The Adventure of Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt

Title: The Adventures of Nanny Piggins
Author: R.A. Spratt
Copyright: 2010
ISBN:978-0-316-06819-2

I don't know how it has gotten to be 2012 and I have never written a review of Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt.  I admit to being a sucker for nanny stories.  I loved Mary Poppins, Nanny McPhee was simply superb, and don't even get me started on Amelia Bedilia (perhaps she wasn't quite a nanny but close and I love it anyway!)

While some bloggers have complained that Nanny Piggins doesn't teach children the best morale's this is precisly why her books will appeal to older children.  Nanny Piggins does everything that children wish they could do but are never allowed.  She feeds them chocolate for dinner, takes them to the amusement park, cons the school into giving her 500 dollars, plus she used to be in the circus!  This is quite simply a recipe for awesome storytelling!

If you know a child who likes to laugh give Nanny Piggins a try...  I mean just look at the illustrations what could be funnier?   Plus Nanny Piggins is Australian and in Australia there are already six stories!  The Australian versions were illustrated by R.A. Spratt, the American versions were done by Dan Santat. 

Title: Spy School

Title: Spy School
Author: Stuart Gibbs
Copyright: 2012
ISBN:978-1-4424-2182-0

In honor of the Spies, Codes, and Ciphers program that will be running at the library on April16-20th I bring you a book review that is sure to get your blood pumping.  By the end of this book you will be dying to come to our Spy program and learn everything that you can about the CIA, FBI, and the NSA! On to the review.

Spy School is written by Stuart Gibbs (an author I had never heard of before).  It begins with a highly classified letter from the "Office of CIA Internal Investigations" and features many blacked out lines leave the reader wondering what really happened.  It explains that the creation of this book is part of a "continuing investigation into Operation Creeping Badger."  First of all, how cool is that name Operation Creeping Badger (which did end up going horribly, horribly wrong). 

Ben Ripley thinks that he is the luckiest kid in the world.  He came home from school on January 16th to find Alexander Hale (a world class spy) sitting in his living room.  Not only that but Ben learns that he has been accepted to the Academy of Espionage of the Central Intelligence Agency.  What could possibly be cooler then finding out that you have been admitted to a secret spy school for kids?  Well it would have gone a bit smoother if Ben hadn't failed his entrance exam and then had to fight off would be assassins his first night!  No one ever said that spy school would be easy.

As Ben works hard to not flunk out or be murdered at the Academy of Espionage he also learns a terrible secret that he has to solve!  Read this book you won't regret it.  The fast pace and exciting storyline will make you not want to put the book down.  Plus there are Ninjas in the book, and what could possibly be cooler then Ninjas

Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur

Title: Eight Keys
Author: Suzanne LaFleur
ISBN:978-0-385-74030-2

By nature I am a skeptical person.  I was picking out which books I was going to read from a new shipment of Children's Books that the library received and I saw Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur.  Under the title it say "Eight secrets.  Each will unlock the past..."  Meh, I thought.  The book looked fairly short and I knew it would be a fast read so I grabbed it and checked it out.  On the back one of the quotes from other reviewers said "Quite simply the best book for girls nine and over that I have ever read,"  at this point I think I snorted just a little.

Truthfully though, the book was brilliant.  It is the story for every child who can't quite deal with middle school, and lets be honest who can.  Elise is just starting sixth grade and everything that can go wrong for her does.  On the first day of school she finds out that she needs to share her locker with the meanest girl ever and she gets given the nickname "Scabular"  not exactly the best way to start a new year.  If that isn't bad enough, all her teachers hate her and she can't seem to get her act together.  She forgets about her homework, misses the bus, fails tests and eventually gets sent to the principals office for fighting.  While all this is happening she is also learning more about her parents who are both dead and the aunt and uncle who raised her. 

This book is most definitely a tear jerkier, not the snuffly nose, weepy eyes sort.  Instead it is more of the maybe if no one gets real close they won't know that I am crying type of book.  When I got to the end of Eight Keys I was actually disappointed that it was finished.  It reminded me of when I was in middle school (also having a horrible time of it) and my mom gave me Whirligig by Paul Fleischman.  While that book didn't exactly spur me into action to change my life, perhaps Eight Keys will be able to help your favorite middle school student. 

