Knights of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio Series Book 1) by John Sciezka JFIC FANTASY/SCI FI

What would you do if in the middle of your birthday party you were transported to the land of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? Join three friends as they try to find their way back home to their century without getting squashed by giants or burnt by dragons. An easy and humorous book for grades 2-3.

Food for thought: What would you miss most about this century if you were time traveling?

The Prophet of Yonwood by DuPrau JFIC REALISTIC FANTASY

Nickie had 3 goals that winter: #1 convince her family to move to Yonwood #2: fall in love and #3 do something good for the world. When she offers to help her Aunt clean her great grandfather's house in Yonwood, she finds that Yonwood isn't the place she had imagined. A woman named Athela Tower has had a vision of a destroyed future before collapsing into a coma. The townspeople have hailed her as a prophet. With the help of Ms. Beeson, she decodes the prophet's murmurings as words from God and sets up rules for the community. With the threat of impending war, the townspeople are more than happy to comply until the rules become more and more severe. Nickie begins to wonder who God is and how do we know what he is saying? I recommend reading this prequel to "City of Ember" first. It sets up a basis for the underground city. This is a great realistic fantasy that could bring up some crucial moral discussions about religion and war.

Food for Thought: If you were given the option Nickie has at the end of the book, would you do it??

Peter and the Starcatchers by Barry and Pearson JFIC Fantasy/Adventure

Did you ever wonder how Peter Pan learned to fly or ended up in Neverland? This first adventure tale in the trilogy answers both of these questions and more. It was a delightful action packed adventure with brave children, talking porpoises and vicious pirates. My favorite was Captain Hook. He was both scary and humorous. I cannot wait to read the others! It's a great read aloud book for both parents and children.

Food for thought: Before reading this book, how do you think Peter arrived on Neverland?

The Lightning Theif by Rick Riordan JFIC Fantasy

Did you ever wonder what would happen if ancient gods and goddesses from myths were alive today? 6th grader, Percy Jackson, was considered a deliquent. He had been kicked out of every school he's attended. With an arrogant smelly stepdad, he did not have too much to look forward when he came home. When strange things begin to happen on his way, Percy begins to wonder if he really was hallucinating that his Math teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. As Percy discovers who his real father was, he begins an adventurous quest worthy of the gods. Riordan conjured up a wonderful mythic world in the United States. Percy is very comical with many realistic and mythical connections with mentions of reality tv and Mount Olympus. I especially liked his description of the Oracle. A good adventure story for grades 5 and up.

Food for thought: If you had the choice of being a normal kid or an adventurous hero in constant danger, which would you chose?

No Talking by Andrew Clements JFIC Realistic Fiction

The fifth grade class at Laketon Elementary are known as the "Unshushables" until one day David Packer begins a no talking contest inspired by Ghandi. In this girls versus boys contest, no one is allowed to say more than 3 words at a time to a teacher for two days. When they come home from school, they are not allowed to talk at all. The kids must learn how to communicate in other ways. Who will win the contest? Will they get in trouble with their teachers? This is another great novel from Clements about the power of words.

Food for though: Do you think you could go a whole day without talking?

May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson JFIC Fantasy/Adventure

May Bird doesn't have too many friends in Briery Swamp, a town shrouded in mystery after the unexplained disappearance of the community. She doesn't mind too much though as long as she has her trusty cat, Somber Kitty. With her mom threatening to take her to a prep school in New York, May Bird runs away to answer a letter she found addressed to her at the abandoned post office. Her answers take her to the Ever After, a land full of ghosts, ghouls and the dreaded Bogeyman. The Ever After is not the happy place it use to be and very dangerous for a "Live One" like May and an animal like Somber Kitty. May Bird is a like able character who courage surprises even herself. My favorite character is the resilient Somber Kitty. Will May Bird ever find her way out of Ever After? Will Somber Kitty find May even though cats have been banned in Ever After? Who is Pumpkin? Find out all these answers and more in this great fantasy. It is perfect for Halloween. Good for grades 4 and up.


Food for Thought: If you had May's choice to get the Book or go to the Northern farm to help the lady, which would you have chosen?

The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse: A Chet Gecko Mystery by Bruce Hale JFIC Mystery

Meet 4th grader Chet Gecko, amateur private eye of his elementary school. When he's not eating bugs, he's solving crime. Told in the style of a old detective movie, Chet whips out many funny one liners and word plays (I heard they are even funnier on the book on tape which you can check out in our CD collection). With his partner, a mocking bird with a knack for mimicry, Chet must discover why Shirley's tough first grade brother disappeared before the big football game. A very cheesy mystery (the rat sisters might like that) for fourth grade and up.

Food for thought: If you could pick any animal to be a good detective based on their talents, what would it be?