Summer Reads: The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School

One of the ARCs I picked up at the ALA convention was The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School, by Candace Fleming.

I do poetry workshops and write for fifth grade, so it was a must-have book.

However, the minute I got home from the convention, my 10-year-old daughter snagged it. "I'm reading this one first!" she said. I gave in. After all, she's the rising fifth grader in the house.

Here is Miss J's review.

The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School, by Candace Fleming.
(ARC provided by Random House Kids, pub date 8/2010)

Overall: It was really funny because there were a lot of parts that definitely wouldn't happen in an every day type of school. It was very strange and creative. It was also funny because most of the kids' names had something to do with the way they acted or what they were like.

Story in one: It's about a bizarre fifth grade class that has many funny and awkward adventures.

Fave characters: My favorite character was probably Rose Clutterdorf. I liked her because she was a very bright character, but she always managed to smear and smudge almost everything she owned -- including her desk and clothes.

Fave part of story: The other teachers are in the teachers' lounge when all of a sudden and man and his class come in wearing Aztec headdresses. This is the main class and their teacher, Mr. Jupiter. He is very strange and has been through many adventures all over the world and has collected a lot of stuff.

Another favorite part was when Mr. Jupiter brought in a big box and inside of it was their new class pet. The box was really big, so the kids thought that the pet must be really big and amazing. They were hoping for a unicorn, a pink headed duck, or at least a giant squid.

Cover: My favorite part about the cover is the boy and he has a guinea pig on his head. I like the guinea pig. I like that the title is the Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary because Aesop wrote a lot of fables, so it makes sense but it's also very funny.

Recommend it to a friend?: Yes. I really enjoyed this book and anyone who has a good sense of humor, I would recommend it to.

SCORE: Sundae!


Our Summer Reads Scoring System
Empty Cone: Didn't like it
One Scoop: It was okay.
Two Scoops: Pretty good.
Three Scoops: Great book!
Sundae: I want to read the whole series. Now.

ALA & ARC Reviews: Amulet

Yesterday, my friend Jen (on extended maternity leave from Howard County library), her 13-year-old daughter and I headed to the American Librarians Association conference in Washington, DC.

In the name of literature, we braved crowds on the Metro headed for DC's Caribbean Festival. It was totally worth it.

For $25 we bought floor passes for the ALA exhibit hall. The publishers are incredibly generous -- giving out ARCs (Advanced Readers Copies), posters and other swag to librarians and attendees. The giveaways help build advance press and sales for soon-to-be-published books.

One editor staffing the Random House booth even took the time to explain my friend's daughter exactly what an ARC is. And many editors helped point out novels-in-verse (for me to share with schools I visit) or books they fell in love with themselves.

The kids and I have our summer reading cut out for us. But I'm making them (and me) earn these books. My 13-year-old son, 10-year-old daughter and I will be reviewing the ARCs I brought home.

Here's our Summer Reading scoring system:

Empty Cone – Didn’t like it.

One Scoop – It was okay.

Two Scoops – Pretty good.

Three Scoops – Great book.

Ice Cream Sundae – I want to read the whole series. Now.




My son, a rising 8th grader, is up first with his review of a graphic novel.

Amulet Book Three: The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi.
(Uncorrected Proof provided by Graphix, Scholastic, pub date 9/2010)

Overall: Interesting, since it was the third book, I really had no clue what was going on, but as I kept reading I basically got the picture. I liked the magicky part of it and the whole future era/otherworld airship thing, with animals (pets in our world) that talk and help you along in the story or try to destroy you. The magic part makes it fun.

Story in one: This group --  a human family, a fox, a robot, two elves and two cats -- tries to get to a flying city, hoping to find people who can help them save their world from being destroyed by evil elves.

Fave characters: The human girl because I can relate to her most, because I have a younger sister (and she has a younger brother).

Fave part of story: I liked the part when the bad elves were chasing them out of the city because it was exciting. There was action and stuff.

Graphics: They looked real.

Recommend it to a friend?: The whole graphic novel thing is pretty cool and most of my friends like graphic novels.

SCORE: I call it a Sundae!

 More ARC reviews -- and hopefully, more sundaes -- to come.