Corvus-A Crow’s Story

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

A crow and a butterfly become friends for life in Corvus: A Crow’s Story, a memorable and heartwarming tale,

Clarence, a wise caterpillar who eventually turns into a butterfly, narrates the story. He hopes to help Corvus, the only crow in the nest who cannot fly. All the crows are heading south for the winter but can’t take Corvus unless he learns how to use those important wings. Winter would be unforgiving if he stayed.

Clarence is an entertaining narrator with dashes of humor along with facts about animal migration, his upcoming short life, and the uniqueness of the crow population. His unlikely friendship with Corvus is so well written you believe this companionship could really happen.

Black and white illustrations also add to the story. The back pages include several more helpful sections: FUN FACTS FOR CURIOUS READERS; NATURE NOTES, and DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. The author’s background as an educator shines through on every one of these pages.

Friendship and dedication to what is right help Clarence and Corvus in a face off with a one-eyed hawk. A perfect ending to a story that would make a great read-aloud. CORVUS, A CROW’S STORY comes full circle inan emotional and endearing look at life. Strongly recommended for families and middle grade readers.

BOOK BIRTHDAY:May 16, 2026 PAGES:174

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shallen Anne Chitwood was born and raised in the Midwest. After earning her Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University, she moved to Tennessee, where she spent many years teaching elementary and middle grade students. She and her husband now live on a farm. 

When she isn’t writing stories or poetry, Shallen can be found in the garden or caring for her furry and feathered friends. Her debut novel, Big Love and War Horse (for ages 14+), received the 2025 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal for Literary Fiction as well as a Literary Titan Gold Book Award. (Author Website)

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your post can be found in the right margin.

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (August 3, 2026)

Posted on August 3, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where you can find my review of GHOST IN THE NIGHT by Tiffany D. Jackson.

••Susan Uhlig was delighted with Beth Ferry’s first middle grade novel, GROWING HOME.

••Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles is participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop, featuring lots of new middle grade choices.

••Carol Baldwin has a review of TIME TRAVELING WITH A HAMSTER by Ross Welford.

••Rebecca Douglass is reviewing The Wednesday Wars and Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt.

••Kasey Girard at The Story Sanctuary returns this week with a review of The Shark Prince by Malie Maunakea.

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews Wilderness Hacks: a social media show turned survival story.

••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has a book to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM review for today and all her posts from this past week including the novel SPINDLEWOOD.

Posted in Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

GHOST IN THE NIGHT

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Many years ago I visited the city of Savannah, Georgia for just a day. I should have stayed longer to soak in the town’s amazing history. GHOST IN THE NIGHT gives you many details about this coastal city through the first person narration by twelve-year-old Harmony.

Harmony’s father is a musician and takes his daughter with him to many of his out of town gigs. In each city they visit, Harmony takes a ghost tour as she doesn’t know if they are real. The recent loss of her grandmother has her even more intrigued. When they arrive for an extended time in Savannah, Harmony discovers it is known as America’s Most Haunted City,

On her first ghost tour in Savannah, she takes a picture of a house and believes an image in the window is a ghost. With the help of twp new friends, Myah and ten-year-old Robby, she begins to investigate. This leads them to finding clues about an unsolved murder and a missing little boy.

GHOST IN THE NIGHT is nicely paced story that is sure to give you some chilling moments. The Black history is what engaged my reading but younger readers will enjoy the ghostly backdrop and three memorable characters. Best for the upper MG.

PAGES: 288 BOOK BIRTHDAY: August 4, 2026

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: GHOST IN THE NIGHT by Tiffany D. Jackson

  1. I was hoping the mystery would be wrapped up in a believable way. Success came thanks to the detective work of the three kids. Well done.
  2. The setting of Savannah, Georgia came alive in a virtual tour of all that it has to offer. Great world building, especially if you have never visited.
  3. The way Harmony’s emotional journey was handled in the plot. Grief is tough to overcome and those dealing with grief of their own will be pleased with Harmony’s character arc.
  4. Robby was my favorite character. He is technology gifted and is always skeptical of the other’s belief in ghosts.
  5. The cover alone will bring a lot of new readers for the author. Tiffany D. Jackson’s previous thrilling MG mystery, BLOOD in the WATER, a completely different plot, is also recommended.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tiffany Jackson – ‘White Smoke’ Portrait Session – September 12th, 2021 – Photography Provided By: KOLIN MENDEZ – © 2021 KOLIN MENDEZ PHOTOGRAPHY – http://www.kolinmendez.com – All Rights Reserved

