For Grades 4-6 Archive - Staff Picks 4 Kids

Staff Picks 4 Kids

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

In Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, Jack ends up getting grounded for an ENTIRE SUMMER through no fault of his own—he couldn’t have known that rifle was loaded, and his dad actually told him to cut down his mom’s corn plants. Instead of playing baseball with his best friend, he ends up helping his crazy elderly neighbor write obituaries as the oldest residents of their town die one after the other. Oh, and he gets nosebleeds about every other page—especially when he sees dead bodies (yes, he sees more than one!). This is a very, very funny and sometimes slightly ghoulish story about a kid who, like it or not, learns a little about life—and death.

By bjones on October 22, 2012 Categories: Award Winners, For Grades 4-6, Funny, Realistic Stories

50 Poisonous Questions by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

When you read 50 Poisonous Questions by Tanya Lloyd, you will learn a lot about poison, obviously, but also about history. Like the crazy medical treatments doctors used for George Washington’s fever…that ended up killing him! You’ll learn how to hunt with a frog. Find out why the government is conspiring with your mom to make you eat vegetables. And learn whether some poisons can actually help people. With all your new knowledge you can solve the book’s puzzles about how people and animals have been poisoned. Prepare to be surprised and amused by these amazing true facts!

Book reviewed by Claire B., Youth Outreach Coordinator

By bjones on October 8, 2012 Categories: For Grades 4-6, Non-fiction, Picks by Claire B

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

With the new movie coming out in December, I decided it was time to revisit The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit was one of my favorite books as a child, and I wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was. The story begins with Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit. (In case you were wondering, a hobbit looks like a human but is much smaller and has hairy feet.) He is living a quiet, adventure-free life like hobbits are supposed to do. Then one day Gandalf the Wizard shows up, followed by 13 dwarfs, and the trouble starts. Bilbo is asked to join the group as their burglar. His job will be to steal the gold from the terrible dragon, Smaug. Along the way, Bilbo will face many hardships, including missing meals (did I mention that Hobbits really like to eat?), being chased by goblins, and getting lost in the forest. Will Bilbo survive? And will he ever be the same?

Before Harry Potter, there was The Hobbit. If you love fantasy, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastical tale.

Book reviewed by Mary S., Youth Services Department Head

By bjones on October 1, 2012 Categories: Fantasy, For Grades 4-6, Picks by Mary S.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

In Countdown by Deborah Wiles, Franny and her brother have to practice what to do if a nuclear bomb falls on their city. It is 1962, and President Kennedy is trying to manage the Cuban Missile Crisis. There are pictures, songs, and actual news stories interspersed in the story to give a feel for what it was like to live in 1962. Franny is growing up and having a hard time keeping her friendships going. Uncle Ott is having war flashbacks and is trying to get the whole neighborhood ready to build their own bomb shelter. Franny’s older sister keeps getting mysterious letters that she locks in her trunk and won’t let anyone see. Will Franny find out what her older sister is hiding? Will Uncle Ott destroy the front yard to build his bomb shelter? Will Franny and her best friend get to save their friendship? Read more to find out!

Book reviewed by Anne W., Youth Services Assistant

By bjones on September 17, 2012 Categories: For Grades 4-6, Historical Fiction, Picks by Anne W.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

In Wonder by R. J. Palacio, August (Auggie) Pullman’s favorite things are anything Star Wars related and his Xbox. As a result, he sounds like every other 10-year-old boy out there except for one major factor—he has some pretty jarring facial deformities. Auggie has been homeschooled all of his life, due to the numerous surgeries he has had to have over the years. Now that he will be starting fifth grade, his parents think that it is time for him to start at a regular school. He is both excited and worried at the prospect of this idea. While he longs to play sports and make friends like every kid, once he starts at Beecher Prep he quickly becomes an easy target for the class bully. He also is very close with his older sister, Via, who has just started high school and is having her own issues with friendships and finding herself. I think that the author was very smart to have the different chapters of the book told from various points of view—not just from Auggie’s and Via’s perspectives, but also from several of his classmates. I also believe that this book teaches a lot of good lessons on how to be a good friend and a good sibling.

