LEROY NINKER SADDLES UP by Kate DiCamillo

Leroy Ninker, reformed thief from the Mercy Watson series, is a cowboy in need of a horse - and he finds Maybelline through a newspaper ad. She may be old and missing some teeth, but Leroy loves her. There are three rules to life with Maybelline, though, and there will be trouble if Leroy forgets them.

Cute story that will appeal to fans of the Mercy Watson series as well as readers who are ready for illustrated transitional chapter books. My students who have been begging for more Mercy Watson stories will be pleased to get this in our library.

3 out of 5 stars
AR Reading level of 3.7

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

RISE OF THE EARTH DRAGON by Tracey West

Drake is taken from his family home to be a dragon master. But his dragon can't do what the others do. Bo's dragon is Shu who can spew water. Ana's dragon is Kepie who emits light. Rori's dragon, Vulcan, is huge, strong and spits fire. Drake's dragon, Worm, looks like a snake and doesn't fly or anything.  But Drake may be more powerful than any other dragon master and Worm has secret of his own, too.

I enjoyed this addition to the Branches line of colorful, illustrated transitional chapter books for developing readers. I believe my students will enjoy this one - a great dragon story for readers not quite ready for the Wings of Fire series. Essentially, this is a pet story, and it's a great one. Book 2 releases in November 2014 and Book 3 releases in February 2015.

4 out of 5 stars

   

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Graphic Novel Week: TOMMYSAURUS REX and CARDBOARD by Doug TenNapel

In Tommysaurus Rex, a boy's dog dies, and his parents send him to stay with his grandfather while he recovers from his loss. The boy, Ely, finds a TRex who acts a lot like his dog, Tommy. A bully causes trouble for the boy and for Tommysaurus Rex. 

In Cardboard, a dad who is down on his luck buys a cardboard box for his son's birthday gift. The cardboard is magic. Whatever they build comes to life. But they don't follow the magic rules and things go horribly out of control. There is a bully in this story as well.

Both of these graphic novels are great. The stories and art are very well done. I thought Tommysaurus was extremely touching and the ending was excellent. Cardboard was also very good, but darker than Tommysaurus. I think Cardboard is a better fit for middle school than for elementary school, so I am adding Tommysaurus to my library and recommending Cardboard to older readers.

4 out of 5 stars for both.

AR reading level of 2.0 for Tommysaurus. Cardboard has a reading level of 2.2 with AR.

GLAMSTERS by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Harriett the hamster wants to get noticed so she can be adopted. And she finds a magazine ad that tells her how to be a "glamster." Using things in her cage, Harriett glamorizes herself - and scares her sister Patricia with her new look. In the end, Harriett discovers she's better off being herself.

A cute story about being yourself.

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 3.2