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Princess Juniper book cover

An Interview with Agent and PRINCESS JUNIPER Author Ammi-Joan Paquette

I’m thrilled to welcome my incomparable agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette, for an interview on the book birthday of her newest novel, Princess Juniper of the Hourglass. I got to hear Joan read an excerpt from this book recently, and now I’m devouring the rest. It’s wonderful, just like Joan herself! First, a little about the book, then on to […]

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Fortunately the Milk book cover

Fortunately, the Milk

About the Book: “I bought the milk,” said my father. “I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: T h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road.”“Hullo,” I said to myself. “That’s not something you see […]

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Fortunately the Milk Book Cover

Backyard Book Club: Fortunately, the Milk Overview

For a fun, fast book club pick, it would be hard to beat Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman. Even our littlest members were able to finish this one, and there was plenty for the big kids to enjoy too. (Click here for the book spotlight with online resources and other ideas. As usual, we started with […]

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James and the Giant Peach Book Cover

Backyard Book Club: James and the Giant Peach Overview

The Backyard Book Club is back in action! For this month’s meeting, the kids read James and the Giant Peach, thanks to a request by one of our members. (Click here for the book spotlight with online resources and other ideas.) We started with a quick talk about what the kids loved best in the book, then went straight […]

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James and the Giant Peach Book Cover

James and the Giant Peach

About the Book: When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it’s as big as a house. When James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit and crawls inside, he meets wonderful new […]

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Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms by Lissa Evans book cover

Backyard Book Club: Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms Overview

For this month’s meeting, the kids read Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms. It was a little longer than our previous picks, so we made sure everybody knew they could still come even if they hadn’t finished. (Click here for the book spotlight with online resources and other ideas.) Our book trivia challenge took the form of Beech Road Bingo (click for printable) where […]

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Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms by Lissa Evans book cover

Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms

About the Book: As if being small for his age and also having “S. Horten” as his name isn’t bad enough, now 10-year-old Stuart is forced to move far away from all his friends. But on his very first day in his new home, Stuart’s swept up in an extraordinary adventure: the quest to find his great-uncle […]

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Goblin Secrets book cover

Goblin Secrets

About the Book: In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who […]

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My Very UNFairy Tale Lice book cover

My Very UnFairy Tale Life

About the Book: You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They’re lies. All lies. I’ve spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I’ve never had […]

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Middleworld book cover

Middleworld

About the Book: An epic adventure that brings together ancient history and modern adolescent angst – as it pits a pampered, pizza-eating, 21st century Boston teenager against the Death Lords of the Maya Underworld. In Book One: “Middleworld,” 14-year-old Max Murphy is trying to survive in the perilous rainforest. But poisonous snakes and man-eating jaguars are […]

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