P.S.  Kids really hate it when you say "This is a great book you have to read it!"  That never works instead try to surreptitiously slip this one into their Christmas Stocking..  Plus it is by the same author of Love, Aubrey so if your kid was a fan of that she is sure to love this one!

The Absolute Value of Mike

Title: The Absolute Value of Mike
Author: Kathryn Erskine
ISBN: 978-0-399-25505-2

Kathryn Erskine's The Absolute Power of Mike is the middle grade novel equivalent of John Green's young adult books.  Since I am a huge fan of John Green's books and since I have always been disappointed that I don't work with children old enough to read them, The Absolute Value of Mike was just the answer I have been looking for.  Finally we have a children's book with a strong male character dealing with family problems and situations that are only too familiar to children everywhere. 

Mike has dyscalculia (a math learning disability) that many children can only wish they had to justify poor grades.  Despite this Mikes father has the delusional idea that if he only applied himself that Mike would be able to get into Newton High a math magnet high school.  That is like all math all the time, simply said Mikes worst nightmare.  Even worse then having a college professor for a parent is having a delusional, socially inept college professor for a dad and that is exactly what Mike has. 

When his father gets offered a teaching position in Romania where no unsupervised minors are allowed.  Mike is shipped off to his elderly (absolutely ancient) great aunt and uncle aptly named Poppy and Moo in rural Pennsylvania for the summer.  While there our math deficient protagonist is supposed to undertake an engineering project the creation of an artesian screw that will be so awesome that Mike will woo Newton High into overlooking his discalculia and admitting him to the prestigious high school. 

Unfortunately, when Mike arrives in Pennsylvania he learns that Poppy and Moo are dirt poor (the phone, electricity, and water have been shut off) and there is no Artesian Screw Project instead there is the save the whole town and raise 40,000 dollars in 6 weeks project.  At least that is a project that Mike will be good at, as long as his father doesn't find out!  The entire book is filled with intriguing and downright unusual characters all of which need a little bit of help just to get by.

Pie by Sarah Weeks

Title:  Pie
Author: Sarah Weeks
ISBN: 978-0-545-27011-3

What better way to start Thanksgiving week then with a book all about Pie!  Polly Portman lives in a small town.  The book takes place in the 1950's and like all small towns the naming is uncreative.  Polly's pie shop is simply called PIE.  Also like all small towns Polly refuses to accept any money for her pies.  Instead she bakes to make people happy, and the people sure are happy!

That is until Polly dies leaving behind her cat LARDO and her niece and biggest fan Alice.  If a book about all about Pie isn't weird enough just wait until the town finds out that she left her beloved pie recipe to her cat!  Now everyone wants a piece of the cat and the fortune that would come with him. 

This is a quick but well written and emotional book.  Plus each chapter starts with one of Polly Portman's patented pie recipes!

Korgi: Sprouting Wings

Title: Sprouting Wings
Series: Korgi
Author: Christian Slade
ISBN: 978-1-4395-9102-4

While typically I try to only blog about new books that have come out, sometimes I feel that an older book deserves a little love and attention.  Korgi by Christian Slade, is just such a book.  This is by far one of the most awwwww-inspiring books that I have read recently and in fact it is a series!  Book 1- Sprouting Wings, Book 2- The Cosmic Collector, and Book 3- A Hollow Beginning (published September 2011, the library hasn't bought a copy yet, but trust me we will!) are all beautiful wordless graphic novels. 

While Korgi is a wordless graphic novel (just like Owly- another favorite at the library).  There is an introduction told Wart the scrollkeeper of Korgi Hollow.  "Hello there!  I've been waiting for you.  I knew you would find your way here.  Korgis as you are about to discover, have a magical way about the.  Travelers have always been drawn to these fox-like creatures.  To be near them, is to feel more alive and happy than one has ever known.  This is the great gift of the Korgi.  They make the world around them more beautiful."

This book is perfect for all ages who loves dogs and magic.  The main character Korgi named Sprout starts as a young playful pup who goes on to grow up (rather quickly) and his friend Ivy after they accidentally wander away from Korgi Hollow.  The book is filled with raw emotion, action, and beautiful illustrations that are sure to entertain any reader. 

