Published by Scholastic

Summary: Olive and Beatrix are twins, but not quite identical. Beatrix was born at exactly midnight when there was a full moon, so naturally, she’s a witch. Olive, the narrator of this story, was born a few minutes later, so is just an ordinary girl. One day Olive and her friend Eddie, a budding scientist, decide to play a trick on Beatrix involving a large number of spiders. Unfortunately, the spiders get into Beatrix’s growing potion, then head outside. The three kids have to round up the oversized spiders and use Beatrix’s magic to get them back to the normal size before they’re discovered by their parents. Ages 5-8.

Pros: Another entry from Scholastic’s Branches books. The sisters have a close bond, with the witchy magic twist adding a bit of extra interest. Much of the dialog is in the form of cartoon bubbles which, combined with plentiful illustrations, make this a manageable first chapter book.

Cons: Magically enhanced spiders.

Published by Candlewick Press

Summary: Francine Poulet is a third-generation animal control officer who has yet to back down from any animal that needs controlling. Until one night when she’s called in to catch a ghostly raccoon on a roof and gets the first fright of her life. After a fall off the roof results in a lengthy hospital stay, Francine decides she’s not cut out to be an animal control officer after all, and gets a job at a bait and tackle shop. Fortunately, a young boy named Frank comes into the store one day and encourages Francine to try again with the raccoon, which has now taken up residence on a roof on Deckawoo Drive. Francine musters her wits, climbs up the house, and overcomes her fear to stare down the raccoon and eventually snare it in her animal control net. She is back and better than ever. Grades 1-3.

Pros: Fans of Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson series will recognize several characters in this new Deckawoo Drive series (this book is the second installment). The crazy situations, goofy characters, and slapstick illustrations combine to make this lots of fun for beginning chapter book readers.

Cons: Some of the sophisticated vocabulary and humor may be a bit over the average eight-year-old’s head.

Published by Scholastic

Summary: Sisters Tori and Miranda have frequently visited their grandmother’s pony ranch, but this year they’re staying for the whole summer. Nine-year-old Tori loves being outside with the ponies, while her eight-year-old sister prefers playing with the new puppies inside. Tori’s favorite pony is Jewel, but Gran says he’s too wild for her to ride. Meanwhile, Miranda has some difficulties with a puppy named Trouble who would rather visit the ponies in the barn than stay with her brothers and sisters. When Trouble goes missing, the girls work hard to show Gran they’re ready for some new responsibilities. Ages 6-8.

Pros: One of Scholastic’s Branches series for beginning chapter book readers, Silver Pony Ranch is the first to not have at least a touch of fantasy to it. Animal lovers will enjoy reading about Tori and Miranda’s adventures on the ranch, to be continued in Sweet Buttercup, due out in January.

Cons: The illustrations don’t always match the text. For instance, Gran’s dog is described as “her collie, Lady”, but the pictures look more like a sheep dog. And Jewel, “the color of hot chocolate” looks quite light-colored.

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary: It’s Piper’s first day of second grade, and she’s decided to wear her brother Erik’s monkey earmuffs to school. Things get off to a bad start when Piper’s new teacher, who looks like a princess, turns out to be pretty strict and insist that Piper take off her earmuffs. When Piper refuses, a note goes home to her parents, and things spiral downward quickly. The next day, Piper decides to play hooky by hiding in a tree. A friendly elderly neighbor helps Piper to uncover the secrets of this fairy tree, and to get back on track with school and the new teacher. Grades 1-3.

Pros: Piper is a spunky second-grader who will be appreciated by fans of Junie B. Jones, Clementine, and Horrible Harry. Kids will be fascinated by her life on an island off the coast of Maine, from where she travels by lobster boat to school each morning.

Cons: I couldn’t get a good picture in my mind of how the fairy tree worked, and why the neighbor had to cut off a branch to get to the two kittens hidden inside.

Published by Dial Books for Young Readers

Summary: Dory is back in this follow up to last year’s Dory Fantasmagory. She’s getting ready for her first day of her school; older siblings Violet and Luke warn her to leave her imaginary friends at home and focus on the real kids. She listens to their advice—sort of—and decides that a girl named Rosabelle would make a good best friend. Not only is Rosabelle a princess, but she lives in a castle and rides a dragon. Of course, Luke and Violet assume Rosabelle is another figment of Dory’s imagination, but Dory persists and she and Rosabelle combine their imaginations to create a grand finale of epic proportions. In the end, Dory introduces her amazed brother and sister to the human Rosabelle. Grades 1-3.

Pros: I didn’t quite jump on the Dory bandwagon with the first book, but this one pretty much won me over. Junie B. Jones fans will get a good chuckle out of Dory’s first forays into school and friendship. The plentiful illustrations add a great deal to the fun.

Cons: Some readers might find Dory a bit too weird.