The Odd Squad

The Odd Squad: Bully Bait

by Michael Fry

Hyperion Book CH (February 12, 2013)

review copy from the public library

I liked this book, but I would recommend it for older readers because there is a bit of language in it.

This book is about a group of three kids who try to stop a bully from bullying other kids. In the beginning, the main character, Nick, is stuffed in a locker again by a bully named Roy. After that, two other kids who were bullied by Roy. Nick, Roy, and the other kids who were bullied are all forced to be on Safety Patrol. Lots of other bad stuff happens, like Roy talks to Nick's crush and Nick lays on an ant mound.

In the end, Nick and Roy become friends. They even worked together to get Roy's stuffed pig back. To do this, they had to climb through a vent. --Ja

A Dash of Magic

A Dash of Magic

by Kathryn Littlewood

illustrated by Erin McGuire

Katherine Tegen Books (February 12, 2013)

Review ARC provided by Cover to Cover Bookstore

This book is about a girl named Rosemary Bliss and she loves to bake and should never have trusted her Aunt. Lily Le Fay is Rose's aunt and she kept the book. She said she would protect it but she used it and now has she has her own tv show and magic ingredient that goes with her other baking suplies. She is very evil! 

In the beginning Rose went to her aunt's tv show with her family in disguise. Rose challenged her to the gala in Paris to see who gets the cookbook (if Rose wins she gets the cookbook and if Lily wins Rose's family can not get the book or try to ever again). Next they went to their great-great-great grandfather's house to get a copy of the cook book in a different language that only her great-great-great grandfather can translate. Then they head off to Paris to compete. Then Rose's sister ate one of her aunt's cakes and turned into a 2 year old again. 

In the middle Rose wins a cooking challange by getting magical ingredients. Then she finds another ingredient for the next baking challange and she needs to find Mona Lisa's whisper and moves on to the next challange. Next Lily makes a team go home by switching olive oil with freashly squeezed lemon juice. 

In the end someone wins and doesn't do their part of the cookbook. And the person who does not win says something bad about the other person and gets escorted by security. --Fo

Dog Diaries

Dog Diaries #1: Ginger

by Kate Klimo

illustrated by Tim Jessell

Random House Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (January 8, 2013)

Review ARC provided by Cover to Cover Bookstore

This book is about a dog named Ginger who is a golden retriever. In the beginning she is a pup in a mill with her family and wants to play but her sister went over the rainbow when she was sleeping (dog heaven). Then her mom got taken away and Ginger gets adopted by a family and then runs away because the owner left to go to his mom's house because she was sick. Then Ginger gets taken to another mill and got adopted by another family. There was a son and he only liked cats but his parents got him a dog. Ginger bit the kid and met their cat for the first time. Then something bad happened and someone saves the kid. After that the kid took swimming lessons. --Fu

Safe Social Networking

Safe Social Networking

by Heather E. Schwartz

Capstone Press (February 1, 2013)

Review copy from the public library

Safe Social Networking is packed with facts about how to be safe on your electronics. Facts like: whatever you post on the internet can never be deleted! So be careful! You should most definitely read this book if you are on a social networking site, like pinterest, facebook, or twitter! There are some tips on how to keep your password unknown, keep private information to yourself, and just how to be safe! This book is really good, and I recommend it to anyone who uses electronics a little more than they need to. --So.

The Granddaughter Necklace

The Granddaughter Necklace

by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Arthur A. Levine Books; First Edition edition (January 1, 2013)

Review copy from the public library

This book is about a beautiful necklace passed down from generations of women. It’s kindness, and bravery, that gets these women the owner-ship of this necklace. The story is told from a the women who has the necklace at the moment, and she tells the story of how the necklace got passed down from generation to generation. Like how one women (was a girl back then) baked cookies with her mother, and when she saw a poor family she handed them the cookies without hesitation. At the end the necklace is not just a necklace it’s a story of it’s own just told by the beads and string, not words and paper.

I would rate this book a possible 5 stars out of 5.It is a fantastic book, taking you back in time. Although it is a picture book, it’s an amazing picture book, that would put a smile on your face. In my opinion it was a very pleasant read, taking my eyes off chapter book for a bit. --Sh.

The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten

The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten

by Maureen Fergus

illustrated by Mike Lowery

Kids Can Press (March 1, 2013)

Review copy from the public library

I love this book because it is so cute and really sweet. I recommend this book especially for Kindergartners because I bet the book will make them laugh.

This book is about a girl who invited her mom to come to class, then her mom just starts doing things Kindergarten teachers tell there students not to do. The daughter was telling her mom what to do and was getting embarrassed. The ending was so sweet, it was a really cute mother, daughter moment. --N

Monsters Love Colors

Monsters Love Colors

by Mike Austin

HarperCollins (February 5, 2013)
review copy from the public library

I love this book because of the simplicity of it. I really recommend this for read-alouds and early readers.

This book is about three of the monsters, which are primary colors making the rest of the monsters (there are four) secondary colors. There is one monster left, and there no more options left so…. The last Monster was RAINBOW! --N

Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind

Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind
by Caroline Adderson
illustrated by Ben Clanton
Kids Can Press (March 1, 2013)

Review copies provided by the publisher

I thought it was such a cute book. I love how you can realize how kids you know or yourself were when the were little, while you were while reading the book. I recommend this book for third graders and forth graders.

This Book is about Jasper’s grandma going on a cruise, and Jasper thinking what he is going to do while his Grandma is gone. Jasper does many things while his grandma was gone, but when his grandma comes back, he couldn’t be happier. --N.

Gum Girl: Chews Your Destiny

Gum Girl: Chews Your Destiny

by Rhode Montijo

Disney-Hyperion (on shelves July 9, 2013)

review ARC provided by Cover To Cover Bookstore

I recommend this book for third to forth graders. It was a good short read, very enjoyable

This book is about Gabby Gomez and her addiction to gum. Her mom restricted her from chewing gum because her habit. Even though Gabby is restricted from gum, Gabby has on small piece of mighty-mega ultra-stretchy super-duper extenda- bubble bubble gum, and blows a bubble and turns into Gum Girl! She saves crime and fights for justice! --N.