Tiffany D. Jackson is the highly acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of YA and MG novels such as Blood in the Water, Monday’s Not Coming, Allegedly, The Scammer, and more. She is also the coauthor of Blackout and Whiteout, and author of the picture books Santa in the City and Trick-or-Treating in the City.  The recipient of the 2025 Margaret A. Edwards Award, Tiffany is a Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award-winner and a NAACP Image Award-nominee. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is currently splitting her time between the borough she loves and the south, most likely multitasking. Learn more at writeinbk.com

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Posted in MG Contemporary Fiction, MG Mystery | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

NEW TITLES FROM NOMAD PRESS

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Classrooms usually have a set curriculum. Those enthusiastic young learners who have already mastered the objectives are sometimes forgotten. What they need is a differentiation of their learning from the norm. It’s often a difficult task for teachers who might be focused more on the struggling learners. Nomad Press has many fantastic titles that allow for extended learning with some amazing independent learning titles.

The newest include THE OCEAN and THE CARBON CYCLE. They begin with a cartoon panel introduction to each of the 6-7 chapters. From there, readers learn with descriptive text, handy Words to Know boxes, and activities to enhance and excite users to learn more. Here is an example of one that is an extra you can download from NOMAD SITE. QR codes are also included that bring even more knowledge to the topic. The back pages include Additional Resources, an Index and an extensive glossary in case you missed them in those Words to Know boxes in each chapter, .

Great for home or classroom, these titles will for sure excite and motivate.

In The Ocean: Explore a Watery World with Hands-On Science Activities for Kids, young marine biologists learn the ocean’s history and the key roles it plays on Earth, including its part in the carbon cycle and in regulating weather and climate. Explore the polar oceans, intertidal zones, the shallow ocean, and the deep open ocean, and the incredible biodiversity adapted to living there. Find out how people use and rely on the ocean and how humans are making a giant impact on this massive body of water.

(For Grade Levels 3-6)

Young scientists explore how the first life forms that evolved on our planet consumed carbon and now, 4 billion years later, carbon is still the building block of all known forms of life.

Learn all about the carbon cycle and the human influence on that cycle through a compelling narrative, links to online resources, essential questions, text-to-world observations, hands-on STEM activities, and graphic-novel-style illustrations and photographs.

(For Grades 7-10)

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your post can be found in the right margin.

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (7/27/2026)

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where you can find my review of THE LAW OF SOLITUDE by Anthony Peckham.

••Katy Kramp @ alibrarymama reviews 4 Fantasy Series Starters for Kids: An Encantadora’s Guide to Monstros & Magic, The Genie Game, The Last Ember, and The Magic Library of Waterfall Way.

••Isabelle Knight is featuring a summer middle-grade reading list.

••Jenni Enzor features The Heart of the Samurai by Margi Preus

••Carol Baldwin has guest blogger Kate Lundeen reviewing ENEMIES IN THE ORCHARD by Dana Vanderlugt.

Brenda @Log Cabin Library was impressed with The Invisible Thread by Sue Lamoree.

••Maria Antonia has a post about: Super Sleuth by David Williams 

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews a graphic novel about family and dancing: School Dance.

••Rosi Hollinbeck reviews CONFESSIONS OF A MANGO. Rosi also shares 3 links of interest for her writing friends.

••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has a book to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM review for today and all her posts from this past week including REMEMBER ME, DAPHNE.

Posted in Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

THE LAW OF SOLITUDE

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

The final story in the Children of the Black Glass trilogy will please readers who have read the first two. I recommend doing just that even though you can read this one on its own. If you dive into this story first you’ll miss the full journey for siblings Tell and Wren in a gripping fantasy. They find themselves caught in the middle of a sorcerer’s war while on an epic quest to save both their father and a mountain village. 

In THE LAW OF SOLITUDE Wren has been taken captive by Desert, an evil sorcerer. Wren’s devoted brother, Tell, is determined to save her even though he lacks any magic to do so. Failure means possibly losing the city of Halfway and each other.