Book reviewed by Julie D., Elementary School Liaison

By bjones on September 10, 2012 Categories: For Grades 4-6, Picks by Julie D., Realistic Stories

Pie by Sarah Weeks

After Polly Portman’s unexpected death, the town of Ipswitch discovers a major loss to the community–her award winning pies! Polly’s crust recipe was secret. According to her will, the recipe for the crust is left to her disagreeable cat Lardo. Her niece Alice inherits the cat and a lot of trouble. Suddenly, the entire town is in an uproar when its residents find out that replacing Aunt Polly’s claim to fame is not as “easy as pie.” When Lardo is cat-napped, Alice and her friend Charlie take matters in their own hands as they try to figure out who is after the recipe. Not only will you love reading Pie, but Sarah Weeks shares fourteen pie recipes she has gathered from all over the country. This book is a sweet treat you will not want to miss.

Book reviewed by Marsha D., Youth Services Assistant

By bjones on August 28, 2012 Categories: For Grades 4-6, Funny, Picks by Marsha D.

A Braid of Lives edited by Neil Philip

A Braid of Lives edited by Neil Philip is a collection of writings by American Indians remembering their childhoods from about 100 to 150 years ago. Almost every other page is a huge black and white photograph of American Indian kids and parents. The stories and pictures are both amazing! There are funny stories about games and about getting in trouble, but also stories about what was most important to them and their families. I thought it was interesting how in almost every story the kids just wanted to be able to do what the grownups and the bigger kids were doing, and they would work hard until they could run as fast or ride a horse as well as the others. If you are interested in how kids lived in the past in America, this is the book for you.

By bjones on August 16, 2012 Categories: For Grades 4-6, Non-fiction

Swindle by Gordon Korman

Swindle by Gordon Korman. Although he’s a kid, Griffin is known as “the man with a plan.” After being swindled out of a valuable Babe Ruth baseball card, the sale of which could have solved his family’s money troubles, Griffin knows he needs a plan more than ever. Can he assemble a team of his clever friends–talented champions in their own right–to accomplish an even bigger swindle and get the card back to the rightful owner? I liked how the kids used their unique gifts in such creative ways and how they realized the value of doing their best, no matter how large or small a part they played.

Book reviewed by Jan P., Preschool/Childcare Liason

By bjones on August 6, 2012 Categories: For Grades 4-6, Mystery & Suspense, Picks by Jan P.

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

In Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin, Jason Blake is just like any twelve-year-old that enjoys writing stories. Expect for that fact that he is autistic, which he often describes in his stories as “differentness”. He is smart and sensitive and often writes about what it is like to see the world through his eyes. Jason particularly enjoys posting on a writing website. He even makes a friend on this site, another young writer named Rebecca, who often posts positive comments about his stories. However, when he might finally get a chance to meet Rebecca in person at an upcoming writing conference, Jason is terrified! You will have to read the book to find out if he decides to go meet her or not.

Book reviewed by Julie D., Elementary School Liaison

By bjones on July 30, 2012 Categories: For Grades 4-6, Picks by Julie D., Realistic Stories

Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks

In Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks, Mel lives in a world sort of like ours, except where he lives the five Mystery organizations control “pleasures”, or everything to do with the senses. That means you have to pay extra for your clothes to have color in them, or to eat food besides bread, water, and homegrown vegetables. Mel has lived in the country his whole life, drawing pictures in his spare time, until a famous artist asks him to come to the city and be one of his apprentices. It’s a dream come true…until he gets there. The head apprentice is jealous of Mel’s talent and the High Bailiff of the Fifth Mystery has got it in for him. Then he discovers a secret world inside of paintings where fantastical creatures, talking houses, and mines that seek inspiration (instead of minerals) exist. Mel and his friends find themselves in the middle of an epic battle between the Fifth Mystery and the people who want to keep pleasures affordable for everyone. This book celebrates art and creativity, and makes me want to start drawing. It also reminds me of another story with evil forces, a two-boy-and-one-girl trio of friends, and adventures that can’t seem to be avoided… Harry Potter, anyone?

Book reviewed by Claire B., Youth Outreach Coordinator

By bjones on July 23, 2012 Categories: Fantasy, For Grades 4-6, Picks by Claire B