Here Lies the Librarian

Newberry winning author Richard Peck writes Here Lies the Librarian (AR 5.1) with his unique comical style. This chapter book targeting upper elementary age is about PeeWee, who we soon learn is really named Eleanor. PeeWee, who loves working on early American cars with her brother, realizes she will have to make some changes and doesn't think she needs to go to the jr/sr high if she can't take Auto Mechanics and has to take Home Ec instead. Join PeeWee in her adventures as she develops a friendship with the new librarian in town.

The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse

Meet Chet the Gecko. Chet is a sleuth who loves a good mystery to solve at his school at Emerson Hicky Elementary. The author Bruce Hale (click here for more author info) writes with a sense of humor with his character Chet in a variety of kids mystery stories such as The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse (AR 3.5). The target age group is 3rd gr. and up with Chet in fourth grade in this title.

Bats at the Beach

So, what is it like at the beach at night? Check out Bats at the Beach (AR 3.4) by Brian Lies who tells about the adventure of the bats visiting the beach. Written with rhyme and humorous illustrations elementary age children will enjoy learning about the beach from a bat at night! This author has other fun "bat" titles as well. Click this sentence for the link for more about the author.

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood

Have some fun with a bit of Louisiana lingo with the book Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. The author Mike Artell tells the story with a read-a-loud rhythm and a twist from the traditional Red Riding Hood tale. Instead of a wolf, the "Red Riding Hood" encounters an alligator on the Bayou as she goes on her special mission. While the AR level is 3.9, this book may be enjoyable for kindergarten through third grade. 

Rainbow Soup

We all need some humorous ways to describe our world. Poetry is one place we can do just that. Rainbow Soup: Adventures in Poetry by Neal Layton shares about 50 visual experiences in his poems. There are puns, rhymes, and whimsical illustrations to entertain all ages. Many poems target the upper elementary student and I found some writings very funny as an adult.

Snoring Beauty

So we know the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, but do you know about the Snoring Beauty? Bruce Hale takes the idea of Sleeping Beauty and creates a whimsical story where the princess is turned into a Snoring Beauty, a hot pink and purple dragon. With a variety of characters such as the sarcastic frog narrator and the fairy Hexus this comical tale, Snoring Beauty (AR level 3.2), will keep the elementary age reader entertained.

Library Lion

What would you do if there was a lion at the library? Library Lion (AR level 2.2) by Michelle Knudsen is a story about just that situation. This is a good prediction story as readers can consider if this is a realistic or make believe situation, what might happen to the lion, or how will other library visitors react. It also is fun to think about animals visiting the library, even something like a common house cat. Some libraries do have animal mascots.

Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm

Scholastic Books has a series by Joanna Cole called The Magic School Bus (click here for all her titles). In this title Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm (AR level 3.4) children learn about weather. The appealing thing about this series is that while it is considered non-fiction, children learn through a story telling adventure of other kids on their teacher's magical bus. The popularity of these books also led to the creation of a video series. This is a good series for all elementary ages.

Panda-monium!

Stuart Gibbs has written a comical series called FunJungle. In the title Panda-monium Teddy solves a mystery for the zoo concerning a missing panda. This book is entertaining and targeting upper elementary (4th-6th). While the Accelerated Reader website does not have this title listed yet, other books in the series are given a 5th grade reading level. This could also be a read with or read aloud to 3rd graders. The author has other mystery titles targeting the upper elementary reader (click here for author link). 

Skippyjon Jones Class Action

Skippyjon Jones is a peculiar cat with a variety of adventures. Author Judy Schachner (click here for Amazon author page) has a collection of titles with this character. In Skippyjon Jones Class Action (AR level 4.0), Skippyjon Jones wants to go to school but his mom tells him, "School is for Dogs!" The author has great rhythm in her story telling and wonderful word choice alongside the illustrations showing the adventures of Skippyjon Jones. This book is a fun read for K-3.

Jacky Ha-Ha

James Patterson has written a humorous book of an upper elementary girl named Jacky. Jacky has decided this year she will be good and not get any detentions. However, things don't go exactly as planned. This chapter book is reasonably easy to read, though a bit longer than chapter books written for the younger grades. This could be read to 2nd or 3rd graders but a good independent read for 4th grade and up. Jacky Ha-Ha has an AR level of 4.7.

Magic Bone

Nancy Krulik has written a fun easy chapter book series called Magic Bone. One title, Follow that Furball (AR level 2.8), tells the story from a dog's point of view on a simple mystery. In this story there are a few funny scenarios with cats and the main character Sparky. This could be a read aloud to K-2 students or an independent read for 2nd-3rd grade. More titles by Nancy Krulik can be found on Amazon, just click this sentence.

Ms. Hanna is Bananas

A popular easy chapter book series is called My Weird School by Dan Gutman. One of his titles, Ms. Hannah is Bananas (AR level 3.6), has the setting in a lower elementary grade. The characters have silly things that happen with their teachers who keep fun in the classroom. Other titles are Mr. Macky is Wacky (AR level 3.7) and Mrs. Kormel is Not Normal (AR level 3.8). For a full listing of Gutman's titles, click this sentence for the Amazon link.