Taking over the world is easy. All you need are a few minions and lackeys, an evil robot army, and the right clothing. Oh, and you may want to be able to have to ability to actually destroy the world too. All these simple tips and more are included in Kenn Nesbitt’s new book, The [...]

In the 1920s, 58 dolls were sent as ambassadors of friendship from the children of Japan to the children of the United States. About three feet tall, these dolls had human hair and came dressed in kimonos and accompanied by accessories such as tea sets and parasols. The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson is the [...]

Dini and her best friend Maddie love to watch movies from Bollywood. They memorize lines from songs and know all the situations that can be solved by their favorite actress, Dolly Singh. When Dini’s mom gets a grant to study at a clinic in southern India for two years, Dini is both upset and excited. [...]

Children’s author Ralph Fletcher seemed to live an ideal life for a child. The oldest of a large clan in the small town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Fletcher had nearby woods to roam in, numerous bothers and neighbors to recruit for games, and parents who loved him. Fletcher recounts stories from his young days in Marshfield [...]

When Zita finds a gadget in what appears to be a crashed meteorite site, she can’t resist pushing the button. When she does, a creature with octopus-like limbs reaches through a tear in the sky and grabs her friend Joesph. Zita runs away, but soon she realizes that she must follow Joseph and try to [...]

As a follow up to her delightful picture book, My Name Is Not Isabella, where a little girl dreamed about being like famous women in history, author Jennifer Fosberry has turned her attention to famous men and a little boy who dreams of being like them. In My Name Is Not Alexander, a dad wakes [...]

Sal knows all the prophecies from her favorite poem, “Songs of the Fleece,” but she doesn’t know much about modern technology. That’s how she misinterprets a cell phone falling on her head from a hot-air balloon as a struggle between the great Lord Aries and his nemesis, Lambad the Bad. Under Sal’s direction, the sheep [...]

This week I’m excited to offer a couple of posts about a new fantasy book for middle readers. It’s called A True Princess by Diane Zahler, and it should delight young readers who like Ella Enchanted, The Goose Girl, and other retold fairy tales. Take a look at my review below, then enter a comment [...]