Hoping

Dear What's My Next Book,
Hi! I am a friend of Dreaming and I heard about this site. I think it's awesome!! But I also seek advice. I love reading and have very recently finished the Harry Potter series. I enjoyed reading them, but I also enjoyed reading the Percy Jackson series. Do you know of any other series or books like those? Since I also read a lot of fantasy, fiction, legend type of books I wanted to change my taste and read some biographies( which I also enjoy reading) or other types of non-fiction. Do you have any recommendations?Hoping to read a good book soon,
Hope

Dear Hope,
We are so excited to help you. We can tell that you are a READER! Let's start with the fantasy. A lot of us love those books too! We have a couple suggestions for you that we think you might enjoy. Have you read Unwanteds yet? It is a great story about a place where some kinds of kids (usually artistic kids) are "unwanted". It is filled with magic and adventure and a great message. We think you might like it. Peter Nimble is also a good new book. It is about a boy who has no eyes (they have been pecked out by birds!) and he goes on a wild and amazing adventure when he discovers a box of magical eyes! Those of us who have read it LOVE it and the rest of us are dying to read it. Breadcrumbs is another wonderful story that we think you might like. It is the story of a fifth grade girl who looses her best friend to The White Which and goes on an amazing journey to find and save him. You NEED to read this book.

Now for some biographies and nonfiction that you might like. We love the idea that you are up for a challenge with different genres.

• Through My Eyes (This is the story of Ruby Bridge - it is great... it looks more like an adult book and has tons of picture and tells the story of the first African American to go to a white school. We think you will love it.)


• Who Was... series (These are a collection of books about famous people. They are quick reads with some pictures and comics. They have lots of facts and are fun to read.)


• Sparky (This is the story of Charles Schulz. It is very creative and fun to read. It is a great way to read a biography because it is so well done. Charles was the guy who wrote the Peanuts comic strip so it is a great story too. You learn all about his life.)


• Mrs. Spitfire (This is a biography of Annie Sullivan - she was the woman who was Hellen Keller's teacher. It is a great story - very inspiring!)


• Gaia Warriors (This is a nonfiction book that we love all about different ways we can take care of our planet. It is perfect for any environmentalist. We think you might like it and learn from it.)


• Inside Out and Back Again (This is more of a historical fiction book but we think you might like it. It is a story that takes place in the 1970s when a Vietnamese girl moves to the United States and how her life changes. Our researchers have found that it comes highly recommended.)

We hope some of these look good. Let us know and we will keep thinking of books for you.

Happy Reading, Next Book

Funny Books

Dear Next Great Book...
I enjoyed reading your blog this morning. I am trying to find a new book. I really liked the book Marshfield Dreams and Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life. I liked finding out about the childhood of Ralph Fletcher. Some of the things that happened in that book were fun. With Middle School...I liked the kind of humor he used about his friends. For instance, the way Leonardo would never talk. He would just wave. I guess I like interesting characters who are kids. Can you help me?
Sincerely,
Funny Kid Book Reader

Dear Funny Kid Book Reader,
We love those books too. It sounds like you like books that are stories of people growing up and what happens in their lives, especially when they are funny. Some of us love realistic fiction too. If you like Ralph Fetcher he has some great chapter books. We love Flying Solo(this is an awesome book about a day when a class has no teacher and has to run the day themselves!) and Fig Pudding (Fig Pudding is also about Ralph's life so we think you will like that one.) We hear he has a brand new book out called Also Known as Rowan Pohi (It sounds like a great one where a kid makes up a new identity and applies to a fancy private school. When he gets in he has to decide what to do because it is all based on a lie! Sounds great - we want to read it.) Here are a few more we thought you might like:

• Diary of a Whimpy Kid books (If you have not read these get them you will love them. They are funny and filled with stories of these kids growing up in Middle School. These have comics and writing throughout the books. They are really funny and fun to read.)


• My Life As a Book and My Life As a Stunt Boy (These are SO great! They are both fun books that are filled with mystery and adventure... and tons of laughs! You will love the fun drawings on the sides of each pages that go with the vocabulary words.)


• Magic Figure (This is a hilarious book! It is so funny. It is about a girl who turns a family of hunters into a bunch of ducks with her magic finger! It is a quick read that we think you will really like.)


• The First Day of School Forever (This is a great book about a boy who keeps reliving the first day of school at a new school. Read it you will LOVE it!)


• Hank Zipner books are hilarious. (They are about a kid who is silly and makes tons of mistakes. We think you might like them... there are several.)

We will keep searching for funny books and we will write more when we have more but wanted you to have a list to start your vacation with! Enjoy and Happy Reading, Next Book

Animal Lover

Dear Next Great Book,
I like books that have horses and dogs. I like a realistic story about them, not a fantasy about animals. I have read some of the series called Puppy Place that I liked and were right on my level. Can you help me find other series of books?
Sincerely,
Animal Lover

Dear Animal Lover,
So glad you are using our blog. We hope that we can help you so you can have some great reads for vacation! We brainstormed a list of possibilities for you. We hope one, or more, look great:

• Nicholas a Massachusetts Tale (this is a series, there are books for many NE states. It is an adventure tale about a mouse searching for a lost journal. It is great, especially if you like animal books - it is a little fantasy because he (the mouse) tells the story and talks to animals but there is no magic... it is a fun adventure tale.)


