Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

“I don’t want to/because boys/don't’ write poetry/Girls do” writes Jack, a student struggling to understand poetry in Miss Stretchberry’s class. He is encouraged to write about a pet but doesn’t have one. When he finally gets a dog, Sky, he finds inspiration to try concrete poems. Now, Jack feels his poem is good enough to bear his name when it's posted on the class bulletin board. Over the course of a school year Jack goes from wrestling with poetry to becoming Mr. Walter Dean Myers’ number one fan, composing a poem Love That Dog after Myers’ poem Love That Boy.

Love That Dog is humorous and sometimes sentimental, written in free verse from Jack's perspective. The novel has won several awards: 2001 SLJ Best Book and 2002 ALA Notable Children’s Book. ~Califia

The Tales of Olga da Polga

Michael Bond, author of the Paddington Bear books wrote a series of lesser known books about a mischievous guinea pig. The Tales of Olga da Polga is the first one in the series.The stories are about Olga and her wild imagination. She constantly tells outrageous tales of derring-do. She keeps the Sawdust People, her term for her human owners, quite busy. This book first came out in 1971, and was re-issued in 2001 to coincide with the publication of a new story entitled Olga Follows Her Nose. A funny and sweet story of a cuddly cavy. Xochiquetzal

Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library

Sisters Mary Rose and Jo-Beth find themselves trapped in a locked library/museum during a snowstorm. Older sister Mary Rose is practical, younger sister Jo-Beth is dramatic and has quite a vivid imagination. She is convinced the spooky old mansion is haunted. A mystery filled with humor, this would appeal to 8-11 year-olds. Originally published in 1979, this book by Eth Clifford(Ethel Clifford Rosenberg), has been reprinted several times. Xochiquetzal

Octagon Magic by Andre Norton

Octagon Magic was one of my favorites as a child. It is about an eleven year old girl, Lorrie Mallard, who was forced to move from Canada to live with her Aunt in the US. Her new classmates tease her, calling her Cannuck because she is from Canada. One day while she is running home to escape her tormentors she finds herself at Octagon House. All the kids say Miss Ashemeade is a witch but Lorrie soon discovers there is much more to Octagon House than anyone realized. A wonderful addition to your fantasy collection.

Andre Norton has writen hundred of books since the beginning of her career in the early 1930's. She is one of the most popular science fiction and fantasy writers the world over. There is a timelessness about her books that make them enjoyable to this day. Till her death in 2005 Ms. Norton continued to write. Octagon Magic was originally published in 1967. It has recently been re-released together with five other books that Ms. Norton wrote for children, ages 9 to 12. They are refered to as The Magic Books. ~Beag

1. Octagon Magic
   
2. Steel Magic
3. Fur Magic
4. Dragon Magic
5. Lavendar-Green Magic
6. Red Hart Magic