The Hallo-Wiener

Title: The Hallo-Wiener
Author: Dav Pilkey
Publisher: Scholastic
Copyright: 1995
ISBN: 0439079462

Aptly named Oscar has a hard time fitting in with the other dogs at school. Oscar is a sweet and svelte dauchshund and his classmates are just a bunch of mutts. Regardless of that fact, they feel the need to poke fun at Oscar any chance they get for his "unusual shape and size." Things just get worse when Oscar's mother makes him a hot dog costume for Halloween. Kind dog that Oscar is, he saves the day when they find themselves in trouble on Halloween night.

I discovered The Hallo-Wiener a few years ago when I first began teaching. From the moment I picked it up, I knew I was in L-O-V-E. Being the mother of a wiener dog myself (now two wiener dogs,) I have a special place in my heart for these little critters. So while I may be biased because of it's precious little canine character, I always hear laughs from students and teachers alike when I read it out loud in my library. If you read only one Halloween book this year, make it The Hallo-Wiener. You won't be sorry!

Wings

Title: Wings
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: HarperTeen (Harper Collins)
Copyright: 2009
ISBN: 9780061668036

Fifteen year-old Laurel is new in town, and as a typical new-in-town teen, feels like she doesn't belong. The truth is, though, that she really doesn't. When Laurel says that she feels different from other teens, it's because she is. Laurel quickly meets David who befriends her and becomes the one person she can really trust. When a strange growth appears on her back and turns into something Laurel couldn't believe, she finds herself venturing into a world beyond her wildest imagination.

I found much of this book reminiscent of Twilight, but in a very different way. It is quite interesting and well written, especially to be Pike's debut novel. I recommend Wings, especially for teen girls ages 12-16. Wings is the first book in a set that is supposed to end up as four books by it's conclusion. Disney has purchased the rights to the book and it is set to be made into a movie in 2010.

Bee-Wigged

Title: Bee-Wigged
Author: Cece Bell
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 9780763636142

Jerry Bee is a big bee with an even bigger problem. He wants to make friends with people, but people aren't too keen to bee-friend a bee. All that changes when one day he finds an old wig on the ground and is (strangely enough) mistaken for a real boy instead of a boy-sized bee. Hilarity ensues as Jerry wins over the local school and eventually realizes that his wig is not in fact a wig after all...at least not in the literal sense.

Cece Bell's illustrations are abstract and whimsical, adding much detail to her already solid storyline. I highly recommend this book for it's silly story, witty word bubbles, colorful pictures, and excellent life lesson. Children and adults alike will enjoy getting to know Jerry Bee.

Scaredy Squirrel

Title: Scaredy Squirrel
Author: Melanie Watt
Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd.
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 9781554530236

Scaredy Squirrel is a hilarious story about a neurotic squirrel and his agoraphobic tendencies. The aptly named Scaredy is afraid of many ridiculous things. Killer bees, germs, green martians, and sharks are just a few of the things that leave him shaking in his furry boots. Because of his fears, Scaredy lives a simple life of eating nuts and gazing at the view from his tree, always prepared for a disaster of epic proportions. One day, though, Scaredy is forced out of his nest and realizes that life is much more fulfilling with a little bit of variety.

This clever little book by Canadian Melanie Watt had me, quite literally, laughing out loud. From the first page's note to the reader (written by Scaredy himself,) I was hooked. Scaredy's quirky personality and irrational fears connect with readers at every stage in life from the youngest children to the most mature adults. Fans of Scaredy will be happy to hear there are several more books that follow Scaredy on his adventures as he heads further and further away from his tree.

Read this book now! I promise you'll thank me.

What My Mother Doesn't Know

Title: What My Mother Doesn't Know
Author: Sonya Sones
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 0689841140


What My Mother Doesn't Know is an interesting look at young love through the eyes of 14 year-old Sophie. Written in verse, this book almost reads like a diary with fairly short, descriptive "chapters" that are really more like one to two page vignettes. Each one flows beautifully in the next, weaving a story that is complex enough to entertain adults and simple enough to appeal to teens. Sophie's maturity and integrity are seen as she has to make a tough decision at the end of the book. Readers will be glad to find that the story continues in a companion book, What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know.

I absolutely loved What My Mother Doesn't Know. This is the first book written in verse that I can recall reading and I was very surprised at how well it flowed and how quickly it was over! The author walks a delicate line in this book, describing young love and a teen's awakening feelings about the opposite sex in a descriptive yet appropriate way. There are a few things in the book some parents might object to, but Sophie makes good decisions that will help teens as they encounter these same issues. Although the verse style can be off-putting at first, given a chance, this book will delight and inspire.

Achingly Alice

Title: Achingly Alice

Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Publisher: Atheneum Books

Copyright: 1998

ISBN: 0689803559

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Achingly Alice, the 10th book in the Alice series, explores the complexities of love and puberty. Not only is Alice concerned about her relationship with her own boyfriend, but she also has her widower father to worry about as his relationship with her teacher Miss Summers seems to be getting serious...or is it? Alice and her friends experience equally hilarious and unfortunate events as they stumble their way through eighth grade.

I absolutely enjoyed Achingly Alice. Although I hadn't read any of the prior books in the series, I was able to pick it up easily and understand what was going on. While there are many frank topics discussed in the book, they are age appropriate and told in a positive manner. Alice is one character I am definitely excited to spend more time with. Although this Alice book is fairly tame, I always recommend screening any books your teen child wants to read.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery

Author: Peter Abrahams

Publisher: HarperCollins

Copyright: 2006

ISBN: 0060737034

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In Down the Rabbit Hole, Inrid Levin-Hill is just your normal Sherlock Holmes loving, soccer playing 13 year-old girl...who happens to be the last person to see a murder victim alive. Recently cast as the lead role in the Prescott Players production of Alice in Wonderland, Ingrid realizes the woman who was killed was also a member of the Prescott Players many years before. Faced with the realization that the killer may be closer than anyone realizes, Ingrid has to solve the murder before she finds herself being accused.

I absolutely loved Down the Rabbit Hole. It was a fun mystery that kept me hooked as I got to know Ingrid, her family, friends, and the town of Echo Falls better. The character development was quite good and I'm excited to get to read more about Ingrid's world in the two books that follow. The book was completely appropriate for the age level it was written for, and I would feel good recommending this book to any middle or high school student. I must say that I figured out the killer fairly quickly, but that's probably due in part to being an adult and having read many mysteries with a similar formula. There are two other companion books about Ingrid and the town of Echo Falls.