Author/Illustrators: Jennifer L. Holm, Matt Holm
Publisher: Random House (September 28, 2010)
Ages: 9 to 12 (independent readers as young as first grade will enjoy Babymouse)
Pages: 96
Source: Personal Copy

Description from GoodReads:
The word is out. Kids love Babymouse—star of the popular, award-winning, hilarious, PINK graphic-novel series showcasing the trials and tribulations of elementary school. The sassy mouse with attitude to spare has charmed her way into the hearts of kids, parents, and teachers everywhere! The series has won multiple Children’s Choice awards, and one title was the first graphic novel EVER to be named an ALA Notable Children’s Book.

It's champagne wishes and cupcake dreams for Babymouse in Cupcake Tycoon. The school library is having a fund-raiser, and Babymouse is determined to raise the most money and WIN the GRAND PRIZE! Or . . . er, to help the school! The competition is fierce, but Babymouse will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even if it means outselling every last kid in school . . . including her nefarious nemesis, Felicia Furrypaws. The claws are out and the race is on in this absolutely PRICELESS Babymouse!

Last week of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post, I reviewed Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm. You can check out the review by clicking here. I thought I would share with readers one of Jennifer's other creations - Babymouse. Along with her brother Matt, this talented duo has created a graphic novel series that has middle graders wanting more.

In the latest Babymouse installment - Cupcake Tycoon - we find our quirky and lovable protagonist raising funds for the school library. Now we all understand that libraries need more funds and more books but of course in classic Babymouse style, she is sort of the reason why the library needs to raise money. I won't give it away other than to say that her chronic (but enjoyable) daydreaming may be the cause of the problem. Much to Babymouse's surprise the school fund-raiser is none other than CUPCAKES!!! The student who sells the most cupcakes wins a surprise prize. This sets in motion some friendly (and maybe not always friendly) competition between Babymouse and Felicia Furrypaws. Will Felicia's well planned out and catchy sales campaign win or will Babymouse stumble upon just the right sales pitch? Hilarity ensues and the reader is guaranteed to be a winner in the end.

I love Babymouse. She is far from perfect. Yet, she is someone that most children can relate with. In Cupcake Tycoon, all of the regular characters are back, including that troublesome locker, her teacher who must wonder about all of her excuses, and the narrator. Yes, the narrator that interacts with Babymouse and who often gives her a hard time. Additionally, we get several glimpses at Babymouse's active fantasy life including Babymouse being the Lord of her own estate to an arm reaching down from heaven to whisk away a book to a daring adventure in Indiana Jones fashion.

Though this is the 13th book in the Babymouse series, you don't necessarily need to read them in order. And my guess is that many children don't. They probably just grab the next book off of the shelf at the library. However, consider yourself warned, if you do put a copy of Babymouse on your desk at school it will likely be taken/borrowed by the first student who spies it.

Where on the web can you find more about Babymouse, Jennifer Holm, and Matt Holm:

Random House Official Babymouse Webpage:
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/babymouse/homepage.htm

To download an official Babymouse Cupcake Recipe from the authors:
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/favorites/

On Facebook...I Heart Babymouse:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=53572243216

Jennifer Holm's Babymouse Page:
http://www.jenniferholm.com/02_mybooks/11_babymouse.html

Matt Holm's Webpage:
http://www.matthewholm.net/

On Twitter:
Matt Holm can be found @mattholm
Jennifer Holm can be found @jenniholm

* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.

Authors: Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon
Publisher: Candlewick Press (October 12, 2010)
Grade Level: Grades 4th to 7th
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Description from GoodReads:
When a young man’s body is found by the railroad tracks, the murder and its mysterious circumstances threaten the peace and security of a small Florida town. Zora believes she knows who killed Ivory, and she isn’t afraid to tell anyone who’ll listen.
Whether Zora is telling the truth or stretching it, she’s a riveting storyteller. Her latest tale is especially mesmerizing because it is so chillingly believable: a murderous shape-shifting gator-man — half man, half gator — prowls the marshes nearby, aching to satisfy his hunger for souls and beautiful voices. And Ivory’s voice? When Ivory sang, his voice was as warm as honey and twice as sweet.

Zora enlists her best friends, Carrie and Teddy, to help prove her theory. In their search for the truth, they stumble unwittingly into an ugly web of envy and lies, deceit and betrayal. Just as unexpectedly, the three friends become the key that unlocks the mystery and the unlikely saviors of Eatonville itself.

Best friend Carrie narrates this coming-of-age story set in the hometown of American author Zora Neale Hurston (1891 1960). Drawing on Hurston’s stories, novels, and life, debut novelists Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon create an utterly convincing echo of a literary giant in this, the only project ever to be endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust that was not written by Hurston herself.

In this debut novel, Bond and Simon work to capture the vibrant personality, colorful storytelling, and wandering spirit of a young Zora Neale Hurston. The story takes place at the turn of the last century in the all black community of Eatonville, Florida where Hurston grew up. Though many of the details of the story are based on actual details and facts taken from the time period as well as from Hurston's life, it should be noted that it is still a fictionalized account of the author's childhood.

At the beginning of the story, and through the eyes of Zora's best friend Carrie, we discover that a young man in the community was attacked by an alligator. Zora uses this and other information to create a tale of a creature that is half man and half gator to explain some of what is happening in her town during this time. As the reader is learning about Zora's natural penchant for elaborating on all that she sees and hears, the authors are also weaving a mystery about a Gator Man which Zora and her friends seek to solve.

Bond & Simon doing an excellent job in bringing alive both the town and characters. There is a strong sense of place and setting which provides the necessary background and understanding for some of Zora's desires. Additionally, readers are given a solid portrayal of the issues of race and class during that time period as well.

The story is interesting and would be an excellent read aloud for children in the grades 4 to 7. In addition to being an excellent introduction to Zora Neale Hurston, the writing provides opportunities for numerous questions and discussions.

* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.

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