Fiction: Cosmic

Bestselling author Frank Cottrell Boyce has written another smash hit. In Cosmic, Liam is too big for his boots. And his football strip. And his school blazer. But being super-sized height-wise has its advantages: he's the only eleven-year-old to ever ride the G-force defying Cosmic rollercoaster - or be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Hey, if people are always mistaking you for an adult, why not take advantage?

But when Liam finds out that he could have a shot at winning a spot on a rocketship, his masquerade turns serious. Travelling into space is his dream; so what if he has to go to China while his parents think he's on a school trip? So what if he has to pretend to be his friend Florida's dad? He might be going into SPACE!

Of course, this rocket ship is somewhat...experimental. And things go...not quite right. This is possibly the funniest book I've read all year. I was bent over laughing for most of it, and I highly recommend it for anyone who has ever, even in their dreams, wanted to be an astronaut. (isn't that all of us?)

Fiction

Grades 5-8

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Fantasy: The Dragon in the Sock Drawer

Kate Klimo has written a great new book for young fantasy fans. Ten year old cousins Jesse and Daisy have always wanted something magical to happen, so it's a dream come true when they find an egg that hatches into a tiny, helpless baby dragon! After some frantic research into baby dragon care, the two kids discover that they are now Dragon Keepers, and that they are responsible not only for keeping Emmy (short for Emerald) fed, but that they must also keep her safe from the villainous St. George! This nefarious character has kept himself alive for centuries by drinking dragon's blood. Jesse and Daisy are determined that Emmy will not be his next meal!

Fantasy
Grades 3-5

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Fantasy: Tunnels

This book created a storm of publicity when it was published in England. It tells the story of Will Burrows, whose hobby (or perhaps obsession) is doing amateur digs with his archaeologist father. In their spare time, Will and his dad dig underground looking for strange historical objects in caves and secret tunnels.

But when Will's dad suddenly disappears, Will and his best friend Chester must follow him underground. It seems that Mr. Burrows was working on a secret project; a project that has led him deeper than ever before. Down, down into the earth go his tunnels, and at the bottom (or what they think is the bottom) a whole other world is waiting. Will finds his father, but the foundations of his world are rocked when he also discovers that everything he holds dear is a lie.

A great fantasy read, highly recommended for those who liked The Lightning Thief and Harry Potter. Watch for the sequel, Deeper, coming soon.

Fantasy
Grades 4-8
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Easy Reader" Sharks!

National Geographic publishes some excellent children's books, and their reader series is no exception. Sharks! is the first of their new easy reader series, aimed at children in late kindergarten and grade one. The easy text contains exciting information about the topic, and there are tons of the vivid, gripping photographs that National Geographic is known for.
Boys in particular will appreciate this series, as the nonfiction format is often more appealing to them than the stories or personal dramas. Try this book (or the other in the series, Volcanoes!) with reluctant readers; for extra reading impact, check out some other nonfiction books and read them together to build interest in the topic.

Easy Reader
Grades K-2
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First Fiction: Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One

Beloved children's author Judy Blume has written another winner. Abigail and Jake are siblings who have a typical love-hate relationship. He calls her "The Great One" because she thinks she's *so* great: She calls him "The Pain" because he's...well, a first grade pain.

Together these two loveable characters conquer doggy breath, learning to ride a bike, and a terrible fear of haircuts. Kids will love to laugh with Jake and Abby.

First Fiction
Grades 1-4
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Nonfiction: Care and Feeding of Sprites (Spiderwick Chronicles)

This "nonfiction" addition to the bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles tells kids how to become an expert Spritekeeper. Sprites make excellent pets (if you can catch one), and this book covers essential topics like "illnesses of sprites", "proper nutrition for your growing sprites", and "housing your sprite".

Kids who are interested in sprites and fairies will want to check out this slim volume. Watch out for the Spiderwick movie coming this winter!

Nonfiction (mostly)

Grades 2-5

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Fiction: Schooled

Homeschooled on an isolated "alternate farm commune" that has dwindled since the 1960s to 2 members, 13-year-old Cap has always lived with his grandmother, Rain. When she is hospitalized, Cap is taken in by a social worker and sent—like a lamb to slaughter—to middle school. Smart and capable, innocent and inexperienced (he learned to drive on the farm, but he has never watched television), long-haired Cap soon becomes the butt of pranks. He reacts in unexpected ways and, in the end, elevates those around him to higher ground. From chapter to chapter, the first-person narrative shifts among certain characters: Cap, a social worker (who takes him into her home), her daughter (who resents his presence there), an A-list bully, a Z-list victim, a popular girl, the school principal, and a football player (who unintentionally decks Cap twice in one day). Korman capably manages the shifting points of view of characters who begin by scorning or resenting Cap and end up on his side. From the eye-catching jacket art to the scene in which Cap says good-bye to his 1,100 fellow students, individually and by name, this rewarding novel features an engaging main character and some memorable moments of comedy, tenderness, and reflection.

Fiction
Grades 4-8
Click here to check out the Port Moody Public Library's catalogue!