Simon & Schuster | Page 8 of 11

Super Turbo Saves the Day! a true all-age graphic novel

I’m in a third-grade class right now. A mere ten minutes ago I was teaching the kids writing while some of the brighter kids started talking about the books they’re reading. Rick Riordan was the main author that those kids were talking about. Some of these nine-year-old students aren’t as advanced when it comes to reading. I heard some of the kids call their books ‘baby books’, so I had to jump in and clear things up.

This is not a ‘baby book’, nor is it actually the book that those kids were reading. It also may not be the first time that readers in your house have seen a Super Turbo book.

What we have here is Super Turbo Saves the Day!, an all-age graphic novel from Little Simon. This is truly for all ages. Those kids who are only five years old can pick up Super Turbo and make some sight words or at least really enjoy the pictures. Getting your pre-k or kindergarten-aged student to eagerly look forward to carrying around a book, even if they can’t read all of the words yet is half of the battle.

Fun graphic novels for ages five and up is what ye see here matey

Wilderlore The Accidental Apprentice, a book series with quick hooks

On its surface, Wilderlore, The Accidental Apprentice seems like a book that you’ve read before. For me, it’s because I recently read Fartquest, a book whose tone is quite different but does share an overarching theme in common with it. Those older readers might even find threads of How to Train your Dragon, Nevermoor, or LOTR in the book. As you might have guessed, The Accidental Apprentice involves a quest that has monsters, beasts, and kingdoms. The mglit angle is firmly hit by the book because it’s one that middle school readers will enjoy due to the fact that it’s fun, has a very quick pace, and a pair of teen characters who will ride their imagination.

Wilderlore The Accidental Apprentice is the first in a series of books that hooks readers in fifth grade and up.

This book plants roots for future stories

Saucy is a swine reading time for middle-elementary through middle school

When I was a kid I had fringe pets. These were animals that didn’t qualify under the domesticated category that most people associate pets with. For example, I had a rabbit, granted lots of people have rabbits as pets but these rabbits were outside, never came inside, and rarely graced the touch of a human hand. We also had a crow, who ironically had the same home the rabbit did, albeit a couple of years later. Saucy is a book that’s aimed at upper elementary through Middle School readers and is all about those fringe pets. The cover has a pig who is running with glee, possibly running away from or towards something as the back jacket as a small family who is chasing him for some reason. That illustration gives you a great feeling for how the book reads.

Saucy, try not to say it in an austin powers voice

A Charlie Brown Christmas Pop-Up Edition still delivers the goods

When is A Charlie Brown Christmas on TV is one of those seasonal search terms that roars in popularity during the first week in December. It’s special because the show is one of those communal experiences that bring people together to watch it in their own homes. Much like the classic Crowded House album, we’re Together Alone and watching one of the great stories come to life. A Charlie Brown Christmas Pop-Up Edition brings the classic charm of the show into an heirloom book that will remain in your family for generations.

Happiness, get yr seasonal Holiday Christmas Happniess here

The Beast and the Bethany is pitch-perfect for ages 9 and up

The Beast and the Bethany is a wonderful book. ‘Wonderful’ isn’t a word that I used often to describe books, but in this case, it’s 100% appropriate. Sometimes we use ‘good’ to describe books, but that adjective can be subjective. What’s good for you, might not be good for me, or vice versa. Whereas ‘wonderful’ implies that it’s something that can be enjoyed by everyone at any time. The Beast and the Bethany is that sort of middle-school book. It’ll leave you smiling throughout, tickle your imagination in ways that the classic stories do and it has enough of a mean streak to intrigue those who normally wouldn’t touch it.

This is a new classic that will enthrall ages 9 and up

Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light-teaches softly and fun for 4-9

I’m a firm believer that the answers to the problems that you’re currently having are usually right in front of you. In the case of our nine-year-old, he’s reading Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light. He’s on the tail end of the reading level for this book. The book’s key audience is pre-K through third grade. However, this is one that he can easily read for the most part. For him, it’s more about the message and the soft lesson that the book is illustrating.

Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light is a great good-night book that shows selfless giving and how to make friends the right way.

disarmingly sweet, lovingly crafted and a great message

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover, realistic scary fiction for middle grades

Our 11-year-old read came into the bedroom with The Mutant Mushroom Takeover under his arm. He tossed the book on the bed. “How was it?”, I asked. “It was too scary, so I couldn’t finish it”, he said as he got another book from our nightstand. If books were meat he’d be a Tyrannosaurus Rex, so I was curious about this one. About half of the way through the book I understood what he meant, but wanted to add a caveat. It’s not that scary. It’s more of a slow-building, realistic fiction book that’s perfect for middle school students.

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover is realistic fiction with just enough scares to pump up middle school readers.

Boo. A realistic fiction book with grounded dread and paranoia

Lola Benko Treasure Hunter, grounded action for middle school

Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter will feel familiar, but it’s a character and story that is new to you. On the cover, we see a teen-aged-girl who is exploring a giant cavern-esque area with two friends. She’s carrying a headlight with a massive head, like the one that only construction engineers or professional spelunkers would use. The cover’s font could easily be mistaken for entry into the National Treasure film franchise. In addition to that, there are several things within the story that older readers will recognize as influences for the story. However, Lola Benko Treasure Hunter is aimed at readers aged nine through middle school and they might not know or even catch those references.

Lola Benko Treasure Hunter is a middle grade action book that has more of a relationship backbone than its readers might care for.

Middle grade readers will enjoy it, but it might feel familiar too