Tag Archives: not quite middle grade

Unicorn Island: Beyond the Portal by Donna Galanti

Read about the exciting finale to the Unicorn Island series, as spoiler free as I could make it. Continue reading

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Fast & Funny with Cookies & Cakes: Ben Yokoyama and Winnie Zeng

Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr and Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao are two fast and funny chapter to middle grade books that are sure to keep kids reading. Continue reading

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The Button Box by Bridget Hodder and Fawzia Gilani-William

For the younger middle grade set comes this exciting time travel adventure set in early medieval Morocco. Continue reading

Posted in Fantasy, Historical, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti

Thanks so much to Donna Galanti for sending me the second book in this appealing not-quite-middle-grade series.  Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti. Illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe. Epic!, 2022. Review copy kindly sent by the author.  Unicorn … Continue reading

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Unicorn Island by Donna Galanti

Here is a sweet and exciting fantasy for kids bridging up from early chapter books. Unicorn Island by Donna Galanti. Illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe. Epic!/Andrews McMeel, 2021. ISBN 978-1524864705. Review copy received from the publisher.   As the story opens, our … Continue reading

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Planet Omar: Accidental Danger Magnet and Year of the Dog

Here are two funny and heartwarming books for the not-quite-middle-grade to middle grade set.  Accidental Danger Magnet by Zanib Mian is from my official #CybilsReadDown pile; The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin was purchased afterwards.   Continue reading

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City Kids: Thank you, Omu! and Dragons in a Bag

Here are some short takes on books with city settings for kids on the younger end of the spectrum.  Side note: both of these authors were at KidLitCon this year, and I had a lovely conversation with Zetta Elliott.   Thank … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Middle Grade, picture books | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Creature of the Pines. Unicorn Rescue Society #1

Here’s one of the titles from my Hopeful Cybils list. Creature of the Pines. Unicorn Rescue Society #1 by Adam Gidwitz and Hatem Aly. April 2018. Newbury Honor and Cybils winning author Gidwitz and illustrator Aly team up again after … Continue reading

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Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez

Here’s a charming first novel from the illustrator of Mango, Abuela & Me. Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez. Roaring Brook Press, 2018. Stella is nervous about school now that her best friend, Jenny, is in another … Continue reading

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TTT: Holiday Gift Guide: Books for a 9-Year-Old Boy

It’s taken me a little while to put together this response to last week’s Top 10 Tuesday prompt (hosted as always by the good folks at the Broke and the Bookish), a free form gift guide. What direction did I … Continue reading

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