[Grades 5-6] Great Books to Read in August

Get ready for Mr. Lemoncello's first-ever Library Olympics and discover what James Patterson calls “the coolest library in the world” in this action-packed sequel to the award-winning, bestselling Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by the much-loved coauthor of Max Einstein! The world-famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello is at it again! This time Mr. Lemoncello has invited teams from all across America to compete in the first-ever LIBRARY OLYMPICS. The competition is fierce! But something suspicious is going on . . . books are missing from Mr. Lemoncello's library. Is someone trying to censor what the kids are reading?! Now it's not just a game—can Mr. Lemoncello find the real champions of libraries? In between figuring out mind-boggling challenges, Kyle and the others will have to band together to get to the bottom of this mystery. Let the games begin!Don't miss the bonus content in the back of the book, including a template to make your OWN decoder wheel! And look for the puzzle-packed sequels—Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race, Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game, and Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket!*“A worthy successor to . . . Willy Wonka.” —Booklist, starred review (Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library)Praise for Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics*An ILA/CBC Children's Choice “Lots of action and quirky humor.” —The Washington Post“This action-packed sequel is sure to delight.” —Booklist “Dewey like this? Of course, and so will upper-elementary and middle school readers and gamers alike.” —Kirkus Reviews

A classic tale by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo, America's beloved storytellerWhen a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes — hope and belonging, desire and compassion — with the lightness of a magician’s touch.With dreamlike illustrations and a cover by Yoko Tanaka.

Featuring the evergreen appeal of human-animal friendships and set in an elephant sanctuary, We Bought a Zoo meets Jurassic Park in a gripping story about a thirteen-year-old girl, a cast of elephants, and a surprising new arrival—a woolly mammoth. Sam was born and raised in an elephant sanctuary. When a beloved elephant dies giving birth, Sam develops a connection with baby Woolly—who isn’t actually an elephant but was cloned from woolly mammoth DNA. And the billionaire genius behind the cloning experiment will stop at nothing to protect his investment. Smart, determined, and loving, Sam stands up to this powerful adversary to protect the sanctuary and her herd. In the best tradition of child-animal friendship stories, Elephant Secret explores the strong and complex bond between Sam and her elephants while offering a fascinating, authentic glimpse into elephant—and human—behavior.

From the moment Thunder took his first step, it was clear that his footsteps would make quite an impression on the world around him.The tiny elephant's life was pretty much perfect until one fateful night when poachers crept into it. In the cloak of darkness, they sprang on his herd separating him from his mother and the rest of the African pygmy herd. After a harrowing escape, Thunder must dig deep inside to find the courage to find his way home. With helpful friends and the watchful eye of the Great Tusker in the sky, Thunder's journey is the adventure of a lifetime.

Lizzie and Karl's mother is a zoo keeper; the family has become attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene, who will be destroyed as a precautionary measure so she and the other animals don't run wild should the zoo be hit by bombs. The family persuades the zoo director to let Marlene stay in their garden instead. When the city is bombed, the family flees with thousands of others, but how can they walk the same route when they have an elephant in tow, and keep themselves safe? Along the way, they meet Peter, a Canadian navigator who risks his own capture to save the family. As Michael Morpurgo writes in an author's note, An Elephant in the Garden is inspired by historical truths, and by his admiration for elephants, "the noblest and wisest and most sensitive of all creatures." Here is a story that brings together an unlikely group of survivors whose faith in kindness and love proves the best weapon of all.

Back in 775 BC, athletes from all over Ancient Greece came together to compete in various games. The contests were held every four years and winning athletes brought honor and respect to their homelands.The tradition of the Olympic Games faded over time until 1896, when they were brought back to life. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, with over two hundred athletes from fourteen countries. Today, nearly three thousand years after the first Games, the Summer Olympics attract one hundred thousand top athletes from over two hundred countries. Billions of fans around the world cheer on their national teams to bring back the gold.

Hours of entertainment for the kids—let the good times roll!Why did the chicken cross the road? Knock, knock. Who's there? What do you get when you...? As kids guess the answers, they're sure to get the giggles! With this book, little ones will look forward to sharing the jokes with parents, teachers, and siblings--and even coming up with some variations of their own! In addition to hundreds of rib-tickling jokes, readers will love: –Head-scratching brain teasers –Funny knock-knock jokes –Hysterical puzzles –Ridiculous riddles And much, much more! Amid the jokes, kids also find information on how to deliver the perfect punch line and how their favorite comics got started telling jokes. Every budding comic needs a little help getting started, and this book is the perfect go-to for getting laughs!

It’s a scientific fact: Women rock! A charmingly illustrated and educational book, New York Times best seller Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. Full of striking, singular art, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about relevant topics such as lab equipment, rates of women currently working in STEM fields, and an illustrated scientific glossary. The trailblazing women profiled include well-known figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, as well as lesser-known pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Women in Science celebrates the achievements of the intrepid women who have paved the way for the next generation of female engineers, biologists, mathematicians, doctors, astronauts, physicists, and more! — BrainPickings - Best Science Books of the Year

"This amazing book shows girls they can be anything they want." - Melinda Gates A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! This sequel to the sensational New York Times bestseller, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, showcases 100 brand-new bedtime stories of incredible women throughout history and around the world.In this book, readers will embark on an empowering journey through 100 new bedtime stories, featuring the adventures of extraordinary women through the ages, from Nefertiti to Beyoncé. The unique narrative style of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls transforms each biography into a fairytale, filling readers with wonder and a burning curiosity to know more about each hero. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2 boasts a brand-new graphic design, a glossary, and full-page, full-color portraits of each subject, created by the best female artists of our time.

Exploring and studying space are among humanity's greatest accomplishments, but history books have too often neglected the incredible work of women astronomers and scientists. This informative book illuminates the lives and achievements of astronomical geniuses, from Wang Zhenyi of the Qing dynasty, to Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Mini bio and feature boxes provide fast facts on each featured scientist, and a gallery spread introduces readers to even more crucial women astronomers. Quotes from each scientist and their contemporaries inspire readers to develop their own love of STEM. Beautiful original illustrations and vibrant photographs pull readers into this thoughtful book. A thorough timeline gives readers a view of women's progress in the field of astronomy, and a "Science Now" spread shows readers the wonders of modern day astronomy.

Congress established Yellowstone, the nation’s first national park, in 1872. Today there are 50 national parks within the United States, encompassing an extraordinary diversity of terrain, animal life, and vegetation. From the dry deserts of Big Bend National Park in Texas to the icy wilderness of Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska, the wonderful natural heritage of America’s national parks is yours to color and enjoy in this exciting coloring book. Among the other parks features are Grand Canyon, Everglades, Great Smoky Mountains, Mammoth Cave, Petrified Forest, and many more. In addition to Peter Copeland’s detailed, carefully researched drawings, you’ll also find informative captions describing distinguishing features of each park, its wildlife, plants, and available activities for visitors. The result is not only an enjoyable and informative coloring book, but also a useful survey of the major attractions of these splendid preserves.