Author: Michelle

Graphic, Middle Grade Fiction

Sunnyside Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Michelle

Grades 4-6

sunny side

This is Sunnyside Up, a graphic novel by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. It’s 1976, and ten-year-old Sunny has just arrived in Florida to spend the summer with her grandpa, who lives in a retirement community.

In the beginning, Sunny is bored because Gramps thinks outings like going to the post office and the grocery store are fun.

Finally, Gramps reveals that there is a pool where he lives. There, she meets a boy named Buzz and thinks start looking up.  They talk about comic books and collect runaway golf balls together.

To find out how the rest of the summer is for Sunny and Buzz, read Sunnyside Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm!

Animals, Independent Reading

Pen Pal by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Michelle

Grades 1-2

pen p al.jpg

Pen Pal by Pam Muñoz Ryan is a book in the Tony Baloney series. It is about a penguin named Tony. He is really excited because it’s penpal month at school. That means that he and his classmates will get to write to their penpals all month long! Read about Tony and his penpal in Pen Pal by Pam Muñoz Ryan.

Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

Michelle

Grades 4-6

falafel

In It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas, Zomorod, also known as Cindy, is eleven years old, and is moving for the fourth time. It is the late 1970s and her family is from Abadan, Iran. Sometimes they move back to Iran, and sometimes it’s another city in California.

This time, they move to Newport Beach, California, to a condominium, where there are lots of rules they need to follow:  take out the trash on Wednesday nights, don’t leave the empty bins out, and never, ever lose the pool key!

In addition to getting used to her new town, Cindy has to come with her mom everywhere so she can translate things from English to Persian and vice versa. Can she remember all those rules, translate things for her mom and fit in at her new school? Read It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas to find out!

 

Fantasy, Independent Reading

Princess In Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale

Michelle

Grades 2-3

princess

In Princess In Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, it’s Princess Magnolia’s birthday and she’s so excited! She wants everything to be perfect. She makes sure that the castle is clean, decorated and ready for her party. Then, there’s a monster attack! This is a job for Princess in Black, so Magnolia dresses in her black outfit and prepares to save the day! Read all about her adventures in Princess In Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale.

 

Independent Reading

Heidi Hecklebeck Might Be Afraid of the Dark by Wanda Coven

Michelle

Grades 2-3

heidi

Heidi Hecklebeck Might Be Afraid of the Dark by Wanda Coven is book number fifteen in the Heidi Hecklebeck series. In this book, Heidi is afraid of the dark, and has to sleep with three lights on. Then she gets invited to her friend Lucy’s house for a slumber birthday party. What will she do when the girls sleep with all the lights off? Find out in Heidi Hecklebeck Might Be Afraid of the Dark by Wanda Coven.

Independent Reading

Dory Fantasmagory: The Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon

Michelle

Grades 2-3

dory

Dory Fantasmagory: The Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon is the second book in the Dory Fantasmagory series. It is a story about Dory, but everyone calls her Rascal. She is an interesting character because she has a monster named Mary and a Fairy Godmother named Mr. Nuggy. They both help Rascal get ready for the first day of school. Read Dory  Fantasmagory: The Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon for a great adventure!