Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 3

It is a quick thing to whip through a chapter book. The volumes are slim and contain some illustrations to complement the stories. Presenting a compilation of chapter books!

The Mysterious Moonstone (Apr. 26, 2016) by Eric Luper.

   Lisa K. Weber, illustrator.

*This is the first story in a series.*

Discovering a secret library in one’s school should be exhilarating, and it is, but it’s tempered when Cleo and Evan find a note from their favorite librarian, Ms. Hilliard, who mysteriously exited her role. It turns out it wasn’t by choice, as she’s vanished within the pages of one of the stories. Cleo and Evan find themselves swept up in a story, too. In this one, a priceless gem – a moonstone – has been stolen in 19th-century England. Cleo, Evan and their new, rigid librarian, Ms. Crowley, must become their characters in order to solve the mystery. Cleo and Evan become junior assistants to a rookie detective, Artie Baker, who must solve the case or be fired as a detective. It’s imperative that Cleo and Evan find the stolen moonstone and obtain the key, lest they, too, become stuck in a story.

            A series first published in 2016, my local library only recently acquired at least the first couple books in the Key Hunters series, and I’m glad they did. This chapter book in the mystery genre has twists and tricks, falling chandeliers, a rampaging cart and a list of suspects. The humor is appropriate for the age group, and the twisty plot isn’t so challenging that younger readers can’t keep up. It’s not a flashy story, but it’s exciting and is like solving a game of “Clue.” It has the potential to have varied appeal to a slew of junior detectives.

Tae Kwon Do Champs (Aug. 1, 2021) by V.T. Bidania.

   Evelt Yanait, illustrator.

*This is part of a series of books.*

Twins Astrid & Apollo Lee are about to participate in their first tae kwon do tournament. Just because it’s their first one doesn’t stop them from wanting to win a trophy for the shelf. It used to be their dad’s, and he had his trophies on it, but his trophies were all lost. Astrid & Apollo are determined to earn trophies in their specialties - Astrid: forms and Apollo: board breaking - but the tournament does not go according to plan. They feel like they have failed their dad, but they’ll learn that being a winner doesn’t always mean winning the top award.

            My first Astrid & Apollo story, I like how engaging this story is and easy to read, even for new chapter book readers. Bidania’s writing showcases that a tae kwon do competition can be a new adventure and a learning opportunity. The series features a Hmong-American family that resides in Minnesota. As a Minnesotan, I love that these characters live in this state, but I especially appreciate that it showcases a main character family of color. I’m not Hmong (Minnesota has an excellent Hmong population), but I know my kid self would’ve gravitated toward books with Asian main characters, no matter their specific nationality. I will say this until I’m blue in the face, but representation matters! A lively chapter book that should have a broad range of readers based on the other book titles I noticed at my local library.

A Triceratops Charge (Apr. 26, 2022) by Rex Stone.

   Louise Forshaw, illustrator.

*This is the second book in a series.*

More adventure is afoot for Jamie and Tess as they return to their new favorite place, and it happens to contain actual dinosaurs! They reunite with Wanna, a Wannanosaurus. They also encounter a herd of Triceratops. The two Dinosaur Club members experience riding on the back of a younger one, but a situation at a grouping of tall, strange mounds causes the Triceratops herd to charge. They’ll have to hang on tight or risk being trampled by stampeding dinos!

            I originally read the ARC for the first book in this prehistoric book series and enjoyed the modern tale that contains Dino Data, a section of scientific facts and discoveries, a quiz too, but also blends in fiction. It is a fictional tale, after all, not an encyclopedia. The black-and-white illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the prose, detailed without creating too-busy illustrations. It’s a fun series for a young audience. I haven’t yet introduced my five-year-old nephew to these books, but he loves dinosaurs. So much!