Joey Fly Private Eye by Aaron Reynolds and Neil Numberman

Earl interviews Marc Brown

Puppet Interview with Gail Carson Levine

Earl interviews A.E. Cannon

Debu Majumdar

Richard Peck Interviewed by a Puppet

John Flanagan!!!

Earl Interviews Author Brandon Mull

Earl and Picture Book Author/Illustrator Robert Neubecker

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

Earl and Doreen Cronin

Jim, Who Ran Away From His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion by Hilaire Belloc

The title pretty much gives you the whole story. Jim is well cared for, but runs away during a visit to the zoo and a lion eats him. The book is very well executed, with the text running through flaps and fold-outs very fluidly. The illustrations are adorable, appealing to modern sensibilities while retaining a stylistic feel appropriate for the time when kids commonly went on outings with nurses.

There is a warning on the cover stating: 'Contains a dangerous beast and a miserable end'. It should also mention graphic images, as the book do not cut away during the devouring of unfortunate Jim. It's a book I'd expect from Edward Gorey were he still around and writing. Quite delightful for those who can stomach it.

"Now just imaging how it feels when first your toes and then your heels, and then by gradual degrees your shins and ankles calves and knees are slowly eaten bit by bit. No wonder Jim detested it."

[click here to see if it's available]

by Scott

Darwin by Alice B McGinty

Darwin's interest in the natural word is peaked as a young boy. As he grows up he continues to explore and document his discoveries. He notices animals of the same type having different characteristics, which leads him to the theory of evolution.

It's nice to find a biography that can read as a picture book, as this does. The illustrations (as done by the Caldecott winning illustrator of Snowflake Bentley) support the feel of an 1800's world quite nicely, and excerpts from Darwin's actual notebooks and letters give an insight to the man himself.

[click here to see if it's available]

by Scott

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

"Yet another troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl" (tagline from the front cover).

Mirka lives in Hereville a small community of Orthodox Jews with her father, her step-mother and a gaggle of siblings. Most of her excitement in life is derived from finding ways to avoid doing her knitting, arguing with her step-mother and an irksome pig who keeps sneaking into the village and eating her homework. However, though Mirka's life seems quotidian her dreams are anything but. Mirka dreams of slaying a dragon. A dream that seems out of reach until she does a favor for a woman who turns out to be a witch. The witch gives Mirka instructions on where to find a magic sword and that's when Mirka's adventures really begin!

I love the way this book immersed me in a totally different culture. The book drops Yiddish phrases left and right (and fortunately translates them at the bottom the page), provides a loving description of Shabbos and even explains how you can tell which school girls are pious, popular or rebels just by looking at their nearly identical school uniforms. (click on the picture below). The book ends with a bang too! The way she fights the troll will certainly make you chuckle and maybe even burst out laughing. Give this one to feisty girls, fans of (Jewish) adventure stories and people who love to laugh grades 3 to 8.

[Click here to see if it's available]

by Patrick

Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper

"Just Grace" is one of four Graces in her class, there is Grace W, Grace F, Gracie and finally "just Grace." Just Grace didn't want to be called that, but when the teacher asked what she would like to be called she said "just Grace" and it stuck. Just Grace tries to make the most of it though, just like the people on her favorite TV show, Unlikely Heroes, a show about normal people who do extraordinary things to help others. So when she hears that her neighbor, Mrs. Luther, is in trouble she has to help! Mrs. Luther broke her leg and now her cat, Crinkles, (who is also her best friend in the whole world) is too scared of her bright orange cast to sit on her lap anymore. So Grace and her friend Mimi make postcards for Mrs. Luther by taking photos of Crinkles and then adding messages like "I miss being cozy with you" and "one of my favorite things is you." But when Crinkles goes missing will just Grace be lauded for cheering up Mrs. Luther or fingered as a cat-napper? Give this one to kids who like cats and books that make you laugh grades 2 thru 4.

[Click here to see if it's available]

by Patrick

Anthology for the Earth edited by Judy Allen

This is a lovely collection of images and the written word, including contributors from Isaiah to Quentin Blake. There is a wide diversity of well matched illustrations with each portion of text. Some light and comedic, some a bit heavier. Some are very short and others cover a few pages. It can be read sequentially for an overall arch, or flipped open for a quick read. There is also a wide demographic covered, from aboriginal iron mines, to a boy peeking through the hedges in his backyard.

by Scott

[click here to see if it's available]

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Racza

Riding bikes, flying kites and pushing sisters in puddles, what do these three things have in common? They are all time honored traditions among boys! Guyku manages to capture an entire year of fun in just 24 haikus (that's only 408 syllables- if you were counting). Author Bob Racza emphasizes that haikus take place in present tense, which makes them perfect for boys, because boys are always interested in what's going on right now! The pictures support the text perfectly, each one illustrates the fun and excitement of the moment.

Every single haiku managed to make me either smile or laugh out loud! Give this one to anyone who enjoys wading in streams, climbing trees or having fun outside grades k thru 5.

[click here to see if it's available]

by Patrick

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

Dennis' mother has left, and his dad spends a lot of time driving his truck for work. When Dennis discovers a magazine at the market with a woman on the cover who reminds him of his mum he buys it, even though it feels a bit odd to buy a ladies magazine. Looking through the pages he realizes that he likes all the fashion, and when he ends up in detention with Lisa, the most beautiful girl in school, they strike up a friendship around this. He has a crush on Lisa and though reluctant, eventually goes for her plan of trying to pass as a girl foreign exchange student for a day. He's ultimately found out, and his soccer team has to band together in an unexpected way if he's going to be allowed to play in the most important game of the season.

The well developed relationships could be a bit overbearing were it not for Williams' wit in writing. The characters all feel quite genuine, and the a-typical protagonist makes for a fresh story. This book demonstrates the need to stay open minded about others, and yourself. Quentin Blake's illustrations (of Roald Dahl renown) feel right at home in this off beat novel.

[click here to see if it's available]

by Scott

Jonathan Stroud Interview

The Greatest Snowman in the World! by Peter Hannan

Charles want to make the most of the snowfall, so he convinces his friends to help him make the greatest snowman in the world. Keeping their minds open they are able to create a truly unique snowman, when disaster strikes. The sun has come out and their creation is being ruined! They rush it to the freezer, but it melts before they can save it. Then Charles has another idea, for truly the best snowman in the world!

A wonderfully inventive book, with vibrant visuals that perfectly accompany the exuberant text. I would have loved this book growing up, and I love it as a grown up. And for those kids who might be disappointed when there isn't enough snow to make a snowman, it provides the perfect solution.

[click here to see if it's available]

~by Scott