Gollywhoppers is a toy company. They’ve been around for 150 years creating some of the best games and toys around. Last year they held The Gollywhopper Games and Gil Goodson was able to win the games, while also uncovering the untruths that had led to his father getting fired. This year’s games are surrounded by just as much excitement and intrigue as the contestants from all over the country answer questions, win races and solve puzzles until the hundreds of thousands of players become 10 and then 5 and lastly 1 – The New Champion. Cameron has an older brother, Spencer and a younger brother, Walker. He is most comfortable behind a video camera noticing the whole scene and zeroing in all the details. Seeing the world that way is settling, quiet and ordinary. There is nothing quiet about being chosen to participate in the Gollywhopper games. In fact, Cameron wouldn’t be if his brother hadn’t entered his name – hoping then that he’d have two chances to be chosen. It didn’t work that way and now that Cameron is part of the games part of him hopes he will finally do something that will be recognized and he’ll be more than Spencer’s weird brother. Of course nothing works out that easily in real life and it doesn’t work out that easily in books either. That’s especially true for Cameron when Spencer wins a “walk-in” spot in the games. Then Cameron has to decide what is more important – being a brother, being a competitor, or some of both.

I am looking forward to finding the reading the third in the series. They are exciting and fast-paced page turners.   I hope you’ll give them a try. You’ll be glad you did.

PS – for other books suggestions  check out the bookshelf sidebar.  They’re great too!

I think I have found the first read aloud for 3E, Quinny and Hopper.  It’s about a girl, Quinny, who moves from New York City to the country in the summer between second and third grade.  Everything is different and Quinny isn’t sure she likes that at all.  From her upstairs window she notice a boy who looks to be about her age in the yard next door.  Maybe they could be friends?  Maybe this won’t be the worst summer ever?  Maybe… but things don’t always go smoothly; especially when you add two younger sisters for Quinny, two older (twins) brothers for Hopper, a grouchy neighbor with an opinionated niece, Victoria and an attack chicken named Freya.  I think you’ll like the characters and the action.  Leave a comment to let me know what you think.

The second Ranger in Time is out.  It’s called Danger in Ancient Rome.  This time Ranger gets called back to the world of the Colosseum.  He is there to help two boys who have been placed into servitude in gladiator training.  Marcus serves the master of the barracks and training grounds and Quintus must fight as a gladiator to earn his freedom, along with the right to return to his brother.  I am glad I didn’t live back then.  It seems like hard life and a very brutal time.  The research information shared at the end is enlightening.  It gives you a window into how authors research in order to write.  Where would you go to learn information for a story?

Hot Diggity Dogs is the third in the Ready, Set, Dogs series by Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole.  This time there are lost dogs to find, yummy hotdogs to try and a summer festival, Bark in the Park, to enjoy.  This is the perfect fun read for dog lovers!  Alexis, would want a necklace so you could play with Ethan?  Ginger I can imagine you doing the dance with “Fang” and “Spot.”  Can’t you?

What books have you found to enjoy?  Leave a comment to let us know what you’re reading.

PS The sixth IQ – Alcatraz is a unexpected and great ending to the series.  There were hints all along – but there were surprises all the way through.

PPS – If you’re looking for different suggestions, the books on the sidebar are all worth reading too!  Enjoy.

Cody and the Fountain of Happiness by Tricia Springstubb begins: In this life, many things are beautiful: Marshmallows 100% on your spelling test Turtles, with their cute thumb-shaped heads But if Cody had to name the most beautiful thing in the world, it would be… The first day of summer vacation. Which was today. Today!

What will you do with your vacation? Cody appreciates ants, meets a new friend, looks for a cat, discovers her camp is closed and deals with changes in her family. It’s not always perfect, but there are many things to fill a life with joy and so begin a fountain of happiness. What happinesses is your summer filling up with?

Nick, you told me about Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor and you’re right. It is fun. Klink and Klank are great assistants. Watson is a good friend – though I’m not totally sure Frank appreciates him as much as he should. And T. Edison and Mr. Chimp are perfect villains. I think lots of kids in our class will enjoy the humor, the illustrations and the bits of science mixed in with the story. I’m off to the bookstore to get the second one today.

43 Old Cemetery Road is a series that I’ve been collecting and enjoying for the last seven years. The series tells the story of how three unlikely characters – Seymour Hope, an abandoned 11 year old, Olive C. Spence, the ghost of Spence Mansion and Ignatius B. Grumply, an author who just wants to left alone to write – come together to form a family of sorts that authors the very books you are reading. Told through a combination of letters, newspaper articles, pictures and texts, the story unfolds in a totally unique way full of puns and word play. In book 7, The Loch Ness Punster, Seymour inherits a castle in Scotland, the library launches a borrow-a-pet program and Garren Teed opens a new insurance company in town. Throw in a shady developer is named Macon Deals, an ancient tortoise named, Mr. Poe and messages from the Queen and you’ve got a funny story.