We Are in a Book!

Willems, M. (2010). We Are in a Book!  New York: Hyperion Books for Children. 

This silly story is about a pig and an elephant who realize they are being read in a book.   The content is lighthearted and humorous for all young readers and humorous enough that struggling readers will enjoy reading the story again and again. (Kindergarten and up).  

Mercy Watson

DiCamillo, K. (2008). Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. 

The illustrations in this early reader, by Chris Van Dusen, are bright, colorful and entertaining.  Another book in the series won the Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book Award.  The story is full of silly characters like Mr. and Mrs. Watson who are Mercy’s proud and doting “parents,” and who like to make her toast.  Mercy is a hopelessly hungry pig and will do anything, including joining tea parties for the reward of food.  The writing is humorous, the illustrations vibrant, it is sure to capture the attention of all readers.  (Grade 1 and up). 

Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space

Pilkey, D. (1999). Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 

A combination of comic strips, illustrated picture book, and novel this book reaches out to those youngsters with adventurous imaginations and a wonderful sense of humor.  This episode of Captain Underpants revolves around the conquest of alien invaders by the school troublemakers.  George and Harold demonstrate their cleverness and trickery early in the novel but by the end, readers may be sucked into liking them and perhaps even adoring them as we see exactly how far they will go to save them world.  This is a great book for the lacksadaisical reader. (Grade 3 and up).

Big Nate Strikes Again

Peirce, L. (2010). Big Nate Strikes Again. New York: Harper Collins Children’s Books. 

Nate is an adorable and ambitious boy with passions for excitement and sports.  He has a couple of best friends and together the boys harangue each other in good humor while going through typical school days filled with boring lectures, assignments, and stinky cafeteria food.  In this novel Nate is assigned a research project with the detestable Gina about Benjamin Franklin.  Nate accidently begins his research project and finds Benjamin Franklin to be a fascinating subject and with Nate’s creativity and enthusiasm he creates an awesome comic book.  However, Gina disagrees with the format and the two remain unresolved.  Read the book to find out what happens!  Nate is hilarious and readers are sure to enjoy the cartoons embedded in the text.  (Grades 2 and up).  

Babymouse: Beach Babe

Holm, J., Holm, M. (2006). Babymouse: Beach Babe.  New York: Random House. 

This pink book, and I mean in the way that every page including the front and back cover are shades of pink, is designed for the young feminine reader.  She is an endearing heroine who daydreams and fantasizes about things like surfing and mermaids and then she actually gets to try surfing.  Her visit to the beach includes the typical sunbathing, sand-castle building, and searching for seashells with a tag-along little brother.  The book unfolds the relationship between the siblings and the resolution is sweet. (Grade 1 and up).