEDY'S JOURNEY adds an important voice to the canon of Holocaust stories, and her courage will make a lasting impact on young readers. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

SANDWICHES!: More Than You've Ever Wanted to Know About Making and Eating America's Favorite Food written by Alison Deering and illustrated by Bob Lentz (Cookbook)
From a classic PB&J to a triple-decker club, discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know (and MORE) about America’s favorite food: SANDWICHES! In this cookbook meets guidebook, kids and adults will learn to assemble --- and enjoy --- a variety of delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert sandwiches. With fun factoids and trivia, plus an array of vegetarian sandwiches and regional specialties, this truly is the ultimate guide to what takes place between the bread. Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts.

EXIT STRATEGY by Lauren Allbright (Fiction)
Ross Stevens has changed schools twelve times in the last three years but when his beloved Pops becomes ill, Ross and his mom must plant roots --- which means no more school moves. And no more moves mean no more school exits, and Ross has perfected the science of leaving a school with an epic prank. Worse, it means he will actually have to learn how to make friends and do a science project, two things he’s never had to do before. Reviewed by Liz Sauchelli.

New Series Books for August

What's better than a book (and no, we don't mean ice cream)? It's a whole series of books! At Kidsreads.com, we know that a lot of you are all about series. Once you find characters, topics or a fictional world you love, you don't want to leave! That's why we add new books to our series features every month. Read below to see this month's updates, and click here to visit our Series page!

An Ada Lace Adventure, Books 1 and 2
ADA LACE, ON THE CASE by Emily Calandrelli with contributions by Tamson Weston with illustrations by Renée Kurilla
ADA LACE SEES RED by Emily Calandrelli with contributions by Tamson Weston with illustrations by Renée Kurilla 

Atticus Claw, Book 7
ATTICUS CLAW HEARS A ROAR by Jennifer Gray 

The Bad Guys, Book 4
THE BAD GUYS IN ATTACK OF THE ZITTENS (The Bad Guys #4) by Aaron Blabey 

Beast & Crown, Book 1
BEAST & CROWN by Joel Ross 

Big Nate, Book 17
BIG NATE: A Good Old-Fashioned Wedgie by Lincoln Peirce 

The Boxcar Children Great Adventures, Book 4
THE SHACKLETON SABOTAGE created by Gertrude Chandler Warner with illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale 

Charlie Joe Jackson, Book 5
CHARLIE JOE JACKSON'S GUIDE TO PLANET GIRL by Tommy Greenwald with illustrations by J. P. Coovert 

The Danger Gang, Book 1
THE DANGER GANG AND THE PIRATES OF BORNEO! by Stephen Bramucci with illustrations by Arree Chung 

Dog Man, Book 3
DOG MAN: A Tale of Two Kitties (Dog Man #3) by Dav Pilkey 

Earth Before Us, Book 1
DINOSAUR EMPIRE! (Earth Before Us #1): Journey through the Mesozoic Era by Abby Howard 

Eerieville, Book 1
NIGHT OF THE LIVING CUDDLE BUNNIES by Jonathan Rosen 

A Friday Barnes Mystery, Book 4
NO RULES: A Friday Barnes Mystery by R. A. Spratt with illustrations by Phil Gosier 

From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess, Book 3
ROYAL CRUSH: From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess written and illustrated by Meg Cabot

Girls Who Code, Nonfiction and Fiction Books 1 and 1
GIRLS WHO CODE: Learn to Code and Change the World by Reshma Saujani
THE FRIENDSHIP CODE #1 by Stacia Deutsch with a foreword by Reshma Saujani 

A Haunted Mystery, Book 2
THE DEMONS' DOOR by Chris Grabenstein 

History's Worst, Books 1 and 2
ADOLF HITLER by James Buckley
JACK THE RIPPER by Michael Burgan

I Survived, Book 15
I SURVIVED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1776 (I Survived #15) by Lauren Tarshis 

The Icebreaker Trilogy, Book 3
BATTLESONG by Lian Tanner

The Imagination Box, Book 2
THE IMAGINATION BOX: Beyond Infinity by Martyn Ford 

Knights of the Borrowed Dark, Book 2
THE FOREVER COURT (Knights of the Borrowed Dark, Book 2) by Dave Rudden 

Lucy & Andy Neanderthal, Book 2
LUCY & ANDY NEANDERTHAL: The Stone Cold Age by Jeffrey Brown 

Magic Tree House, Book 29
A BIG DAY FOR BASEBALL by Mary Pope Osborne with illustrations by AG Ford 

Magic Tree House Fact Tracker, Book 37
BASEBALL: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #29: A Big Day for Baseball by Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce with illustrations by Carlo Molinari 

Nancy Drew Diaries, Book 15
THE PROFESSOR AND THE PUZZLE by Carolyn Keene 

Paddington, Book 8
PADDINGTON GOES TO TOWN by Michael Bond with illustrations by Peggy Fortnum

Patrick Griffin and the Three Worlds, Book 2
PATRICK GRIFFIN'S FIRST BIRTHDAY ON ITH by Ned Rust 

Pennyroyal Academy, Book 3
THE WARRIOR PRINCESS OF PENNYROYAL ACADEMY by M. A. Larson 

Pyramid Hunters, Book 2
BONES OF THE SUN GOD by Peter Vegas 

Ruby Starr, Book 1
RUBY STARR by Deborah Lytton

A Sam London Adventure, Book 1
GUARDIANS OF THE GRYPHON'S CLAW by Todd Calgi Gallicano

Science Comics, Book 6
SCIENCE COMICS: Plagues: The Microscopic Battlefield written and illustrated by Falynn Koch 

Shadow House, Book 3
NO WAY OUT (Shadow House, Book 3) by Dan Poblocki 

A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery, Book 2
VANISHED! by James Ponti 

Track, Book 2
PATINA by Jason Reynolds 

Wedgie & Gizmo, Book 1
WEDGIE & GIZMO by Suzanne Selfors with illustrations by Barbara Fisinger 

Who Was...? Series
WHO WAS ALEXANDER HAMILTON? by Pam Pollack, Meg Belviso with illustrations by Dede Putra 

The Wild Ones, Book 3
THE WILD ONES: Great Escape by C. Alexander London

Remember to be safe online. NEVER tell anyone personal information --- which includes your real name, age, address, phone number or school. Hey, pretend you are undercover when you go online and protect yourself at all times!

Keep reading!

Booker T. Worm and Friends
Kidsreads.com
The Book Report Network
850 Seventh Avenue - Suite 901
New York, New York 10019