Betty Hicks

Rita is elated to qualify for the Dolphins swim team until she realizes all her friends have qualified for the faster Sharks team. Doing flip turns would improve her swim times and move her up to the Sharks, but she fears getting water up her nose. What can she do to overcome her fear, and would it be worth it? A simple story for newly proficient readers but the humor and Rita's inner struggle give it weight.

A book about an emotional boy who has problems with his family's finances, making friends, and being taken seriously. This book deals with life, death, letting go, and accepting defeat. It's a good quick read, under two-hundred pages and really really cute.

Props to it for having an insect protagonist or secondary character, for addressing animal nature, how animals are, and just being a good fun read. Really pleasant and highly recommend this one!

Ellis's dad has a herniated disk in his back and has to spend most of his time lying flat. His mom works two jobs, along with making blueberry muffins, pies & jam to sell at the farmer's market. Ellis's dad needs an operation, but it costs $1,000 and they cannot afford it.

Ellis finds a wooly worm (caterpillar) and it seems to respond to his words. So, Ellis decides that he is a worm whisperer and plans to enter his worm in the Wooly Worm Race. The prize is $1,000, and if Ellis wins, he show more will be able to pay the deductible for his dad's surgery.

This is a cute story and moves along quickly. Kids will enjoy reading about Ellis's worm training and the exciting conclusion at the race. Along the way, Ellis deals with school, bullies, friendship issues and figuring out who he is.
(Library copy)

Recommended to:
Readers in grades 3-5 who enjoy realistic fiction stories. show less

Stuart is grounded. Again. His strict mother is always on his case. If he's busted one more time, Stuart may even have to give up soccer. But his best friend, a girl named Mack, hatches a plot to distract his mom by fixing her up with Mack's uncle. It just might work-if their friendship doesn't unravel first. And anyhow, he doesn't want his widowed mom to date. Or does he?