The Magicians Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo--author of The Tale of Despereaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane--has crafted another exquisite novel for young readers. The Magician's Elephant tells the tale of Peter Augustus Duchene, a ten-year-old orphan who receives an unbelievable piece of information from the local fortuneteller. Peter learns that his fate is tied to an elephant that has inexplicably fallen from the sky when a magician's trick goes terribly wrong. Why did it happen? And, how can an elephant possibly change the course of Peter's life? This darkly atmospheric yet hopeful tale demonstrates that when the answers to life's big questions are opaque or unforthcoming, all is not lost. DiCamillo's rhythmic writing, combined with Yoko Tanaka's mysterious black-and-white illustrations, enchants and calls out to our sincerest wishes and dreams (recommended for readers ages 8-13). --Lauren Nemroff
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What I liked about this book was the simpleness of it. This is a good book for a younger child who can grasp a story line that is not as direct as other children's books. I read it in two evenings. I am not a really fast reader, but adults still read faster than kids. This book can entertain a young child in that it is simple, and an older child as it has depth that must be imagined between the lines. 

A word of caution on this and other books by Ms DiCamillo. There is a lot of sadness. Children are orphaned, separated, ill treated. There is sadness in other parts of the story too. Much sadness. I think the story ends happily. Depending on your child this could be an emotional read or a average read. If your child was adopted, how he or she reads this will be effected by his or her own story and how you have presented it to him or her.

I would suggest this book for the reading ages of  6-10 and the emotional level of 9+. I rate it PG because of the sadness and implied mistreatment of children.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Barry and Pearson

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Don't even think of starting this book unless you're sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. A fast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk in its cargo hold-and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement and danger. Discover richly developed characters in the sweet but sophisticated Molly, the scary but familiar Black Stache, and the fearless Peter. Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.
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I read this book some time ago and was reminded of it recently. It was a really good book, one I could not put down. Too many late nights. How did Neverland get there? Peter Pan? Fairy dust? Who was Captain Hook anyway? Wendy? Well, this fun and thrilling book gives us some supposed history on the childhood classic, Peter Pan. I would recommend this book for the average 3rd or 4th grader. The suspense is there, but nothing graphic. My daughters read this in 3rd and 4th grade and gave it to several friends as a book of choice for gifts. That must indicate that it is really quite a good read.

Note: I have not read any of the other books in this series.

39 Clues, Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, is the first book in the 39 clues series. This is a good book, very clean, appropriate for good readers in 2nd grade and older readers as well. It is not scary and has just enough suspense to keep the reader interested and using his or her imagination.  I will read all 39 as I can. This book certainly caught my interest, who writes 39 books, can they actually keep them being good? Yes, I think they can. This is a short and easy read and so as the story builds book by book it will be a great way to read. I think my boys will get into this one when they are a bit better readers. I will read the first one out loud to get them hooked. :)

Basically, a brother and sister are attending the funeral of the only relative they had who took an interest and cared for them. Orphans now for certain, they feel lost and alone. The funeral ends up being a bit of a shock as they find that the family is so large and diverse, however, mystery awaits and the family links are key. Given a challenge in order to receive inheritance, teams of various family members set out to solve a riddle and be the first to claim the prize. What it is no one knows and who will win? Well, there are 39 clues........... so keep reading we must!

Official: What would happen if you discovered that your family was one of the most powerful in human history? What if you were told that the source of the family's power was hidden around the world in the form of 39 clues? What if you were given a choice - take a million dollars and walk away ...or get the first clue and begin the search? At the reading of their grandmother's will, Dan and Amy are given this choice - and they take the clue. Immediately, they are caught in a dangerous race against their own family members. The hunt is on. Think you've gone everywhere books can take you? Think again. Books are going to a new place, but you have to follow the clues to get there. Join Amy and Dan as they begin the hunt for the 39 Clues in "Book One: The Maze of Bones". The high-octane adventures will continue for a total of ten exhilarating books written by well-known authors over two years. The 39 Clues also encompasses hundreds of game cards and an online world that allows you to play a part in the story and compete for 100s of prizes, totalling over GBP50,000.

