The Great Jimbo James

By Phil Cummings, Illustrated by David Cox

Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 0439988837
Paperback

Jimbo James has everything it takes to be a magician. Or so he thinks. He's got a sparkly cape, a fancy top hat and a fat rabbit named Rick. But when Jimbo performs his first show, he gets everything wrong. Will he ever be a great magician? More importantly, will he ever get Rick the Rabbit out of his top hat?

Written by Phil Cummings, The Great Jimbo James is just one of Scholastic's new "Solo Reading" series for beginning readers. The series uses large text, with lots of space, and simple story lines to create fun chapter books that kids can call their own.

The lively drawings from David Cox help make The Great Jimbo James is an ideal first chapter book for readers aged 7 - 10 years.

Me in the Middle

By Ana Maria Machado, Translated by David Unger
Illustrated by Caroline Merola

Publisher: Groundwood Books
ISBN: 0888994672
Paperback

When ten year old Isabel finds a faded photograph of her great-grandmother, as little girl, strange things start to happen. As Isabel carries the photo, her great-grandmother, Bisa Bea comes alive inside her, and a new friendship is born. When Bisa Bea's stories of the old days turn into advice on how a proper girl should act, Isabel realises that she and her great-grandmother come from very different times. Just as her great grandmother's wisdom becomes too much for Isabel, a new voice enters her head, helping her discover what it means to be a modern girl.

Ana Maria Machado is the winner of the 2000 Hans Christian Andersen Award and one of Brazil's foremost children's authors. Her story teaches the importance of family and tradition in a time when these things don't hold much value. The short chapters and eloquent translation make Me in the Middle an excellent summer read for girls, age 8 - 13 years.

The Mess

By Jennifer Wolfe, Illustrated by Cindy Revel
Publisher: Annick Press Ltd.
ISBN: 1550377345
Paperback

The great thing about The Mess, from Annick Press, is that it's never the same story twice. Readers fill in the blanks as they follow Noah, Emma and their dog Dexter on a cleaning adventure. "There's a ______ under the sofa and a _______ hanging from the towel rack." What will it be? "Salamander, teabag or warthog?"

Kids will have a great time creating new silly versions of the story, choosing from any of the 65 reusable stickers in the back of the book. Cindy Revell's energetic drawings set the scene and readers add the fun, turning a house cleaning chore into a warthog-filled gigglefest.

The Mess will keep kids busy for hours, encouraging them to read and create over and over again. It's a great book for boys and girls, age 5 - 8 years, to share and perfect for long summer car rides or rainy day fun.