The Brainstorm 59: 4 Fun Reads for K-12

I'm posting this a bit earlier than normal since I'll be on a school trip this week. Here's four recent additions to our libraries that are good, fun reads. (And if you don't watch out, you may learn something too.)

Picture Book Resources

Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds, ill. by Matt Davies
Nerdy Birdy can't seem to fit in with the cool birds no matter how hard he tries. But then he is found by a group he can relate to, other nerdy birdies! They have similar interests and hobbies. Nerdy Birdie loves no longer being alone, so when another lonely bird shows up, he befriends her, even though she doesn't share all of his interests or nerdiness.

I loved how this book teaches some important aspects of friendship development, even with those who don't have all the same interests. And it made me laugh out loud, always a good thing. An all-around winner for message and entertainment factors.

Activity Tie-ins:

• Humorous Read: This book has a great message, but it is wrapped in quite the entertaining package. If you’re looking for a read that will make both adults and little ones laugh, this is a good one. (The nerdy birdies’ t-shirts are definitely there for the adults to laugh at, and the kids should think Eagle’s hunting escapades are hilarious.)
• Cliques: This is a great read if you have students having issues with cliques. It doesn’t matter the age, they should get the message in a good way from this book.
• Golden Rule: After Nerdy Birdie finds acceptance, he takes what he’s learned and in turn applies it to a new situation. He doesn’t shun the new bird who is so different, he finds ways to befriend her. A great example of friendship crossing boundaries, and also of doing unto others as you want done unto you.

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Bruce just wants a nice omelet, but when his stove malfunctions, he finds himself instead with four little goslings who think he's their mother. Bruce is not the mothering type, but all plans to unload the little geese fail miserably. And even the most hardened bear isn't immune to cute feathery faces.

Imagine that food critic on TV who loves to tear people apart suddenly saddled with four little ones who think he's the bestest person ever. That's pretty much this story. Bruce is a grumpy bear who likes fine food, and then he gets saddled with caring for four goslings. And don't tell Bruce, but the results are adorable. A cute story, and I loved the illustration style.

Activity Tie-ins:

• Imprinting: The four goslings demonstrate a real aspect of many animals’ development, that of imprinting on those they first see as their “mama.” If you’re studying animal development or types of learning, this is a humorous example.
• Reverse Ugly Duckling: This book is somewhat a reverse ugly duckling story. The geese get the wrong mother. You could compare/contrast this with more traditional ugly duckling stories.
• Prediction: This story does not always go according to Bruce’s plans. But savvy readers may be able to predict how things will go.
• Fun Read: This is another good pick if you’re just looking for a fun read. Bruce’s expressions and the goslings’ adoration of him are so well done. I really enjoyed reading this.
• Unconditional Love: If you’re looking for an example of unconditional love, these little goslings sure demonstrate it. Bruce does not come across as a very lovable type and really does little to earn their affection, but they absolutely adore him and refuse to leave his side.

Middle Grade Fiction Resource

Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics (Mr. Lemoncello's Library #2) by Chris Grabenstein
The children all around the country are upset they too did not get a chance to win Mr Lemoncello's contest in Alexandria, OH. They think they would have beaten Kyle and his team given the opportunity. Certain people are also upset with Mr Lemoncello's library (especially Mrs Chiltington). They think a library shouldn't be so fun, nor should it be run by someone like Mr Lemoncello. Mr Lemoncello decides to tackle both groups at once by announcing a Library Olympics. Librarians across the US help run preliminary rounds selecting four children from each region based on their library skills. The 7 other regions will compete with Kyle and his friends for 20 medals in Mr Lemoncello's Library Olympics. Who will win the day? Can Kyle and his friends stay on top in the face of tough competition? Will the person sabotaging the library ruin everything? Will Mrs Chiltington get her way and run Mr Lemoncello out of town?

