101 Back-To-School Jokes

101 Back-To-School Jokes (1994) by Lisa Eisenberg and Katy Hall. 96 pages.

ISBN 10: 0-590-96537-9

Who can resist a quick silly joke?

"When is a basketball player like a baby? When he dribbles!" This book is full of quick fun jokes, silly titles of books and even knock-knocks. Good fun for kids to joke about school; 9 to 12 year olds.

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2005). Directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore, with music by Danny Elfman. Available on DVD; shown on the Family channel, June 27, 2010.

Classic Tim Burton film, with visual wonders and enchanting music. Five childeren are guided on a tour of the Wonka candy factory by Willy Wonka. He introduces his guests to the Oompa Loompas, who do all the work in the factory and sing their unapproving comments when the rotten children overstep their welcome. Four of the children end their tour in very odd circumstances; the fifth, Charlie Bucket, helps Wonka rediscover his father.

Wonka has flashbacks to his unhappy childhood with his father, a dentist; which is probably why Wonka is creepy and snide.

The viewer will feel like s/he is on a water (chocolate river) rollercoaster ride through a fantastical and obsurd candy factory. Costumes and scenes are visually stimulating. Fun, albeit a bit creepy, for 9 to 13 year olds.

Visit the companion Wonka website.

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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). Screenplay by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder. Available on DVD; shown on the Family channel, June 27, 2010.

A more charming movie than the 2005 version, with lots of fun, descriptions, such as scrumdiddlyumptious, "incredibly long-lasting Laffy Taffy" and "everlasting gobstoppers". Follow the five ticket holders as they tour the mysterious and magnificent chocolate factory. Contrasts between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', and naughty and nice are capitalized on.

It's fun to compare the different film versions.


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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Illustrated 1998, Text 1964) by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. 176 pages.
ISBN: 978-0-14-2413018


Charlie Bucket, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teavee are guided on a tour the mysterious chocolate factory by the quirky Willy Wonka. Curious dwarfs, the Oompa Loompas work in the factory and sing songs when bad happens to horrible children. Lots of magical and absurd things occur to entertain the reader. Fun read for 9 to 12 year olds.

Simpsons Comics Madness

Simpsons Comics Madness (2002) by Matt Groening. 158 pages.

ISBN-10: 0-06-053061-8

This is a compilation of the Simpsons comics #43 to #48; featuring the talents of a variety of writers, artists and editors.

The first comic is an urban legend told backward, a twisted and quircky story about Bart, Lisa, Milhouse and Martin looking for 'Brain Freeze Steve' under the Kwik-e-Mart. In another, Lisa becomes a substitute teacher after Bart pulls one of his classic antics. Comics continue with Sideshow Bob struggling with going straight in one and Santa's Little Helper, the Simpsons' dog, becoming a Hollywood media mongrel. One of my favorites is when Homer unwittingly gets on the wrong game show and wins a date. To get out of his date, he signs a contract to go on another game show, "Escape from emperor Burnsimoto's Castle", which could be life threatening. Several more entertaining comics are featured.

The comics can be read on their own and the reader can easily see them as a TV show, as each page provides scene panels with a lot of visual activity. The reader will get classic Simpsons, with all the jokes, puns, parodies, pranks and gags. References to movies Manga, reality TV shows and advertising add to the fun and brain teases.

Simpsons graphic novels are a constant favorite among middle school students and this will not disappoint. Fun antics for 9 to 12 year olds.

More on Matt Groening and The Simpsons.

Read Simpsons Comics online

Miracle's Boys

Miracle's Boys (2000) by Jacqueline Woodson. 131 pages
ISBN: 0-399-23113-7
(2006) Audiobook read by Dule Hill. New York, NY: Listening Library, download to MP3.

Winner of Coretta Scott King Award 2001

Lafayette is a thirteen year old being raised by his older brother Ty'ree. When their mother Milagra died, their other brother, Charlie, was in Rahway reform school. Their great-aunt Cecil wanted them to live with her, but they wanted to stay in New York. Ty'ree became guardian of his brothers, giving up his acceptance to MIT.

