Funny, lighthearted monster stories that are perfect for young readers, brought to us by the esteemed Dr. Roach. Twins Sammy and Tammy love the quiet Boggy Marshes near their home. They're full of strange creatures and creepy plants. But a local business tycoon named Maximus Sneer has a plan to drain the marshes dry and cover them with houses, stores, and parking lots. When the twins hear about it, they quickly get to work protesting Sneer's scheme. But little does anyone know that two very big problems are growing in the marshes. All the pumping and draining awakens a pair of giant monsters who are both out for one thing. Revenge!

Twins Sammy and Tammy love the strange creatures and creepy plants in the boggy marshes near their home, and are dismayed to hear that business tycoon Maximus Sneer intends to drain the marshes and develop the area. But little does anyone know that two very big problems are growing in the marshes. All the draining awakens a pair of giant monsters who are both out for one thing: revenge.

How is academia portrayed in children's literature? This Element ambitiously surveys fictional professors in texts marketed towards children, who are overwhelmingly white and male, tending to be elderly scientists. Professors fall into three stereotypes: the vehicle to explain scientific facts, the baffled genius, and the evil madman. By the late twentieth century, the stereotype of the male, mad, muddlehead, called Professor SomethingDumb, is formed in humorous yet pejorative fashion. This Element provides a publishing history of the role of academics in children's literature, questioning the book culture which promotes the enforcement of stereotypes regarding intellectual expertise in children's media. This title is also available, with additional material, as Open Access.

Reaching Reluctant Young Readers features 150 middle-grade books. Each profiled title has the potential to hook the reluctant reader and lure them to read the entire book. To specifically encourage elementary and middle-school-age reluctant children to read, there is first a pitch to get the reader’s attention. That is followed by a short reading passage to “set the hook” and encourage the young person to read the rest of the book on their own. Further, the book contains several hundred additional recommended titles. The books selected for this collection were chosen following the criteria of reluctant reader books created by the Quick Picks committee sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association. While these guidelines were designed for young adult books, they also work well for middle-grade books. The criteria include: clear writing (no convoluted long sentences with sophisticated vocabulary), high interest “hook” in the first few pages, well-defined characters, interesting plot, and familiar themes.

Funny, light-hearted monster stories that are perfect for young readers, brought to us by the esteemed Dr. Roach. Billy's new pet hamster is a huge disappointment. Despite his name, Hercules is perhaps the world's laziest rodent. He does nothing besides sleep, eat, and sleep some more. So when Billy sees an advertisement on television for a power snack, he decides that's just the thing to put some hurry into Hercules. But when the formula begins working too well, Billy realizes he may have one massive, hungry problem on his hands.

Where art meets madcap fun! Scribbles and Ink are drawn together again for more artistic shenanigans!

How is academia portrayed in children's literature? This Element ambitiously surveys fictional professors in texts marketed towards children. Professors are overwhelmingly white and male, tending to be elderly scientists who fall into three stereotypes: the vehicle to explain scientific facts, the baffled genius, and the evil madman. By the late twentieth century, the stereotype of the male, mad, muddlehead, called Professor SomethingDumb, is formed in humorous yet pejorative fashion. This Element provides a publishing history of the role of academics in children's literature, questioning the book culture which promotes the enforcement of stereotypes regarding intellectual expertise in children's media. The Element is also available, with additional material, as Open Access.

Jilly can't believe what she's seeing when she wakes up one day to find all the mice in her small town of Buffalo Bottom have gone strangely still. Things only get weirder, though, when the town is suddenly visited by a flying saucer -- full of alien cats! These felines say they come in peace, to help rid Buffalo Bottom of its mouse problem. But when the town's cows start disappearing mysteriously, Jilly suspects the visitors may be up to no good.