#24 Skinnybones by Barbara Park

Recommended to kids ages 9-11. Alex is the main character in this hilariously funny book. (When I read it I laughed so hard that I almost cried!) The thing about this story, is that it is just so fun, funny, and real, its as if Alex is actually writing the book! For example, listen to the opening sentence: My cat eats Kitty Fritters because if she didn't... She would probably die. Barbara Park does such a good job of portraying Alex, that it is like he is talking to you the whole time! Alex is a character who is big, strong, and tough... Or so he wishes. But what he lacks in his athleticism, he more than makes up for in his mouth!  He is a class clown, and known for his tall tales and exaggerating. It all makes for a funny book!
This is another one of those books that the author wrote meaning to create a story for boys, but I think that girls will definitely enjoy the laugh-out-loud humor in it also. 1/2    

#23 Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry

Recommended to kids ages 8-11. In this extremely cute book Hildegarde is the Mouse Mistress at Saint Bartholemew's. You get to see everything through a mouse's eye, as she spies on Father Murphy, hunts for food, and takes care of the 219 church mice. There are many dangers and threats, such as The Great X (extermination), and coming up the Feast Day of Saint Francis which means the blessing of animals. And the blessing of animals means that if it is raining outside, it will take place inside! All kinds of animals are brought to the blessing of animals, including the mouse's worst enemy... Cats! Then of course there is Hildegarde's friend, Roderick (who might like her a tiny bit!) and her not such a good friend Lucretia who continuously is trying to compete with Hildegarde for her spot as Mouse Mistress. Will Hildegarde's quick thinking be enough to save the mice? As I said in the beginning this book is just too cute. You will probably think a little bit differently about mice after reading this book!