Desert is one mean villain. You’d never want to cross paths with her! Without giving away any spoilers, the plot wraps up nicely. Best for upper middle grade readers, THE LAW OF SOLITUDE is a satisfying tale set in a fantasy world you won’t forget.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: July 28, 2026 PAGES:304

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE LAW OF SOLITUDE by Anthony Peckham

  1. The violence is scary but is kept at a level just right for advanced readers. Much of the scares are left to the imagination. No nightmares for me but they are certainly possible for the younger audience.
  2. Sibling devotion between Tell and Wren was a winning formula for admiring these two brave kids.
  3. The pacing in the 72 chapters is never too slow or boring. The author has you hooked from the first scene with each twist and turn.
  4. The mother and father are present in their own way, and each character is vastly different. Certainly not your typical parents.
  5. The cover alone will have new readers picking the book up for the first time. The inside pages could have used additional art, but the plot is left to evolve in your own mind.

ABOUT ANTHONY PECKHAM

Anthony Peckham is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist. His movie credits include Invictus, Sherlock Holmes and Don’t Say A Word. He was awarded the Christopher Award and Paul Selvin Award by the Writers Guild of America for Invictus, and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Anthony was also awarded the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Spotlight Award in 2016. His Children of the Black Glass middle grade fantasy trilogy is published by Simon & Schuster.

Anthony was born and raised in South Africa and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Cape Town in English and Classical History. He moved to California to attend film school at San Francisco State University and earned a M.A. in Film. He now lives in Hawaii with his family. (Author Website)

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Posted in MG Fantasy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

MAX A LITTLE AXOLOTL-Book 2 BREAKING OUT

Posted on July 24, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

If you didn’t know much about the mole salamander known as an axolotl, then this is an entertaining place to start.

Max is back in book 2 and he has been attending Coral Elementary aquarium school where he doesn’t feel so lonely anymore. Although Max started out as the only axolotl living there, he does enjoy his teachers and new friends.

The plot gets even more interesting when a new axolotl enters the tank. She misses home and is lonely much like Max was when he first was placed in the tank in Book 1. Even though she’s just arrived, she soon disappears. Max and his friends journey through the tank to hopefully bring her back home.

The graphics are superb with mostly brief dialog in each. The 128 pages make for a perfect, easy read for new MG readers, You’ll learn about nature conservation and all the positives of friendships.

MAX A LITTLE AXOLOTL-Breaking Out would make a great gift for the graphic novel reader in your world.

Also available is last years Book One, Max A LITTLE AXOLOTL-An Original Graphic Novel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My name is Joey Spiotto. I am a New York Times Best Selling Illustrator and Author of picture books and graphic novels including the hit series Max, a Little Axolotl and Grumpy Unicorn from Scholastic as well as the wildly popular officially licensed books Alien Next Door and Klingon Next Door from Titan Books based off the classic Alien and Star Trek franchises.

Before working in children’s books, I was a regularly featured artist at the world-famous Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles where I’ve held several solo art exhibitions. Through the gallery my artwork has been commissioned by some of Hollywoods most talented filmmakers, actors, comedians and musicians including: JJ Abrams, Conan O’Brien, Vince Gilligan and many more.  

After graduating from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. I went on to work as a concept artist in the film and video game industry working on a variety of projects that include the holiday classic The Polar Express from Warner Bros. as well as Dead Space, The Sims and more from Electronic Arts.

I live in Southern California with my wife Kristin, our two kids and our two cats. I love to draw, read, play video games, garden and go for long walks amongst some other mundane things. (Web Page)

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your post can be found in the right margin.

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (7/20/2026)

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where you can find my review of ADVENTURE IN THE CITY OF STORIES by Emma Otherguy

••Susan Uhlig raced through the mystery THE SHERLOCK SOCIETY ART ATTACK by James Ponti.

••Max @ Completely Full Bookshelf returns and is recommending Next Stop by Debbie Fong. You’ll find it on Max’s excellent new newsletter, Anything Glows.

••Natalie Aguirre @ Literary Rambles has an interview with Emma Otherguy with a giveaway of her MG historical/time travel book, Adventure in the City of Stories.

••Jenni Enzor is featuring Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein.

••Rebecca Douglass has a review of Gary Schmidt’s Okay for Now.

••Carol Baldwin is exploring time travel in historical fiction with a look at THE DEVIL’S ARITHMETIC by Jane Yolen.

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews Three Sisters: a survival story.

••Rosi Hollinbeck reviews JUST LIKE THAT by Gary D. Schmidt . Rosi also shares 3 links of interest for her writing friends.

••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has a book to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM review for today and all her posts from this past week.

