Elementary: Trends Younger Archives

From an Idea to Lego: The Building Bricks Behind the World’s Largest Toy Company

Who wouldn’t want to learn the story of all things LEGO? Lowey Bundy Sichol has bundled the fascinating origins of LEGO into a brisk 110-page book, handy and accessible to kids of all ages – and to the kid in each of us. Readers will gain a full-fledged appreciation for the toy beloved all over the world, a toy that encourages exactitude, problem-solving, and free creative play. The first bit of trivia they’ll master? … Read more

Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters

“STOP AND THINK!” That’s what you do when you have a challenge, your first solution doesn’t work, and you need to slow down and think of a new one. Rosie Revere is an engineer, and a member of Andrea Beaty’s popular Questioneers series. She and her compatriots – scientist Ada Twist and architect Iggy Peck – love to solve engineering challenges together. They combine fun and wit … Read more

Race to Fire Mountain

When Jarell gets caught drawing in math class instead of learning algebra, his teacher asks him this question: “What makes you so special?” Readers of Race to Fire Mountain will soon discover that the real answer to his query is also the heart of this book, as Jarell sets off on a quest to learn if he has what it takes … Read more

Revolutionary War on Wednesday

What’s the best way to get your students eager to learn, question, and celebrate the American Revolution? Try Revolutionary War on Wednesdays, a popular installment in Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series. In book #22, Jack and Annie are in the middle of a four-book quest in which task #2 requires them to find “something … Read more

Big Foot and Little Foot

“The world is full of mysteries if you just pay attention.” Deep in the cold North Woods, in the back of Widdershins Cavern, lives a young Sasquatch (better known as a squidge) named Hugo. Hugo may have some large feet, but he has an even larger heart for adventure. There’s just one problem: the Sasquatch … Read more

Cody and the Fountain of Happiness

“She’s a friend to all, even ants.” Meet Cody one morning during her summer vacation. She comforts her mother, who is nervous about a potential job promotion. She worries about the ants she likes to play with. (Do they get the whim-whams, too?) She is surprised to see a baby skunk, which she longs to … Read more

Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker

Not many little brothers are “kool-with-a-k!” enough to get their own spinoff series from a popular set of books about their big sister. But not many little brothers are Stink Moody! Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker gives Judy Moody’s younger brother his own space on bookshelves. And – in true Megan McDonald form – … Read more

The Guardian Test

Dear Miss Plum, I have the pleasure of inviting you to the Guardian Academy on Lotus Island. With this letter, young Plum leaves her caregiver grandparents and their farm on Little Island to begin her studies as a Trainee Guardian. She hopes to join the ranks of animal shapeshifters who protect the imagined world of … Read more

Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker

“There are infinite upsides to being yourself.” It’s just a fact: Beatrice Zinker does her best thinking upside down. She also does puzzles without looking at the box top, thinks dessert should be eaten first, and knows that Lenny Santos will always be her best friend. Even though she comes from a right-side-up family that … Read more

Three Good Deeds

“You, young man, are in serious need of a good lesson.” (p. 8) So says the witch in Three Good Deeds. She’s addressing young Howard, a boy who is— there’s no other way to say it—kind of a meanie. He visits the pond to steal goose eggs from the nests there, but these geese are … Read more

Trouble at School for Marvin & James

James and Marvin are best friends, which wouldn’t be unusual except for the fact that James is a boy and Marvin is a beetle. Welcome to the world created by Elise Broach in her award-winning children’s novel, Masterpiece. The companion introductory chapter book series, The Masterpiece Adventures, revels in the magic of this unlikely friendship. … Read more

Humphrey’s Playful Puppy Problems

For years, schools have celebrated reading with Betty G. Birney’s Humphrey series. Now, readers who need a bit more support can join in the classroom hamster fun with Humphrey’s Tiny Tales, aseries of introductory chapter books. “Classroom pets like me love to be needed.” In Humphrey’s Playful Puppy Problems, everyone’s favorite hamster heads home for … Read more

Fenway and the Bone Thieves

It’s a good thing humans have dogs to keep them safe from squirrels.” And it’s a good thing we have more Fenway! Fenway and the Bone Thieves is the first in an introductory chapter book series by Victoria J. Coe, author of the popular Read to Them title, Fenway and Hattie. It’s a new series, … Read more

Just Harriet

“There are some things you should know about me before I tell you everything else. Let’s start with the worst things first. Sometimes I lie. I don’t know why I lie, and it’s usually about dumb things that people figure out right away, or really soon. It’s embarrassing, if you want to know the truth.” … Read more

Stella Díaz Never Gives Up

Cover for Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez

The girl who charmed you in Stella Díaz Has Something to Say is back for more heartwarming fun. And you don’t have to read the first book to appreciate the second book of this series. If only I could do something big this summer, too. It’s the beginning of summer vacation and Stella is dejected. … Read more

Toys! Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions

Most of you have probably played with super balls, toy soldiers, Play-Doh, Legos, or a Mr. Potato Head. Many of you have no doubt enjoyed heated games of Monopoly, Checkers, Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, or Parcheesi. But have you ever thought about how these toys and games got their start? Behind every toy there is an … Read more

Bookmarks Are People Too!

“Papa Pete always says laughter is good, but not as good as a pickle.” Bookmarks Are People Too! is the first book in the Here’s Hank series, books that re-package Henry Winkler’s lovable character Hank Zipzer for younger readers. Don’t worry – these Intro level books retain all the hilarity and shenanigans of Niagara Falls, … Read more

Stuart Little

E.B. White wrote three novels for children and all of them are classics: Stuart Little (1945); Charlotte’s Web (1953); and The Trumpet of the Swan (1970). “When Mrs. Frederick C. Little’s second son arrived, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse. The truth of the matter was, the baby looked very much … Read more

EllRay Jakes Is a Rock Star!

Meet EllRay Jakes, the young protagonist of Sally Warner’s fun, quick-reading series. Meet his parents, sister, and classmates – and take a peek behind the curtain of life in third grade. In the entertaining second book of the series, we find EllRay in the middle of a common school crisis – popularity. Everyone is bragging … Read more

8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos

Move over Humphrey, there’s a new class pet in town! Well, actually there are 8 of them. And a squirrel. And a dog. And together they do indeed create chaos. This fast-paced adventure from Vivian Vande Velde is one wild ride that your students are sure to enjoy. First, they’ll meet Twitch, the schoolyard squirrel, … Read more

Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up

In Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up, we meet Keena as she starts a new school year with all the excitement and apprehension it brings. She tells us all about it through the entries in her brand new journal, so we experience all of her thoughts and emotions first hand. Like the heroines in many … Read more

Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan

The Gooseberry Gang is back – and they’re stronger in number, spirit, and love. The beloved hermit crab, Gwendolyn, and the loyal Labrador, Kona, strive to save the Gooseberry Park residents from a devastating drought. This effort requires the cooperation and kindness of an entire menagerie of animals, each of whom demonstrates strengths and gifts … Read more

Gooseberry Park

What do a lumbering Labrador, a wise-cracking bat, a Caribbean crab, and a squirrel mother of triplets have in common? They are the best of friends, of course! Gooseberry Park is the endearing story of true friendship and selflessness at its best. Kona, the loyal Labrador, is willing to risk it all to help his best … Read more

Clementine

In Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, we experience life through the viewpoint of a feisty, firecracker of a third-grade girl, who is having a really bumpy week. It starts off on a Monday when Clementine tries to help a friend who has glue in her hair by cutting off all of her hair! Everything goes wrong, and the … Read more