Ty'ree works full time, but there isn't much money. Charlie is back living them, but is a different person than he was before, lost and angry. Lafayette is dismayed and sees him as 'Newcharlie'. Newcharlie has a tendency toward trouble, finds himself at a gang initiation.

Ty'ree provides loving guidance and companionship to Lafayette. They reminisce about their mother and talk about the accident that led to their father's death. Charlie begins to reconnect with his brothers. The boys are loyal to each other; "B-to-B" (brother-to-brother) they say as their expression of love for each other.

This story is realistic, urban drama with authentic characters. The dialague connects the reader with characters' sorrow and anger. Listening to this story puts the reader closer to the drama. Dule Hill, who reads the audio version, brings an urban and ethnic tone that enhances its telling. Good read for 11 to 13 year olds.

If you like Miracle's Boys, you may like other Jacqueline Woodson books , as well as those by Walter Dean Myers

Runway Rose (#9 of The English Roses)

Runway Rose, #9 of The English Roses (2009) by Madonna. 124 pages.
ISBN: 978-0-14-241126-1

The English Roses are "the coolest, hippest, most rockin'" 11 year old girls living a privileged life. They have sleepovers, have butlers and get chauffered to school. Most importantly, they are good friends and cheer for each other.

This episode in the Roses' lives finds Grace being an amazing soccer player and Amy getting a job working at a Teen Fashion Week. Preparing for the fashion show is hectic and exciting.

Expressive and silly pencil drawings enhance the story. A couple incidences of instant messaging text is fun to read. Fun book for 9 to 11 year olds.

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I spotted a short blurb in the Style section of the Sunday, June 27, 2010 San Francisco Chronicle. It mentioned a new clothing line by Madonna, inspired by her 13year old daughter Lourdes, "Lola". Click (here) for the People Magazine's Sneak Peak: "Madonna and Lourdes' Material Girl Line for Macy's".

I'll be curious if this line becomes popular with the tween set.

Tell Me This Isn't Happening!

Tell Me This Isn't Happening!

Real kids tell the true stories of their most embarrassing moments! by Robynn Clairday (1999). 107 pages.

ISBN: 0-439-09502-6

Humor

This book contains lots of short entries from kids' describing their embarrassing and mortifying moments. Different topics are covered in the chapters: from sports-related moments, dealing with friends, clothing incidents, mishaps at parties, shopping and bathroom bloopers. Each chapter ends with words of wisdom from significant adults (although the names were more significant ten years ago).

The entries are fun and quick. Readers can either identify with them or laugh along with them. Good fun for 10 to 12 year old.

ISLAND Book One: Shipwreck

ISLAND- Book One: Shipwreck (2001) by Gordon Korman. 129 pages.
ISBN: 0-439-16456-7

Adventure, survival

A program called "Charting a New Course" brings together six young teens on boat with a captain and first mate. Each teen has been sent there for a reason - getting in arrested, fighting, causing havoc, watching too much TV, having a breakdown. They are quickily put to work manning sails and cleaning decks.

The ship leaves Guam where the kids feel like they are in the middle of nowhere. Stuck on a boat they don't want to be on and living in tight quarters, the kids learn to deal with the mean captain's mate, sea-sickness and terrible food. But that's not all, a terrifying storm comes. The schooner is severely damaged, the captain is lost at sea, the first mate abondons ship and the kids are left to fend for themselves. Through will and problem-solving, they work together to survive.

This is a fast-moving, adventurous story taking place over 15 days. The plot keeps the reader interested in what will happen next. Good read for 10 to 13 year olds.

This book is the first in a series of three: Shipwreck, Survival and Escape. At the end of the book, the author encourages the reader to "continue your Island adventure online" at Scholastic (linked here) where you can meet the crew and take the quiz, "Can you Survive?"

Official Gordon Korman Website