Franny K. Stein Mad Scientist: Lunch Walks Among Us by Jim Benton

Things in which I am a big fan:
1. Books that kids enjoy
2. Books that get kids reading
3. Books that boys enjoy
4. Series books that spark an interest in reading

I am pretty sure that Franny K. Stein Mad Scientist is all of these things.  Lunch Walks Among Us is a quick read.  It also has lots of pictures, and is interactive (you are supposed to cut a few pages for sort of a flip book thingy). I would say it is a perfect book for reluctant readers.

Check out Jim Benton's website.

As a side note I also read 3 more of the Franny K. Stein books.  The stories are all pretty similar, in fact I am 99% sure the first paragraph of each was identical.  The books are pretty cute and great for reluctant readers.

The Sister Switch by Jane B. Mason & Sarah Hines Stephens A Candy Apple Book

This was the first Candy Apple Book I've read.  I am pretty sure my ten year old self would have LOVED this book. 

This book is anyone who ever wished they had a twin and could switch places, which is exactly what Andie and Cait do.  Andie is the soccer star, and Cait has two left feet.  So when it comes time for a fitness test Cait is afraid she won't pass and will have to take a fitness class after school which is when Jazz Ensemble meets, and she wants nothing more than to be in Jazz Ensemble.  So the plan unfolds that they'll switch places.  Of course if they were only to switch places once with no complications there really wouldn't be a story. 


It is a good story of sisterhood, friendship, and putting yourself in someone's shoes.  The book is marketed for girls, with being a pink Candy Apple book and all.  It's not remarkable literature by any means, but it is definitely a cute story.

If you are interested in reading an excerpt click here.

The Baby-Sitters Club: The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin

So I first saw this book at the book fair at my school, and I was pretty dog-gone excited.  Growing up I LOVED the Baby-Sitters Club (BSC), and I was eager to get my hands on the book.  For one reason or another I didn't get it at the book fair, but after a little searching I found it at a bookstore (the Books-a-Million that I normally go to didn't have any).

Anyway, the book was well.... Okay let me back track, I used to read these books in 3rd-6th grades so I was pretty young, which I have to remind myself that that is who the intended audience for the book is.  So with that in mind, it was an enjoyable book. 

The story was sweet, and reminiscent of the BSC Super Specials, where each chapter was titled with the narrator's name and the chapter was the characters perspective.  I liked this, a lot.  It was interesting to see what it was like BEFORE the BSC began.

Now from an adult perspective, no wait from a teacher's perspective: This book was okay.  Like many series books it is formulaic and lacks interesting use of language.  It is sort of junk food for the mind, because it doesn't really challenge the reader to process very much.  It is a straight forward story, no bells or whistles. 

Overall it was nice to revisit with characters that I became so familiar with as a child.  Reading the book was like catching up with long lost friends, where you have a shared history, but don't have much in common with anymore.  So Kristy, Mary-Anne, Claudia, and Stacey it was nice to see you again, glad you are doing well :)