Book Recommendations for my Grandkids

I Survived...the series and graphic novels  by Lauren Tarshis The "I Survived" book series is generally for grades 2 - 5  and ages 7-12.  Each book in the series tells a adventurous and sometimes scary story from history, through the eyes of a kid who lived to tell the tale.

 Pippi Longstockings by Astrid Lindgren   Delightful tales about a adventurous girl with her friends Tommy and Annika along with her horse and monkey. I read these books when I was a kid, then with my children and now with my grandkids. There are several books, a TV show and some movies adaptations from the original short story. The author is Swedish and this book has been translated worldwide.

 Peeper and Zeep by Adam Gudeon Peeper the bird and Zeep the alien both love to fly. When the little bird and the young alien meet after a fall from the sky. They try to figure out a way home. With the help of the innovative but eccentric A. Frog, the three friends try various machines to get Peeper and Zeep off the ground and back home. One machine leaves them stuck in a pond. Another leaves them stuck in a tree.   Peeper and Zeep learn the meaning of friendship and family. This book is an easy read for beginning readers. This book has simple, colorful illustrations to inspire conversations. 

 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume A classic tale of sibling rivalry, best for ages 9 and up. The story focuses on nine-year-old  Peter Warren Hatcher  and his relationship with his two-and-a-half-year-old brother,   Farley Drexel "Fudge" Hatcher . I read this with my kids and now with my grandkids. Fudge is an easily relatable character. Also read Super Fudge, Double Fudge, Fudge-a-Mania and Otherwise known as Sheila the Great.

Call of the Wild by Jack London  Classic story set in the Klondike during the Goldrush of the 1890's. The main character is a sled dog named Buck. The story follows Buck's life as he is stolen from California, shipped to Seattle and mistreated, ending up in Alaska and Canada. Buck is sold and traded several times , mostly to cruel and arrogant owners.  Read this book together before you watch the movie. The grandkids were riveted to their seats.

 Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery According to Goodreads: This heartwarming story has beckoned generations of readers into the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan, has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely. A much-loved classic that explores all the vulnerability, expectations, and dreams of a child growing up,  Anne of Green Gables  is also a wonderful portrait of a time, a place, a family… and, most of all, love. The main character is Anne Shirley, along with her best friend Diana Berry and crush Gilbert Blythe. You meet many of Anne's friends, classmates, and town folk from the area. This book...

 Babymouse by Jennifer L Holm & Matthew Holm This is a series of graphic novels for early readers in grades 2 - 5. These books are about a sassy mouse having adventures in elementary school. Some of the characters in addition to Babymouse are best friend Wilson, Tallest friend Georgie, her pesky brother Squeak, and Felicia , the mean girl. Yes, there is a lot of the color pink in this series of books.

Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey  With such titles as Captain Underpants the the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000, Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilet, Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Lunch ladies from Outer Space and Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopy Pants, kids will laugh out loud with these colorful graphic novels.  George Beard and Harold Hutchins turn their principal, Mr. Krupp, into the "greatest superhero of all time",  The Amazing Captain Underpants .  George Beard and Harold Hutchins  are two mischievous fourth-graders who attend Jerome Horwitz Elementary School in  Piqua ,  Ohio . They are known for making  comic books  featuring  Captain Underpants , a  superhero  of their own creation. After the boys ruin the school's football game with practical jokes , their principal, Mr. Krupp, threatens to expose their mischief to the foo...

Dog Man Series by Dav Pilkey   This is a series of graphic novels that are very popular. This book was recently made into a movie, which we went to with our 3 grandkids. With such titles as Lord of the Fleas, A Tale of Two Kitties, Brawl of the Wild, For Whom the Ball Rolls, Grime and Punishment, Fetch 22, Mothering Height and Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea, kids are bound to recall these books for a long time with fond memories. These books are geared toward kids over 6. The premise is a policeman and police dog are in a bad car accident. To save them, the doctors sew the dog's head on the policeman's body. Dog Man somehow saves the day in each adventure. Such characters as Big Jim, Grampa, Lil Pete and Molly, make the books fast paced and somehow believable.  Tales of self-awareness, confidence, and integrity, Dav Pilkey crafts a humorous and heartfelt adventure, weaving together the importance of truth, goodness, and believing in yourself.

 The Fly Guy Series by Tedd Arnold These books are for the 4 - 8 year old readers.  This 20 book series is about  a boy and his beloved pet fly . Buzz and Fly Guy have the perfect friendship: They're loyal, curious, and adventurous. Fly Guy can even say Buzz's name! The jokes are gross, which makes them appealing to early readers. The pictures are bright with a lot of detail to discuss with your reading partner.

The Bad Guys by  Aaron Blabey This 20 book series is in graphic novel form about a snake, wolf, piranha, shark and tarantula that are trying to change their image.    The Bad Guys: Episode 1  (2015) The Bad Guys: Episode 2: Mission Unpluckable  (2015) The Bad Guys: Episode 3: The Furball Strikes Back  (2016) The Bad Guys: Episode 4: Attack of the Zittens  (2016) The Bad Guys: Episode 5: Intergalactic Gas  (2017) The Bad Guys: Episode 6: Alien vs. Bad Guys  (2017) The Bad Guys: Episode 7: Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?  (2018) The Bad Guys: Episode 8: Superbad  (2018) The Bad Guys: Episode 9: The Big Bad Wolf  (2019) The Bad Guys: Episode 10: The Baddest Day Ever  (2019) The Bad Guys: Episode 11: Dawn of the Underlord  (2020) The Bad Guys: Episode 12: The One?!  (2020) The Bad Guys: Episode 13: Cut to the Chase  (2021) The Bad Guys: Episode 14: They're Bee-hind You!  (2021) The Bad Guys: Episode 15: Open Wide a...