I just read a cleverly written chapter book: The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright.

Pip is an unusual mouse with an unusual talent: he can read, thanks to time spent with Nell, the daughter of the owners of the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese shop, where Pip and many, many mice live because of the cheese-making talents of the cook there.

Pip meets Skilley, a cat with an unusual appetite: he does not hunt or eat mice....he prefers cheese, so Pip convinces the mice to strike a bargain where Skilley pretends to serve as a mouse-catcher for the shop, so they won't get a REAL mouse-catching cat.

Throw in an injured raven from the famous "Tower of London" ravens who is hidden upstairs, an evil mice-hungry cat named Pinch, comic relief as the author Charles Dickens sits in the shop attempting to write his classic, Tale of  Two Cities, AND great pencil sketches throughout the chapter book by Barry Moser, and you have a great story that would be fun for a family or teacher to read-aloud, or for kids to read on their own.

I have been busy reading and writing questions for Battle of the Books titles, both for the Lenihan/MACS list and the MHS list...and I recently re-read Diamond Willow by Helen Frost, which I liked just as much the second time reading it.

Diamond Willow  is a fast read with much of it written in a very unique two-layered free verse poetry style. The story is told in alternating voices by Willow (a middle school girl who with native Alaskan heritage), and by her and other characters' ancestors (who are watching over them in their current animal forms.) Willow wants to be allowed to drive her family's sled dogs solo to her grandparents house, and when she finally is allowed to, there is an accident that blinds Roxy, a sled dog who Willow considers her best friend. The storyline culminates in Willow taking off to protect Roxy and getting caught in a blizzard.

This story is exciting and suspenseful, but overall very poignant when it unfolds with a surprising twist. Highly recommended for all ages, including adults.

The Trouble with Chickens is a funny book for beginning chapter book readers. The book, written by Doreen Cronin (Diary of a Fly, Diary of a Spider, and Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type) has great cartoonish illustrations throughout by Kevin Cornell.

I just read a graphic novel (comic-style book) which has received excellent reviews: Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires (JFG Spires). Making excellent use of this format, the story has very funny pictures and features a housecat, Binky, whose dream it is to save the world from aliens....but settles on "saving" his own humans from the small aliens that fly around their house (bugs!)

A shorter story in the same spirit as the Hank the Cowdog series, this is a good choice for beginning chapter book readers, or just any reader who enjoys a funny story with a charming hero.

I recommend the novel, The Nine Lives of Travis Keating by Jill MacLean. Summary from our online catalog: "After his mother's death, Travis Keating and his father move to Ratchet, Newfoundland, to start a new life. Things are tough for Travis (Hud, the school bully, being the toughest) until, putting aside his own problems, he starts to care for a colony of feral (wild) cats."

This book reminded me of Because of Winn Dixie, since Travis' involvement with the cats serves as a catalyst to his friendships with grumpy old guy, Abe Murphy, and classmate, Prinny, who has a difficult homelife.

This is a great story about friendship, dealing with loss, as well as a good read for animal lovers. I could really put myself in Travis' place in the bond he feels with the cats, and the passion he feels in protecting them.