Posted in Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

ADVENTURE IN THE CITY OF STORIES

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

This new story becomes the second in the series following last year’s COUSINS IN THE TIME OF MAGIC. It can be read fine on its own as cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy are involved in a totally new adventure.

It begins when some old puppets and a book are discovered, Their aunt was in possession of the artifacts that really belong to Pura Belpré, the famous Latina librarian and storyteller. They go back in time to 1930’s New York City in hopes of returning the goods to Pura and proving that their aunt is not a thief.

Not an easy task, especially when they come against Mrs. Wilson, a know-it-all powerful woman. She hates anyone with a Puerto Rican heritage like the cousin’s new friend, Antonia. It’s a race against time and a thrilling one at that.

ADVENTURE IN THE CITY OF STORIES celebrates the importance of sharing and valuing true stories whether in the present or past. Fantasy and historical fiction are expertly woven together in a compelling story.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: July 21, 2026 PAGES:224

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: ADVENTURE IN THE CITY OF STORIES by Emma Otheguy

  1. Black and white illustrations appear throughout and show the emotion in the faces of the characters. Well done accompaniments to the text.
  2. The extensive back matter is not to be missed. The author givers more in-depth details about the reality of the times.
  3. I did not know too much about the historical information presented in the story. That provided some thought provoking talks with a colleague who had also read the book. Great classroom discussion material.
  4. The special bond between the cousins was memorable. They each had distinct personalities but were always helpful to each other, each using their own personalities and strengths to better a situation.
  5. The treatment of Puerto Rican Americans during this time was often horrific. Reinforces the truth that one bad person in a population does not make the whole group bad. We are all Americans is the necessary outcome.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Emma Otheguy is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture books A Sled for Gabo and Martina Has Too Many Tías, the bilingual picture book Martí’s Song for Freedom, and the middle grade novels Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene, Cousins in the Time of Magic, Silver Meadows Summer, and, with Adam Gidwitz, The Madre de Aguas of Cuba, part of the Unicorn Rescue Society series. Visit her at EmmaOtheguy.com.

Poly Bernatene was born in 1972 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has been drawing ever since. He graduated from Buenos Aires’s art school, where he developed a great interest in managing different techniques in his work. He has worked in advertisement, animation, and comics. During the last fifteen years, he has established an exciting career as a professional illustrator, having published more than sixty children’s books in eleven countries.

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Posted in Historical fiction, MG Fantasy, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

SAMA CRUSHES THE CODE

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

When computers first became a reality for home and school use, many students and teachers were hooked on leaning how to code; how to create their own web page. I got so good at doing just that I ended up teaching classes to those individuals so they could learn a programming language known as BASIC.

Ready made web pages soon became available and the need for every user to know coding lessened. But professional programmers were still needed back then and today to create and master the code that runs web pages.

Samaira Mehta, the co-author and inspiration for this graphic novel, shares her story that will motivate readers to learn more about coding.

It’s the beginning of middle school for Sama. There are a lot of clubs she could join but decides Tech Club is the best option to show off her problem solving skills. She quickly realizes the other members of the club are better than her at coding. Will she even be able to help the club win the upcoming Code Crusher championship? A new friend inspires her to create a coding board game and it’s a hit! The one project that could put her back in the championship.

Coding vocabulary and coding examples make a nice addition to the graphic pages. Eleven colorful chapters show just how young tech entrepreneur Samaira Mehta got her start. She is definitely one that will make a difference in the future tech world. Hopefully she will have more followers after they enjoy SAMA CRUSHES THE CODE, a fun and informative story.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: July 14, 2026 PAGES: 160

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samaira Mehta is a seventeen-year-old high school senior and tech entrepreneur, described by Time magazine as one of the eight young leaders shaping the decade. As the founder of CoderBunnyz, CoderMindz, and CoderMarz (board games that teach coding and AI), her work has reached 1M+ people. She is a researcher at UCLA’s Orsulic Lab, and her work on ovarian cancer detection and AI-driven healthcare solutions has been published in Nature. She has been featured on the Nasdaq billboard, in Vogue, and on the Today show, cementing her place as a rising innovator. As she prepares for college, Samaira Mehta is eager to explore human-centered computing, AI ethics, and the evolving relationship between technology and society. But above all, she remains committed to her mission: empowering the next generation to shape the future of technology.

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your own middle grade review or feature can be found in the right margin.

Posted in Graphic Novels, MG Contemporary Fiction | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment