Life is an Adventure
Meet these heroes featured in two delightful series for middle grade readers. Filled with sparkling repartee, clever wordplay, and expressive black and white line drawings, these books are an excellent choice for those who enjoy snappy chapter books loaded with adventure and wild antics.
The Royal Rabbits of London
by Santa Montefiore & Simon Sebag Montefiore
ill by Kate Hindley
Meet Shylo Tawny-Tail, a scrawny, shy little country rabbit who resides with his family in a burrow at the edge of the forest. Compelled to wear a patch over one eye to correct his vision, Shylo, also known as bunkin, is the object of his siblings' constant barrage of teasing and taunts. One day he spies a trio of "big, greasy, menacing rats" and listens in on their plot to infiltrate Buckingham Palace and take a compromising photo of the queen. Gathering up all his courage and aided by important information from a wise old rabbit recluse, Shylo sets off on a seemingly impossible task. His journey takes him to The Royal Rabbits of London, a select society of Rabbits of the Round Table, sworn to serve the Royal Family of England. Summoning courage he didn't realize he possessed, he manages to outwit the rats, escape the jaws of a pack of the Queen's beloved corgis, and save the honor of the Queen. |
Naturally our young hero triumphs over the greasy rats, vicious dogs, and his own fears.
Two carrots and a basket of celery to The Royal Rabbits of London, an enchanting new series from Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore.
The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters:
The Uncanny Express
by Kara LaReau ill by Jen Hill
After a harrowing adventure aboard a pirate ship, one would think that Bland sisters Jaundice and Kale would settle into a quiet life in Dullsville, resuming their daily routine of tying knots, cleaning the bathroom and darning socks. Until...They receive a letter announcing that Aunt Shallot is coming to town and that they are to meet her at the Dullsville depot. They learn that this meeting will involve more than a simple hello. Much more. Our reluctant heroines find themselves passengers on the Uncanny Express, headed for Uncanny Valley. They have been conscripted to serve as magician's assistants to Magique. She is planning a comeback performance which she hopes will return her to her former glory as a great magician. But things take a strange turn when Magique goes missing. |
Think tongue-in-cheek Murder on the Orient Express for youngsters. Readers will enjoy the double entendres: The train is derailed by a collision with a truck carrying barrels of marshmallow crème. "The Uncanny Express is now stuck." Jaundice, becomes distraught and doesn't look like herself. Kale's asks, "Does this make any sense to you?" Jaundice, the sister who loves to tie knots responds, "I'm a frayed knot."
Kara LeReau's The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Uncanny Express is replete with mystery and dry wit. Readers clamoring for more Bland Sisters will happy to learn that further adventures await in the skies. Bring it on!