Booktalk: Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of.
The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?
Snippet:Most people look forward to the holidays, but the stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas just makes me a nervous wreck. If you make a mistake in the first eleven months of the year, it’s no bog deal. But if you do something wrong during the holiday season you’re gonna pay for it.
The Vampire Dare! (Daphne’s Diary of Daily Disasters)
by Marissa Moss (Author, Illustrator)
80 pages
Booktalk: Daphne decides it’s kinda cool to be bitten by a vampire because you’ll live forever—and if you can’t die, you can’t get old and wrinkly. So when the teachers announce a costume day, Daphne wants to be the best vampire ever!
Snippet:There are three really hot things in my school these dys–Lamar Graham, the cutest boy in fourth grade, the horseradish the cafeteria serves with the hot dogs, and vampires. Any kind of vampire, but teenage or kid vampires are the best.
Booktalk: Bad Kitty’s owners have left her and Puppy alone for a week with good ‘ol Uncle Murray as pet sitter. How will he survive? Can he even make it out alive? A chapter book comic
Snippet: UNCLE MURRAY: Okey doke! Goodbye! Good luck!
THE DOOR CLOSES
SFX (sound effects): MEOW WOOF ARF HISS CRASH KABLAM BARK FFT FFT BOOM HISS MEOW
Booktalk: After spending all of fifth grade studying popularity together, Julie and Lydia are finally ready to put their hard-earned lessons to use in junior high. But before they can, tragedy strikes: Lydia’s mom gets a job in London for six whole months! (A graphic novel journal)
Snippet:Today is the first day without Lydia, and until the Goldblatts hook up their computer I have no idea what she’s doing.
Otto’s Orange Day
by Jay Lynch (Author) and Frank Cammuso (Illustrator)
40 pages
Booktalk: When Otto the cat meets a magical genie, he knows just what to wish for: he makes the whole world orange! At first, this new, bright world seems like a lot of fun, but when his mom serves orange spinach for lunch, Otto realizes that his favorite color isn’t the best color for everything. Fixing this mixed-up world won’t be easy, though, because Otto already used up his only wish. (An easy reader with chapters)
Snippet:
GENIE: Greetings,
Master!
I am the Genie
of the Lamp!
Your wish is my
command.
Stinky
Eleanor Davis (Author, Illustrator)
40 pages
Booktalk: Stinky likes his smelly swamp, but not the neat and clean people who live nearby. What happens when a new kid comes into Stinky’s swamp? (An easy reader comic with chapters)
Snippet: Come on, Wartbelly!
I have a plan to get
rid of that kid!
Booktalk: Unusual baseball moments, told through black-and-white comic strips!
Snippet: Entertaining Ears In 1964 the New York Mets had a new ballpark but the same losing team. How could they draw fans to Shea Stadium?
To keep himself amused, Joe would practice wiggling his ears.
Fans noticed and soon began calling for Joe’s specialty. Hat trick! Hat trick! Hat trick!
Booktalk: You’re the star of this fill-in-the-blanks diary! What are you doing this summer? Write it and draw it on these pages… Play the travel games, too.
Snippet:Are you an American kid? How many national facts do you know? See if you can fill in the right answers!
