Dragonbreath: Lair of the Bat Monster

Haaalp!

Vernon, Ursula. Dragonbreath: Lair of the Bat Monster. New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011.

Plot: After escaping ninjas, exploring the ocean, and conquering were-weiners, Danny and Wendell are ready to relax at the community pool for the summer. Their plans get interrupted by a tiny, injured bat. Danny's mother arranges for them to visit a bat-studying cousin in Mexico. The two boys and the researcher get to study a cave full of bats, when an absolutely enormous bat kidnaps Danny! While the bat shows Danny plenty of affection and care, he has no desire to stay in the rain forest. There are insects, raw fish, and real dangers far from home.

Genre: Fantasy, Comics, Science

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Bad Kitty, Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Personal Thoughts: It's not a problem. I can quit reading Dragonbreath books anytime I want. 

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Folktale

Yes, yesss...

Pay attention to the mirror and not the mosasaur stealing your medal

Steptoe, John. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Folktale. New York : Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987.

Plot: One of Mufaro's daughters is industrious, kind, and generous, while the other is demanding, slanderous, and manipulative. Both are beautiful and the pride of their father. When the local king sends a proclamation requesting a wife, both women seem ideal. The trip to the king's palace will reveal the one with a true queenly nature, however.

Genre: Picture Books, Folktales, Fairy Tales

Reading Level: Grades Pre-K through 4.

Similar Titles: The Blind Hunter, What is My Song

Personal Thoughts: The title earned a Caldecott Honor Book award and enjoyed a feature on Reading Rainbow. While the book is fairly old, it still manages to appeal to modern audiences with its timeless diction and attractive illustrations. Also, like most folktales, it offers a fable about human nature. Two women seek their fortunes, but the kind nature of one ultimately serves her better than the rudeness of the other. Notably, both the good and the bad daughter are beautiful, reminding the audience that beauty is not the only value of a person. The way a person treats others reveals their worth. 

Vader's Little Princess

Tee hee...

Brown, Jeffrey. Vader's Little Princess. San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2013.

Plot: Darth Vader is second only to the Emperor in the evil Empire of Star Wars. He is also the hapless father of the energetic Princess Leia. The title follows the two as the learn and love as the princess changes from a sweet little girl to a rebellious teenager.

Genre: Comics, Family

Reading Level: The title is pretty accessible. Fans of Star Wars will probably appreciate it more, though.

Similar Titles: Darth Vader and Son, Star Wars Tales

Like Darth Vader and Son, the title offers a look at parenthood through movie allusions, modern concerns, general silliness, and colorful illustrations. Highly recommended for fans of the movies. 

Big Nate Makes the Grade

I'm eating his hair!

Pierce, Lincoln. Big Nate Makes the Grade. Kansas City, Mo. : Andrews McMeel, 2012.

Plot: Nate is an eleven-year-old striving for survival in the crazy world of middle school. He manages to prank every teacher, fail every test, and visit the principle's office daily. Still, he enjoys popularity among his peers, even the insufferable Artur. However, some victories come with more effort than anticipated, and some never come at all. Prank Day makes it worthwhile, though.

Genre: Comics, Graphic Novels, Middle School

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Bad Kitty, Judy Moody

Personal Thoughts: The title offers a comedic look at middle school troublemakers. Nate manages to capture the confused, independent, needy, and intelligent aspects of the age group. Unfortunately, some of the comics become repetitive, particularly ones facing Nate against common antagonists such as Mrs. Godfrey or Gina. Still, a funny book is appreciated, especially during the craze that is Jr. High.

Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland

...sounds like the beginning of a strange and yummy recipe

Leodhas, Sorche Nic. Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland. Holt, Rinehart and Winston : New York, 1962.

Plot: A collection of folk and fairy tales from Scotland, the title offers a slightly different view of the British Isles. Faire folk and sorcerers threaten the local population, but unexpected and reliable heroes arise to counter them. Sometimes, though, the best solution stems from an unlikely source.

Genre: Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Mythical Birds and Beasts from Many Lands, A Child's Book of Fairies

Personal Thoughts: The title earned a Newbery Honor.

I really enjoyed this book's old-time stories with slightly dated phrasing. Also, I noticed a shift in fairy tales over the past few decades. In the text, pirates, fairies, and wilderness were viewed as dangerous, while elders, civilization, and clergy were considered good. While the shift between the past and current ideals has several valid and not-so-valid reasons, it still was a striking to read the difference.

Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Wiener

 A blurry photograph of the rare literary mosasaur

Vernon, Ursula. Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Wiener. S.l. : Dial Books, 2010.

Plot: Shortly after his adventures under the sea and in fantasy Japan, Danny Dragonbreath discovers adventures at home. Wendell, his best friend, gets bitten by Danny's lunch, which in itself is not surprising (the potato salad bit the school bully a few months before). However, Wendell starts experiencing hair growth, which is odd for an iguana. Other reptiles at the school begin to grow hair as well. The lunch was tainted by a were-wiener, which will soon transform all affected students into its evil minions. Danny and Wendell must find and stop the alpha-wiener before the entire school is transformed.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot, The Celery Stalks at Midnight

Personal Thoughts: Unlike the previous Dragonbreath book I read, this title focuses more on myth and urban legends rather than biology. Still, the title offers a quick, quirky story told by a combination of images and text.

Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventues of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew

 Sail on the Snailboat!

Vernon, Ursula. Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew. Orlando : Harcourt, 2008.

Plot: Nurk, a young, recently orphaned shrew, accidentally opens a letter intended for his grandmother, a powerful fighter. After reading about her adventures, though, he decides to answer the request for help. Armed with his trusty Snailboat, sandwiches, and clean socks, Nurk seeks the sender of the letter. He eventually finds her clinging to a dead log. She needs help retrieving her brother, the Prince of the Dragonflies. Nurk must overcome doubts, fears, and giant caterpillars to rescue the prince and finish his adventures.

Genre: Animals, Fantasy, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 3-6

Similar Titles: Whales on Stilts!, The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant)

Personal Thoughts: In some ways, Nurk reminds me of Coraline. Both are surprisingly funny, down-to-earth, and stuck in supernatural circumstances which they acknowledge ludicrously. However, while Coraline's adventures are disturbing and ominous, Nurk approaches his dangers with a dry sense of humor and honest assessment of his predicaments. As a result, the text contains a sympathetic, funny, but not terrifying adventure.