• Animal Arc Series (There are several of these in the series. And you do not have to read them in order. They would probably be a quick read for you but might be fun for vacation. These are animal stories - not fantasy so you will enjoy them we think.)


• Dream of Night (First of all this is a Great Stone Face nominated book for 2011-2012. Many of us have read it and really liked it. It is definitely not fantasy. It is about a horse that was abused and now is helping an orphan girl through hard times. We loved it and think you will too.)


• Protecting Marie (This is realistic fiction about a dog who goes through hard times with a girl and they end up looking out and "protecting" each other.


• Thunder from the Sea (This is a great books that we loved. It is a realistic fiction book about a dog who is stranded in the sea and a boy who wants him.)


• Shelter Dogs (This is an extremely good book and comes highly recommended by our "animal book expert". It is about "unadoptable" dogs in search of new homes.)


• Because of Winn Dixie (If you have not read this one go out and get it today! It is wonderful about a girl and a dog who help many people and inspire everyone. It is a must read for any animal lover!)


• Heartland (This is a horse book series. If you like horses this will be right up your alley!)


• The Saddle Club (Our "animal expert" loves this series. It is about horses and is super good!)


• Finding Danny (This is a great read! A real page turner about a girl, a dog, her mother, a mistake and what comes out of all of that together.)

We hope you like the ideas. Let us know what you read! Happy Reading, Next Book

Mother Need Books...

Dear Next Book,Please help me. I am mother of two (boy-14 and girl -16). I would like to buy them each a book for Christmas but need some recommendations. They both have to do lots of work for school so they don't have much free reading time. I want to make certain they are books that will grab them and that they will love! I'd love for them to be able to curl up and really enjoy a great book this vacation. They are both good readers looking for a great book! Can you help me? Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Hopeful Mother

Dear Hopeful Mother,
We are fifth grade students but we are up to your challenge. One of us went to the high school last night and asked a few readers what they would suggest. One idea for either your daughter or if your son is on the sensitive side would be Beautiful Creatures. We have been warned that it is a little on the romantic side but it is definitely appropriate. The girl who read it loved it and could not put it down! Hunger Games was another suggestion and we think they should both read that if they have not yet. This is the first book in a series and it is great! Be warned that it is violent - but wonderful! Far North was another suggestion if they would want a survival story. It sounds like Hatchet where kids have to survive after a plane crash. Unwind is another book that we have heard high school kids love. It is suppose to be pretty gross but very thought provoking... you might want to give that one a try. Some of us have read a great book called Okay for Now. It is a YA book and we think that every person on earth should read it! It is SO good. Book Thief is another awesome book. They may have read it because it has been out for a bit but if not buy that book tonight!!!

We will continue to research your needs tonight and give you more suggestions tomorrow. You must really care about your kids to go on this website to find the perfect book. We hope our advice helps!

Happy Reading,
Next Book

Our Biggest Fan!!!

Dear Mrs. Scheele and Fifth Graders, 

  

 I just wanted to tell you how much I LOVE your new website. I'm so proud of all of you for thinking of it and I'm going to tell everyone I know about it. I think there are so many kids who just don't know what to read and this will really help them. I especially love the little notes you put with each book like a little mini review. That will help someone decide to read a book if they haven't heard of it before. What an amazing idea! and I'm so glad I know such brilliant 5th graders and I'm so proud of all of you. I feel very luck that I know the smartest kids anywhere in the country! 

Love from your biggest fan!

Dr. Howard

Need a Book!

Dear What is My Next Book,

I need help.  I often start a book and like it but then can't seem to stick with it.  I need a book I love that I will read cover to cover.  The last book I read that I liked a lot was Because of Mr. Terupt.  I also like creepy books.  Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Dreaming of a Great Book

Dear Dreaming,

We have a list for you!  We have put together a bunch of books that are either creepy and quick to read or books that are realistic fiction like Mr. Terupt.  We think you need to read a couple quick books or books that are from a series to get your reading habit going.  You need a few titles that you love - books you can't put down so here is our list for you:

• The Mostly True Story of Jack (super creative, a little creepy and GREAT characters - a must read!)
• Tale of Dark and Grimm (creepy and very funny... connected to lots of fairytales but in a whole new way)
• First Day of School Forever (hilarious and a page turner ... not too hard and will definitely get you reading)
• Moxy Maxwell (great character, fun and a quick read)
• Among the Hidden (can't put it down and quite creepy... first book in a series of many!)
• Beastology (first in a series, adventure book and a quick read!)
• Flying Solo (school story that is told by different voices in the class - like Mr. Terupt)
• My Life as a Book (great mystery, definitely fun to read)
• My Life as a Stunt Boy (sequel to My Life as a Book)
• Spiderwick Chronicles (adventure story that is fun to read and a little creepy)
• So Be It (great realistic fiction, a journey story - great characters!)
• True...Sort of (well written, great characters, will pull you right in!)
• Goosebumps series (just creepy enough to make you read but keep you out of trouble (nightmares :), tons of them in the series, you will fly though it!)

Let us know what you think and Happy Reading!

Yours, 

Next Book