Books with author Megan McDonald

On your mark, get set, Gobblers-a-Go-Go! Judy swears she’ll win the race for a Thanksgiving turkey (though Stink has his doubts) in this full-color Moody adventure. The town’s annual Turkey Trot race and festival is coming up, and Judy and Stink are training to win. Judy has decided that she is going to take home the big prize: a fat, juicy turkey. They can taste it already: the moist turkey, the hot gravy, the savory stuffing, the cranberry sauce! Beep! Beep! Beep! That’s the sound of Stink’s Rapidfire Ultra XE611M25 stopwatch going off as Judy and Stink hop, crawl, and climb toward race day. But what if they don’t win a mouthwatering bird? What then? Flying turkey gizzards! Will the Moody family end up starving on T-day, like ye pilgrims of olde, or will Grandma Lou cook up a tasty Franksgiving solution?

Stink Moody, Judy's little brother, is sure he can win the Super-Stinky Sneaker Contest because he has such a supersensitive nose. When his class goes to the Gross-Me-Out exhibit at the science museum, the second grader is able to identify every smell in the Everybody Stinks exhibit, from bad breath to B.O. This ability really impresses his classmates. He becomes Mr. Nose-it-all, and he hopes one day to smell a corpse flower, which has the worst odor in the entire world. When cancellation of the contest is threatened because one of the judges is sick, Stink's teacher comes up with a unique way to save the day, but it would mean that Stink would have to give up becoming a contestant. Stink is a delightful protagonist, comical and bright, and McDonald cleverly imparts information on smells. The characters ring true. The early chapter-book format is inviting, with lots of white space, occasional illustrations, and a vocabulary that stretches but doesn't strain young readers. A funny book worthy of being added to almost any collection.

After visiting the Freedom Trail in Boston, Judy Moody declares her independence. Her demands include freedom from brushing her hair, freedom from her little brother Stink, freedom from homework, and freedom for an early bedtime. Will Judy be able to prove to her parents she’s responsible enough for her freedoms? Megan McDonald’s latest charming addition to the Judy Moody series will have listeners “star spangled bananas” over the young heroine’s escapades.

Stink needs a sport, fast! Can his alter-ego, Shark Hammersmash, wrestle a win at thumb wars? Or will a perfect karate kick lead him to vistory? Crackdown! Smackdown! Thmackdown! Stink Moody, family brain, brings home a report card that isn't perfect? Yikes! Time for him to get into fighting shape and beat back that U for Unsatisfactory in gym! A scan of the sports channel leads to a knock-out find: world-class thumb-wrestling, with tricky moves like Snake in the Grass and Santa's Little Helper (no equipment needed, save for a tiny terrifying mask to sit on your thumb). But when Mum and Dad are not wowed, Stink gets another idea: he'll kick and punch his way to a yellow belt with the help of a Dragon Master, a seeing-eye Moose, and a mind as still as a pond. Can you say Crouching Tiger, Hidden Thumb? Hee-ya! Ha! Ha! Ha!

The news is forecasting lots of shooting stars for tonight. Star and her best friend Blister wait all day. They ride bikes. They paint pictures. But even after it gets dark, they don’t see a single flash. Will Star ever see her shining star? Shining Star is the sequel to Lucky Star, by the same talented author-and-illustrator team.From the Trade Paperback edition.