August 2017
 Kidsreads.com Newsletter for Parents - August 2017 Quick Links to Features on Kidsreads.com
Back to School with KidsreadsBack to school season is officially upon us! While I know some of your children are already settling into their 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 --- maybe some of you will remember it). 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 your children might enjoy: Picture Books for First Timers:
Middle-Grade Books for Students Ages 8-12:
Middle-Grade Books for Students Heading to Middle School:
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. Of course, we know that many of you will be looking for new books to read now that the kids are heading back to school, so here are some contests happening on our sister sites: Bookreporter: Sounding off on Audio --- Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from August 1st to September 6th at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Wendy Walker's EMMA IN THE NIGHT, read by Therese Plummer and Julia Whelan, and Louise Penny's GLASS HOUSES, read by Robert Bathurst. Reading Group Guides: 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 TUMBLE & BLUE by Cassie Beasley (Fantasy)
Featured Reviews: Girls Who Code Series
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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.
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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
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