The Year Of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

Just before Billy starts second grade, he has a nasty fall and gets a big lump on his head.  He is mostly better by the time school starts, but he has some concerns about how his school year will go, especially when he thinks he has insulted his teacher on the very first day.  At least his best friend, Ned, is in his class!  The school year goes by quickly and Billy learns a lot.  His Mama, Papa, and little sister Sal all play a part in making second grade memorable.

Billy is a regular kid who has some funny adventures.  Recommended for grades 2-4.

--Miss Rose

Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger

The Origami Yoda series is a great choice for young Star Wars fans.  A group of seventh graders at McQuarrie Middle School aren't sure what to think when goofy Dwight creates a Yoda finger puppet out of paper and Yoda starts giving advice.  His advice is always good, and the students come to rely on Origami Yoda, perhaps a little too much. 

As the series progresses, other students make their own characters and use them to help each other get out of tough school situations.  The latest book in the series, The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett, shows what happens when students have to spend all their time preparing for a test and can no longer have art or music classes.

Each book comes with instructions for making the origami Star Wars characters in the books.  There are many cartoon-like illustrations in the books.  These would be a good choice for fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Recommended for grades 4-6.

--Miss Rose

Penelope Crumb Finds Her Luck by Shawn K. Stout

The latest book in the Penelope Crumb series shows what happens when 4th grader Penelope is put in charge of a group of students painting a mural in a nursing home.  Penelope gets in over her head and believes that she is being followed by the Bad Luck.  When Penelope learns to let others have their say, things get better.  In addition, she makes a friend with one of the nursing home residents who promises to help Penelope find Good Luck, but that plan does not unfold like Penelope expects, either.

Recommended for grades 3-5.

--Miss Rose

Club CSI series by David Lewman

The Club CSI series focuses on friends Hannah, Corey, and Ben, who are all in the same 7th grade Forensic Science class.  They form Club CSI and solve cases that are troubling the school, such as an outbreak of illness after a new dish is put on the school lunch menu or when a group of kids start showing up to school with brand new tablets that they cannot afford. 

These books teach some basics in crime scene studies and will appeal to mystery fans.

Recommended for grades 3-5.

--Miss Rose