Synopses & Reviews
When Malcolm the rat arrives as the pet at McKenna School, he revels in the attention. He also meets the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that keeps the nutters (kids) safe. Thereand#8217;s just one problem: Rats have a terrible reputation! So when the Academyand#8217;s iguana leader is kidnapped, Malcolm must prove his innocenceand#8212;and showand#160;that even rats can be good guys. Illustrated by Brian Lies of Bats at the Beach, this engaging middle grade novel will have readers rooting for Malcolm as they try to solve the mystery alongside him.
Review
"A rip-roaring tale; even rodent haters will have to like Malcolm."and#8212;Kirkus
"Escapades, humor, and romance weave together in this madcap elementary school adventure . . . A first-rate debut."and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"This creature-feature leavens spookiness with healthy doses of whimsy."and#8212;Booklist
"Malcolm is thoroughly likable . . . a good choice for younger students who are reading above grade level yet aren't quite ready for heavier emotional or thematic content."and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
"It will greatly satisfy fans of Dick King-Smith and E.B. White looking for something similar . . . Engaging fantasy adventure for preteen pig pals."
and#8212;Kirkus
"An upbeat and lively story."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"There's humor as well as heart, grit as well as tenderness in the telling of this Antarctic adventure tale."
and#8212;Booklist
"Loyalty, courage, and optimism are important ideas, and newcomer Kurtz brings us a rollicking story filled with all three."
and#8212;Horn Book, starred review
"Told in the voice of a seasoned storyteller, this novel has chapters that will work perfectly for sharing aloud with younger children or as a read-alone for more competent readers. . . . Move over Wilbur and Babe, there's a new pig in town."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
Review
"The story unfolds in Chetand#8217;s entertaining first-person narrative, laced with puns, wisecracks, and mentions of edible treats involving insect ingredients. Illustrated with occasional pencil drawings, this amusing book concludes with the famous grade-school gumshoe introducing each of the 13 previous volumes in the popular Chet Gecko Mystery series."and#151;Booklist
Synopsis
A rat must solve the case of a missing iguana with the help of a secret society of classroom pets.and#160;Illustrated by New York Times best-seller Brian Lies!
Synopsis
In this fresh and funny middle-grade novel, Flora the pig ditches the sedentary life on the farm for an adventure in Antarctica, where she escapes the knife andand#160;lives her dream of pulling a sled with a team of dogs.
Synopsis
Inventions, spells, and bulliesand#151;oh my!
It all begins when Chetand#8217;s favorite teacher is fired, only to be replaced by the mechanical invention of Dr. Tanya Lightovand#151;a mysterious Russian scientist.
Suddenly, the school seems possessed by forces that are upsetting the natural order of things: Kindergartners are beating up sixth graders; teachersand#8217; pets are talking back; and worst of all, Chetand#8217;s faithful partner and best friend, Natalie Attired, has abandoned him in his hour of need.
Will Chet be able to restore his friendship with Natalie and bring Emerson Hicky back to normal? One thingand#8217;s for certain: The crazy, mixed-up mastermind behind this case will be the last creature anyone expects.
Synopsis
Flora the pig was born for adventure: andldquo;If itandrsquo;s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. Iandrsquo;m your pig,andrdquo; she says. The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig. Before she knows it, sheandrsquo;s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilaratingandmdash;and dangerousandmdash;adventure of her life. This poignant novel of a purposeful pig is sure to become a favorite with any young readers who have ever dreamed of exploring the great beyond.
About the Author
andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;W.H. Beck isandnbsp;both an author of childrenand#39;s books and a librarian. Sheandnbsp;grew up in Wisconsin, the oldest of four. As a kid, her dad always teased thatandnbsp;she would be a librarian someday. She read all the timeandmdash;walking home from school, while brushing her teeth, under the table at dinnertime, and under the covers at night. And, sure enough, after earning an elementary teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin,andnbsp;she went on to get a masterandrsquo;s degree in information studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She still lives and reads in Wisconsin and shares a home and books withandnbsp;her husband, two sons, andandnbsp;a big black dog.
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