Scumble by Ingrid Law

OOOO this is a GOOD book.
I picked this one up to see if it would be a good read aloud for my 6 and 7 year olds. YES YES YES!!! This is  a super book and I think I will read it aloud and the companion book Savvy too.

Scumble by Ingrid Law is a winner. This family is just like yours and mine, well, almost. They have super powers but not like The Incredibles. This is just plain fun and entertaining. Have you ever played that game with your kids, what if I could pull anythign out of my pocket I thought of? What if I could jump super high? What if I could use mind control to get my kids to behave? Fun game. This is the book! Here, it is real. How cool is that.
Ledger turned 13, the age when people in his family get their savvy (special power) and wow is his a whopper, will he learn to scumble (control/embrace) his savvy before he causes a really huge disaster? Is his savvy a gift or a curse?  I love the simple story that gets a complicated twist and weaves in the everyday with the super. Ledger is not so unlike us, he must learn to master his fears before he finds that his talent is truly a gift. Hmmm, sounds like the author knows what it is like to be normal, and to realize that none of us are truly all that average. We all have a gift to use and to do it well, there are things to be conquered.  This book is fun, it is cool, it is awesome and I am SO reading all of them! Out loud.

This book would be appropriate for any age. It is written at an older elementary reading level.

Good books vs just books

I believe there are books that are not bad nor good but certainly not worth ones time. In that category fall two very popular book series for young children (my opinion only). Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog. I am sorry. I don't like these books. If you do, that is fine. Go ahead and keep liking them.

This is what I don't like: Curious George is a prime example of what not to do instead of what to do. We do not take monkeys out of the jungle. That is wrong. We do not keep wild animals in our home. That is a no brainer. Ok, curious George is more like a child than a wild animal in these stories. We do not leave our children unattended, but they used to, that is just asking for it. When they get in trouble there are real life consequences, you do not get off the hook just because you did something nice too or are cute or your naughtiness ended up making someone laugh. No way, it does not work like that. Things do not always turn out so well. It is ok to be curious but it is not ok to be careless or naughty. There is a big difference.  It would be bad parenting to be like the man with the yellow hat. I don't like Curious George books. I hate to admit it, I have one. The kids all like it and they know I don't and exactly why. You certainly don't have to agree. :)

Clifford the Big Red Dog. Ok, he is not sooooo bad. I just don't like the art or the story. No good reason. Just not a classic for me.

So, the Kindergarteners were allowed to bring home a book to sponsor at the school library. They could choose a book and bring it home and we can send in money and have a name plate put in with our child's name. What book did K bring home? Clifford the Big Red Dog. I said no. What book did he bring home as the next option? Curious George. Oh groan, no, no, no. So, we went to the school library together to preview GOOD literature. Ok, they are picture books, but it all starts there. You read trash when you are 5 and .............. no just kidding. :)

So, I showed him books that have a good story line which teaches a lesson and empathy for others, AND has fabulous art. Those are good books. We will be sponsoring Beatrice's Goat (Heifer Project book) and a book on adoption called Through Moon and Stars and a Night Skies (a Reading Rainbow Book), AND they will allow me to send a list of good adoption books to them and I will sponsor any they choose into the library and there is a teacher section which will soonly be enhanced with books on adopted kids in your classroom and Aspergers. How nice.

Wilderking Trilogy

I thought the Wilderking trilogy by Jonathan Rodgers was a really good series.  It is from a Christian perspective and takes the story of David and Goliath into a different world and time.  Aidan finds his way to the throne through a series of very Davidic events.  It also includes a very fantastic realm and a sort of mystery in the Feechie Fen and the Feechie Folk.  I think this book is very well written and imaginative.  It held our attention well through each book.  My preschoolers enjoyed listening to the parts I read out loud and I am pretty sure they would listen to the whole thing read in parts, as enthralled as they were.  The only place I know to buy them is on Amazon and they are reasonably priced.  I would suggest them as a good summer read for boys and girls.  Although older kids will enjoy them as a fast read, younger kids in third, fourth and fifth grade will enjoy them quite a bit.  Good readers at second grade could enjoy them because it is content friendly for this young as well.  It is well worth the read.