Eerie Elementary

I received a PDF version of this book from the publisher.  I'd heard about Scholastic's newish Branches line of books for emergent readers and wanted to give it a try.  Eerie Elementary is a new series recently introduced.  The School is Alive! is the first book (it comes out June 24th).  This book is meant for kids who are ready to start chapter books, but who are not quite ready for a full beginning chapter book.  I love this new Branches program.  I think it is perfect to help readers reach that next level.  I only wish they started this years ago.  It may just save your reluctant reader.  While this is not the only Branches book available, this is the one I am going to talk about.  If it doesn't interest you, try out a different title for your new reader.  They have lots of pictures to accompany the story.  I guess you could compare this to Goosebumps in a way.  It is not for the faint of heart or easily scared.  After all, as the title suggests, the school is alive.  When Sam Graves is named the new Hall Monitor, he is reluctant and even embarrassed to don the sash.  He soon learns that his job is more than making sure kids go to class.  It is up to him to save everyone from the school itself.  You see, the school is hungry and Sam must use all his wits to keep the school from eating his friends.  This is a very fun story.  It introduces the school and Sam's new role as protector.  I think it is a wonderful introduction to a promising new series.  Book two, The Locker Ate Lucy! comes out later this summer.  I'm definitely going to check out some other Branches titles and start reading them to my little girl.  She isn't ready to read herself, but she is too young to sit still and pay attention to chapter books.  Since basically every page has an illustration on it, I think this is the perfect gateway into exploring longer stories with her.  Pick up a Branches book for your family today (and no, I have nothing to do with Scholastic and am not getting paid to endorse their program.  I wish!).  Happy reading!

Thursday Three: New(ish) Halloween/Scary Picture Books

1.  Creepy Carrots
This is such a fun picture book.  I first picked it up because I liked other books by the illustrator (Peter Brown), and was definitely not disappointed.  The illustrations are great (won a Caldecott Honor) and they help bring to life this funny story about a field full of carrots that decide they don't want to be picked and eaten anymore by Jasper Rabbit.

2.  I Need My Monster
This book just cracks me up.  This little boy can't go to sleep because the monster under his bed went fishing and left him alone at night.  How can he go to sleep without a monster keeping him in bed and under the covers?  He goes through substitute monster after substitute monster, but none are scary enough for him.

 3.  The Monstore
This is a new book I found a couple weeks ago.  It is a cute little story about a boy who just wants his little sister to stay out of his room and leave him alone.  He heads to the Monstore to buy a monster that can help him take care of his problem.  Unfortunately, his sister is not properly scared.  This leads to purchase after purchase of new monsters, each backfiring as well.  "No returns, no refunds" leaves him with a room full of monsters and his little sister loving every second of it. 

Tuesday Talk: The Graveyard Book

I don't usually read hard core horror.  I've never read any Stephen King (I know it's un-American, but it is what it is).  However, I have read a lot of paranormal books that are probably considered horror on some level.  The Graveyard Book won multiple awards in 2009.  It is the only book ever to win both the Newbery and the Carnegie Medals (The UK equivalent).  Originally published as a kid's book, it was reprinted in an adult format to market it with Neil Gaiman's other books (also allowing a higher price point).  I prefer the original kid's cover and price.  This book is truly like nothing else I have ever read.  It is horrific, adventurous, entertaining, heart-warming, playful and inspiring.  The writing was just amazing.  The story is about a young boy, Nobody Owens, raised in a graveyard.  After the brutal murder of his entire family, Bod escapes to the graveyard where he is raised and taught by its inhabitants.  As long as he remains in the graveyard, he is safe from the murderer who longs to finish the job he started.  While it sounds rather dark, I promise there is a lot of positive, light aspects to the story as well.  This is a book everybody should read.  With Halloween being this week, now is a great time to read (or reread) this book.  Happy reading!