A Tale of Two Castles

Title: A Tale of Two Castles
Author: Gail Carson Levine
ISBN:978-0-06-122965-7

From the author who brought you the delightful tale Ella Enchanted comes her newest fantasy novel A Tale of Two Castles about the passionate Elodie.  At the age of twelve Elodie leaves her parents and her home in a remote town near the sea to journey to the capitol of Lepai, Town of Two Castles.  While on board the boat Elodie learns many things from her fellow passengers: everyone has cats, there is a fearsome ogre, a dreadful dragon (who must be referred to as IT), and a lazy king.  Most important of all, she learns that Apprenticeships "In June the guilds abolished ten-year apprenticeships.  Now everyone must pay to learn a trade."  Her parents not knowing about the change sent Elodie without money.  Determined to become a mansioner (actress) by any means possible, she decides to offer herself for free for a fifteen year apprenticeship.  Surely no one will be able to refuse such an offer. 

As the story continues Elodie finds herself not apprenticed to the mansioners, but instead to IT the dragon.  Before she knows it she is entangled in plots to murder the king, poison, intrigue, and surrounded by evil.  Strong as she is, Elodie will not be held back and sets off to find out what has really happened within the Town of Two Castles, even if it means she must go to jail.

The Red Blazer Girls: The Mistaken Masterpiece

Title: The Mistake Masterpiece
Series: The Red Blazer Girls
Author: Michael D. Beil
ISBN: 978-0-375-86740-8

For anyone who hasn't been reading The Red Blazer Girls series, what are you waiting for?  Book one The Ring of Rocamadour, book two The Vanishing Violin and book three The Mistaken Masterpiece are delightful mysteries.  They are written by Michael D. Beil who teaches at a Catholic all girls high school in Manhatten (which explains how he knows so much about the innerworkings of Catholic Schools). 

Like the first two books the main characters Becca, Leigh Ann, Margaret, and Sophie are ready for another case.  Somehow the girls find time to solve local mysteries while balancing school, band practice, swim practice, and rubbing elbows with celebrities (and their dogs).  Book three is a faster paced book, chock full of action in every chapter.  The girls set out to help Father Julian discover when a painting he owns was painted, only to discover that his painting is an expert forgery. 

While searching for clues about who could have taken the missing painting the girls delve into the cut throat world of modern art.  This book is an excellent read if you enjoy Nancy Drew or the Neil Flambe mysteries!

Lulu and the Brontosaurus

Title: Lulu and the Brontosaurus
Author: Judith Viorst
Illustrator: Lane Smith
ISBN: 978-1-4169-9961-4

Don't be fooled.  Just because we shelve this book in the juvenile fiction section everybody and I do mean EVERYBODY who has ever liked dinosaurs will love it.  Parents don't be intimidated, check out Lulu for your dinosaur lover today, the story is broken into easy to read chapters.  Plus this book has NEVER been checked out.  The first person who checks out Lulu will receive a free book bag from the children's room!

Now that I have caught every ones attention lets get on with the book review:

"There once was a girl named Lulu, and she was a pain.  She wasn't a pain in the elbow.  She wasn't a pain in the knee.  She was a pain- a very big pain- in the b u t t ."

This is how you know that the book is going to be good, if you don't believe me turn the page and check out the picture of Lulu drawn by Lane Smith.  It features a pouty little girl, arms crossed, mouth in a frown literally glaring at you from the book.  Oh yes Lulu is going to make the perfect main character for a book about having a dinosaur for a pet.  For twelve days Lulu through a continuous fit, and yet her parents kept telling her that she cannot have a dinosaur for a pet.  On the thirteenth day Lulu takes things into her own hands. 

So Lulu goes into the deep dark wild forest searching for her very own Brontosaurus.  However, as she is searching she encounters a slew of other animals who are all determined to squish, eat, scratch, and generally damage poor Lulu, yet she escapes unharmed.  Well, unharmed until she meets the Brontosaurus of her dreams and that is when the real trouble starts. 

Lulu and the Brontosaurus is a delightful tale, of not always getting what you want, and how to be nice to those around you.  If you are still unconvinced about the merits of Lulu come take to Anna, she will certainly convince you!