Holm, Jennifer L. The Fourteenth Goldfish. New York: Random House Publishing, 2014. 978-0-375-87064-4. 194p. $16.99. Gr. 5-8.
What if your grandfather is a scientist searching for the fountain of youth? What if he comes to live at your house and he is now your age? This chapter book is a page-turner with endearing characters. Not only is there a twist of science but also the difficult dynamics of families, friends and balancing difficult relationships. The chapters are short and provide space breaks through out the text that is clear and easy to read. This excellent novel can be a transition to more difficult science fiction books for those that love science and observation and experiments. It is a great example of how fiction can cause you to think and make you believe that dreams, perseverance and difficult events can turn into good results.
Science Fiction Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary
Roland, Timothy. Monkey and Me and the New Neighbor. New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014. 978-0-545-55986-7. 90p. $15.99. Gr. 1-2.
A great series for getting emerging readers transitioning to chapter books, a hybrid between graphic novel and chapter book. The black line illustrations break up the text to make manageable chunks for readers that struggle with complex pages of text. It is one book in a series created by scholastic in an effort to transition readers. The characters are hysterical and at times outrageous. Students laugh out loud at the hysterics between the transition from boy to monkey. An impressive new series to help struggling and transitioning readers make the jump to chapter books.
Other books in this series include:
Roland, Timothy. Monkey and Me and the Golden Monkey. New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014. 978-0-545-55976-8. 96p. $15.99. Gr. 1-2
Roland, Timothy. Monkey and Me and the Pet Show. New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014. 978-0-545-55980-5. 96p. $15.99. Gr. 1-2
Roland, Timothy. Monkey and Me and the School Ghost. New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014. 978-0-545-55989-8. 96p. $15.99. Gr. 1-2
Realistic/Science Fiction Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary
Johnson, Jaleigh. The Mark of the Dragonfly. New York: Delacorte, 2014. 978-0-385-37615-0. 386 p. $16.99. Gr. 5 and up.
Life in Scrap Town Number Sixteen is bleak. The town exists to scavenge the items that fall regularly during meteor showers. For young Piper, an orphan whose father died in the factories to the south, life is lonely and hard. Piper has a talent for fixing even the most stubborn machines which provides her with extra money to survive. Piper finds an injured girl whose caravan has been devastated in a meteor storm. Though she is confused, the young girl Anna bears the Dragonfly tattoo on her arm, a sign of the King’s protection. Shortly after her arrival, a terrifying stranger comes looking for the girl and Piper and Anna must flee this man they call “the wolf”. Stowing away on a train to the capital, a dangerous enemy after them, unexpected friendships, and an intriguing girl who isn’t all that she seems bring danger and adventure to Piper’s life, if she can survive the trip.
The Mark of the Dragonfly is a great adventure that kept me reading. I love fantasy worlds and so do my students and this one didn’t disappoint. The character of Piper was developed so well that I was invested in her from the very beginning. Her loyalty and friendship, as well as a tough side and a stubborn refusal to give up made her a great protagonist. Piper markedly evolves throughout the story making this a great example for a lesson on character evolution. When the story begins, she is taking Anna to the capital to keep her safe, but also hoping for a reward that would keep her from the life of poverty she has known, and allow her to start a new life. As the story progresses, Piper’s hatred of the capital and desire for money is eclipsed by her love for her new found family and her need to protect them. I would recommend this book to those who love fantasy worlds, and this might be a great introduction to the Steampunk genre, since the other worldliness is peppered with machines and technology giving it a Steampunk feel.
Science Fiction/Fantasy Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy
Munoz Ryan, Pam & Edwin Fotheringham. Tony Baloney Buddy Trouble. (Tony Baloney series). 9780545481694. New York: Scholastic, 2014. $6.99. 38p. Pre-K – Gr. 2.
Munoz Ryan, author of Esperanza Rising, When Marion Sang, and other beautiful books, has embarked on a new series for young readers. This 3rd in the new series will delight your kindergarteners and first graders with tales of Tony Baloney the Macaroni Penguin, his friends, siblings, and mischief. Written in 4 chapters and similar in format and layout to “I Can Read” books, this book is beautifully illustrated by Fotheringham with fun, added features like an aerial map of Tony Baloney’s house while he and Poppa search for his beloved missing stuffed buddy Dandelion, and pages of dialog with his other stuffed animal friends. Some vocabulary may be too hard for the target audience for this book as emerging readers (“ooze politeness” and “Bothersome Babies Baloney” for instance), so I’d recommend it as a read aloud.
Easy Reader Chapter Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School