The Knight's Tale series

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great
The Adventures of Sir Givret the Short
The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True
by Gerald Morris
Oh, to be a knight in the days of King Arthur's Court! You could be as great as Sir Lancelot  - with armor so shiny you could see your reflection! You could be as wise as Sir Givret, even if you're short! You could be undefeated like Sir Gawain and always keep your word! Of course, when you're the greatest knight in the realm, like Lancelot, or undefeated, like Sir Gawain, other knights are always challenging you everywhere you go, which can be a tad inconvenient. If you're wise like Sir Givret, you might find yourself always helping less wise friends out of trouble, which can be a tricky thing. And what if always keeping your word means you must fight a friend to defend the honor of your king? Being a knight can be great, but it's not always easy! No matter if being a knight is good or bad, with Gerald Morris telling the tales, you can bet they will be funny. Try this series perfect for those just discovering chapter books for the first time and see if you can keep the laughter in! 

Recommended for grades 2-4
Reviewed by Jennifer Baker 

The Flint Heart

by Katherine Paterson
Once upon a time, a long time ago, a magical heart was carved out of flint.  But this flint heart was not magical in a good way; it was magical in a bad way, making its wearer cruel and greedy and unfeeling.  When this story begins the flint heart has been forgotten about, hidden for thousands of years in an ancient grave.  It is found quite by accident by a kindly farmer, named Billy Jago, who turns instantly into an unkind and abusive bully upon picking up the heart.  Lucky for Billy, two of his children, Charles and Unity, are determined to find out why their father has changed and what they can do to change him back.  To do this, they decide to visit the Pixies.  With the help of the Pixies, and other magical beings, Charles and Unity are able to free their father from the power of the flint heart.  The story doesn't end here, though, because soon another creature has found the flint heart and turned into an ill-tempered beast.  It is up to Charles, Unity, and the magical creatures they meet to get rid of the flint heart, once and for all.  This charming fantasy is a rewritten version of a book written one hundred years ago by the author Eden Phillpott.  A lovely and fun read complete with illustrations.

Recommended for grades 3-5
Reviewed by Tara Olson 

Bake Sale

by Sara Varon
Have you met this author/illustrator yet?   There is just one word that I think of to describe her books - fun!  Her previous works include Robot Dreams and Chicken and Cat.  Bake Sale is her latest graphic novel.  The illustrations are so simple, but when it comes to anthropomorphizing food, no one does it better.  Cupcake is, of course, a baker.  He dreams of flying to Turkey and meeting his ideal, Turkish Delight, the greatest pastry chef in the world.  Cupcake's good friend Eggplant has a plan that involves Cupcake quitting the band and selling as many baked goods as possible, but not before they stop at the local coffee shop for something to eat.  There is just something about seeing a cupcake eat a grilled cheese and fries that makes you want to smile.  This is a cozy friendship story with pictures and recipes. 

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Koren Power 

Waiting for the Magic

by Patricia MacLachlan
From the author of the Newbery Award winning Sarah, Plain, and Tall comes a heartwarming family story laced with a touch of fantasy. Ten-year-old William and his four-year-old sister, Elinor, are sad. Their father has left their home to pursue a writing career, and no one knows if and when he will return. As a way to fill the void of their father's absence, Will's mother decides to go to the local animal shelter to adopt a dog. There are four dogs at the shelter, each with their own personality, and the family decides to take all four of them home. They have even adopted Lula the cat. Happily, Bry, Bitty, Neo, Grace, and Lula not only get along well with each other; but they also take good care of their new human family. In addition to trailing them all over the house and being their sleeping companions, the animals seem to have the uncanny ability to know what Mama, William, and Elinor are thinking and feeling, and they quickly respond to their needs. Then one day Elinor casually states that Grace the greyhound told her she wants Granny to knit a blue doggie coat for her. The rest of the family chalks this up to the four-year-old's imagination. But soon Will hears the thoughts of Neo, and he realizes that all of the pets know how to speak; he just had to be brave enough to listen to them. And their advice is quite good for happier family relationships. Soon Mama has more big news to share. Will this bit of good news finally bring Papa home for good? For those who love animals and happy endings, this short novel is perfect for newly independent readers, as well as a good family read-aloud at bedtime. 

Recommended for grades 3 and up
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter 

One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street

by Joanne Rocklin
The orange tree in the middle of the block on Orange Street seemed to be the maker of the family of families there.  Like a block parent, it brought people of various ages and backgrounds together.

Under it was the coolest spot on the street, and that's where the Girls With Long Hair Club conducted its meetings.  Young members of the block even consulted with Ms. Snoops, the oldest living resident of the block, to find facts about the property the orange tree was on.

This tree bearing delicious citrus fruit was where Ruff the dog liked to dig, and where Mitzi the cat stalked.

Who was this mysterious bald man with a beard, watching the tree from his green car?

Read this slice-of-life novel to release the secrets the orange tree has all of its own!

Recommended for grades 4-8
Recommended by Joe Drinka