book nook: boys
4-8 Years
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long
When Jeremy is picked up at the beach by pirates, he decides that if they have him home by soccer practice tomorrow, he’ll stay and learn to be a pirate. Although he enjoys the lack of manners, “no vegetables” policy, and freedom, Jeremy soon realizes the importance of his parents.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Before Bob the Builder, there was Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel. Mike and his steam shovel, Mary Ann, build many things. But when gasoline and electronic shovels are introduced, Mike and Mary Ann may be out of work.
9-12 Years
Tale of a Baseball Dream by Jerry Pearlman
Dusty Hunter has a large dream to become a professional baseball player. But that dream seems a bit out of reach for an undersized boy who has many challenges and obstacles in his way, but with the unwavering support from his father, anything is possible.
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Nick is a boy with plenty of ideas on how to distract his teachers and liven things up at school. When he learns about how new words are created, he develops his best plan yet: invent a new word for “pen”.
Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter’s Companion by Captain William
Get lost in a world of pirates! Written as the journal of a fictional pirate hunter, the illustrations, historical information and interactive notebooks and envelopes will leave you wondering if you’re looking through a real pirate hunter’s scrapbook.
Skinnybones by Barbara Park
Alex “Skinnybones” Frankovitch is small, can’t play baseball, and has a sense of humor that gets him in and out of messes. When he goes too far and his mouth gets him into trouble with T.J., the best baseball player, he has to find a way to get people to like him again.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Follow middle school student Greg Heffley through a school year full of drama in this novel illustrated with cartoons.
Comedy
4-8 Years
Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes by Margie Palatini
In this humorous version of an Aesop fable, Fox refuses all help from the other animals, knowing that he is clever enough to easily get the grapes hanging from a vine high up in a tree.
The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith by Keith Graves
Barcelona Smith is not a risk-taker. He avoids anything that carries a risk, including playgrounds, animals, and flowers. But one humid day his hair goes wild! It takes complete control and soon has Barcelona doing all kinds of risky things.
Dogzilla by Dave Pilkey
On the day of the First Annual Barbecue Cook-Off in Mousopolis, the tantalizing smells of barbeque awaken the terrifying Dogzilla. Soon the mice of Mousopolis are running for their lives!
9-12 Years
Nose Pickers from Outer Space by Gordon Korman
Devin lives in a state of embarrassment at his new school-exchange buddy, Stan, who breaks all of Devin’s Rules of Coolness. If his looks weren’t bad enough, Stan spends most of his time with his finger in his nose and eats paper products at lunch. But Devin eventually discovers that Stan has special powers (accessed through the inside of his nose) and may be the only hope Earth has to be saved from a terrible end.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Follow middle school student Greg Heffley through a school year full of drama in this novel illustrated with cartoons.
Skinnybones by Barbara Park
Alex “Skinnybones” Frankovitch is small, can’t play baseball, and has a sense of humor that gets him in and out of messes. When he goes too far and his mouth gets him into trouble with T.J., the best baseball player, he has to find a way to get people to like him again.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Wayside School is a strange school, having been built with 30 one-classroom stories stacked right on top of each other. Which may be why strange things always happen at the school.
Adventure
4-8 Years
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese kitten with a wild imagination. So wild that his mama sends him to his room to think about what it means to be a cat and not a bird. But once in his room, Skippyjon Jones becomes Skippito Friskito, a Chihuahua who goes to Mexico for a marvelous adventure!
The Minpins by Roald Dahl
Billy decides to ignore his mother when she tells him to stay out of The Forest of Sin. Once in the forest, a monster comes after Billy. There is nowhere for him to go except up a tree, in which he finds a village full of miniature people.
The Great Pig Escape by Eileen Christelow
A farming couple decides to raise piglets to sell at auction. One day the piglets, who grow quickly, overhear Bert and Ethel discussing their plans to take them to market. The piglets begin plotting their great escape.
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long
When Jeremy is picked up at the beach by pirates, he decides that if they have him home by soccer practice tomorrow, he’ll stay and learn to be a pirate. Although he enjoys the lack of manners, “no vegetables” policy, and freedom, Jeremy soon realizes the importance of his parents.
9-12 Years
Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson
Tom is not pleased with the prospect of a new stepfather, and one sleepless night Tom climbs aboard a piece of packing foam and drifts down the nearby stream. Before Tom realizes what is happening, he is pulled under a rock and into an underwater cavern. What follows is an adventure that includes secrets, murder, mysterious carvings, and treasure hunters.
Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter’s Companion by Captain William
Get lost in a world of pirates! Written as the journal of a fictional pirate hunter, the illustrations, historical information, interactive notebooks and envelopes will leave readers wondering if they are looking through a real pirate hunter’s scrapbook.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
As a passenger on a two-person plane, Brian is forced to crash land the plane when the pilot dies of a heart attack. Alone in the Canadian wilderness, Brian must find it within himself to simply survive.
Smart, Inventive Heroes
4-8 Years
Me Hungry! by Jeremy Tankard
When a young cave boy gets hungry for a snack and proclaims, Me hungry!” his parents are much too busy to get him one. So the cave boy takes things into his own hands and sets out to catch himself a snack.
Young MacDonald by David Milgrim
An inventor, young MacDonald builds a new machine in the barn which will take two different animals and combine them into a completely new animal. What ensues is an afternoon of chaotic, silly fun before young MacDonald’s parents come home.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Ann, build many things. But when gasoline a electronic shovels are introduced, Mike and Mary Ann may be out of work.
9-12 Years
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Nick is a boy with plenty of ideas on how to distract his teachers and liven things up at school. When he learns about how new words are created, he develops his best plan yet: invent a new word for “pen”.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
When a bitter old man running a toy booth and a bookish girl enter the orphan Hugo’s life, his world is turned upside down. His undercover life as thief and clock keeper of a busy Paris train station is now threatened, and Hugo has little time left to solve the mystery behind the mechanical man.
Newspaper Caper by Max Elliot Anderson
Tom Stevens has convinced his two friends Jimmy and Matt to help him with a newspaper route. When cars begin disappearing out of the neighborhood, the three boys decide to keep their eyes peeled for any strange occurrences.
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