Grabenstein has done it again. Mr Lemoncello's Library Olympics are something else, with crazy competitions, clever library knowledge, loads of book name dropping, puzzles for readers to match wits with the characters, and a surprise twist at the end. It's another fun adventure with shades of Willy Wonka and a message about the importance of books. It wasn't quite as good as the first one, but still very close. Banned books are highlighted in this one, which goes along with part of the plot. I appreciate that Grabenstein focused on some of the most ridiculous book bannings and not ones because of mature content or other harsher issues so as to keep it light for kids. I love the twist Mr Lemoncello puts in to teach the kids an important lesson. And of course, as someone from Ohio, I especially appreciated all the little Ohio touches. (Oh, and Nerdy Book Club followers will love that Colby Sharp is a guest character in this book.)

Activity Tie-ins:

• Puzzle Solving: Readers can match wits with the competitors in the Library Olympics and try to solve the various clues as the characters do.
• Book Recommendations: I’ve actually had a few kids read this and then come asking for some of the books mentioned in the tale. If you want to subtly get kids hooked on other books, there’s nothing better than a recommendation from Mr. Lemoncello himself.
• Ohio: If you're looking to learn more about Ohio, or for a book set there, this is a good one.
• Censorship: In a rather ridiculous way, this book highlights book censorship. Have students debate if or when censorship is ever appropriate, and why it might also be dangerous. You can easily incorporate US Constitutional rights in this.
• Reluctant Readers/Fun Read: If you’re looking for a fun middle grade novel for a reluctant reader (or a not-so-reluctant reader), this series provides lots of action and fun. Everyone who has picked it up so far has loved it.

Young Adult Fiction Resource

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
Agnes Wilkins is entering her debutant season, and it turns out to be filled with more excitement than she ever expected. At her first party not only does the supremely desirable Lord Showalter single her out, but she finds a unique item during a mummy unwrapping. Anges doesn't think much about the item at first, but when those at the party are victims of a series of crimes, Agnes starts to realize that someone is looking for the little dog's head statue she found. She goes hunting for answers at the London Museum, and with the help of a young man who works there name Caedmon, she discovers that this is more than a case of some overzealous collector of antiquities. The dog's head contains a secret message, obviously intended for a French spy working for Napoleon. Agnes and Caedmon must work to unravel the secrets of the message, foil the French plot, and save England.

This was quite the fun read, and I'm happy to see that there are plans in the works for another adventure with Agnes and Caedmon. It was just the right combination of Regency England (complete with constant quotes from Agnes' favorite author, A Lady (aka Austen at the time)), spy-ish adventure, early Egyptology (don't worry, Agnes isn't a fan of the removal of antiquities from Egypt), and light romance. I devoured this in pretty much one sitting. Nothing extremely deep, just a fun, light Regency adventure. Those who like historical spy stories, Egyptian artifacts involved in stories, or the Regency time period should enjoy this.

Activity Tie-ins:

• Regency Adventure: Most Regency period books are heavier on the romance portion, but this one focuses on a secret message hidden in a mummy obviously bound for a spy for Napoleon. It is anything but dull. Yes, there’s a light romance involved, but the action and excitement take center stage.
• Original Austen Fandom: The main character in this loves books by A Lady (the pseudonym under which Jane Austen was originally published), and the book includes numerous quotes from her books (translated into several languages too). It is interesting to see a reaction to Austen’s books during that time period.
• Egyptology: The book is set before the Rosetta stone is translated, so Egyptian hieroglyphics are still a mystery. It’s also a time period during which Britain is shipping massive amounts of antiquities to the British museum from digs. It’s an interesting look at the curiosity about and process of understanding an ancient era. Also, Agnes, while fascinated with the antiquities, is quite upset that the British are removing them from their homeland and disturbed by the practice of unwrapping mummies. Which brings up a possible debate: Were the British right to remove the antiquities or not? What if you take into account the battles of following world wars fought in Egypt around areas where these antiquities would have been? Were mummy unwrappings ok or not? (See the author's note about the historicity of these actions.)
• Current Events: Related to the Egyptology,  many of these ancient antiquities are being repatriated to Egypt from the various museums in other parts of Europe and the Americas of late. Students could look into which artifacts and where they are being moved from/to.
• Napoleonic Wars: At the center of this book is the threat of Napoleon returning to power. If you’re studying the Napoleonic Wars, it’s an interesting look at things from the British perspective.
• Fun Read: This was a quick, fun, light read with very few content issues.