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Fans of Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid books and readers of Roald Dahl will find a similar “imaginormous” story line accompanied by pictures in David Walliams latest tween novel, Grandpa’s Great Escape.  Illustrations by Tony Ross add humor to the story of Jack and his Grandpa, a legendary World War II pilot in the Ro yal Air Force who has begun to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Set in 1983 in London, the book begins like a theatrical production, with a list of opening credits followed by the cast of characters who are drawn with humor and a lively use of line.  Featured later in the text,Read More →

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One night near the beginning of sixth grade, Ellie’s mom unexpectedly brings home a surly teenage boy, who turns out to be Ellie’s curmudgeon grandfather, Melvin.  Melvin is a scientist (some in the scientific community think he’s a kook), but as it happens, Melvin has discovered a genetic formula to reverse the effects of aging and is now 13 again.  Despite the palpable tension between Ellie’s divorced, thirty-something mother and her now-teenage father, Ellie embraces the chance to really get to know her grandfather.  Ellie discovers that she has quite a bit in common with Melvin (more than she does with her artistic parents), and herRead More →