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Best Children's Mystery, Detective, & Spy

The Boxcar Children Books 1-4
The paperback editions of The Boxcar Children Mysteries: #1, The Boxcar Children; #2, Surprise Island; #3, The Yellow House Mystery; and #4, Mystery Ranch are offered together in a cardboard case. Gertrude Chandler Warner was born in 1890 in Putnam, Connecticut, where she taught school and wrote The Boxcar Children because she had often imagined how delightful it would be to live in a caboose or freight car.
Reviews
"By the time we got to the second chapter, he says "Why don't you read one page and I will read the next page". UPDATE: night 3, we read the first 5 chapters together, and he wakes up the next morning telling me how the books end!"
"I believe that it inspires a sense of agency in young readers, and my 6 year old son enjoys reading these with me."
"Great set of books for kids who don't like to read."
"Wonderful books."
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The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)
Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? Rick. Riordan is also the author of the New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: The Lightning Thief and Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Two: The Sea of Monsters.
Reviews
"While the second book in the series, *The Sea of Monsters*, helped to change my mind on this, it was still a bit underwhelming. The whole narrative felt like basically an endless series of cliff-hangers with little to no character development and not enough plot. Now, this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the first two volumes, but just that they didn't quite (other than some interesting stuff such as likable characters and references to myths) *do* it for me, so to speak. This third book, however, really did make me a major *Percy Jackson* fan, and was absolutely a great read. In a rescue mission to save two fellow demi-gods, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and their new friend Thalia, encounter trouble. Though they save the twin half-bloods, Annabeth goes missing, and to make matters worse, so does a powerful goddess ally, Artemis. Not only did Riordan expand on the mythology of the series, and the connections to Classical Greek myths, but the structure was different. Well, the answer is that they are a) kinda personality-driven, and this interferes with some proactiveness, as they have their own stuff to attend to and their personalities dictate this, and b) related, they are *busy*. For that matter, there is a delicate power balance that too much action on the part of *anyone* will upset."
"We also find out with why Nico is so grumpy and not very talkative with Annabeth anymore like he used to as a preteen. Leo even visited Calypso and we learned what that line in the prophecy about a promise was really Leo promising Calypso to free her from her prison so that one day they could open up a car repair garage/food place. Leo's ADHD hasn't been too bad, Piper can charmspeak things to being actual living things while also learning how to fight, and being in Tartarus both changed Percy and Annabeth while growing them more together."
"Everyone is on survival mode — Percy and Annabeth must survive Tartarus and reach the Doors of Death, as the rest of the team — Jason, Piper, Frank, Hazel, Leo, Nico, and Coach Hedge — travels on the Argo II to reach the House of Hades. The changing points of view allows the reader to keep up with the simultaneous events — sometimes jumping from one place to another at the most inopportune times, other times giving us just enough breathing room to relax for a millisecond. We follow Percy and Annabeth’s impossible and grueling journey through the most horrible of settings — in a surprising turn of events, there is more than just a horde of evil enemies down there… (a silver light as the end of this dark, dark tunnel?)."
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The Boxcar Children Bookshelf (The Boxcar Children Mysteries, Books 1-12)
A deluxe Boxcar bookcase that contains 12 titles—The Boxcar Children Mysteries #1 through #12. Gertrude Chandler Warner was born in 1890 in Putnam, Connecticut, where she taught school and wrote The Boxcar Children because she had often imagined how delightful it would be to live in a caboose or freight car.
Reviews
"I have loved these books since they were the first chapter books I read in elementary school. The first three books in the set were fine; however, Mystery Ranch has several issues: When the girls first arrive in town where Maggie is picking them up, a few lines are missing as it goes straight from "Yes, I'm Maggie."
"I've quizzed him on the characters and the plot of the book(s) and he seems to have a great comprehension of them."
"My sister used to love Boxcar Children so I bought them for my 9 year old son."
"This was a series I ADORED and read thoroughly when I was a kid."
"Great character is displayed by the family and kids."
"These are a childhood favorite of mine."
"I bought these for my 10 year old daughter because I loved them at that age."
"Several pages and entire chapters are completely missing from every book."
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Best Children's Siblings Books

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules
Whatever you do, don’t ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn’t want to talk about it. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules chronicles Greg’s attempts to navigate the hazards of middle school, impress the girls, steer clear of the school talent show, and most important, keep his secret safe. Jeff Kinney is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and five-time Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award winner for Favorite Book.
Reviews
"As a family we loved it."
"My daughter loves these books."
"The kid enjoys these books."
"Another addition to my collection."
"Every year the elementary school holds a book fair and they charge twice as much for the books in this series, which is still less than the local book stores."
"Grandson LOVES these books."
"I get that the sort of "middle school boy" humor is not necessarily what I find amusing, but I found the character's nonexistant moral grounding to be distributing."
"This book seemed too young for me but my little nephews loved it."
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Best Children's Detectives Books

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia Book 2)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia , a series that has become part of the canon of classic literature, drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over fifty years. Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. This is a stand-alone read, but if you would like to explore more of the Narnian realm, pick up The Horse and His Boy , the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia . Beginning with Chapter One when Lucy looks into the wardrobe and discovers Narnia and the faun, readers will find that this timeless story can still work the magic that C.S. Narnia fans will want to listen to this story over and over again, and new fans will be created as they listen for the first time.-Ginny Harrell, William McGarrah Elementary School, Morrow, GA.
Reviews
"As you read through you'll notice familiar things, almost like Deja-vu."
"This is a great go-to series any time you are wanting to get immersed in a fantastical world."
"This book should be required reading for all children with vivid imaginations."
"We love this book and it is the perfect intro for my 3 and 5 year old boys who now can't wait to read more C.S."
"I was able to pick up on the semi-religious theme as an adult but it'seems subtle and contains hidden lessons for any reader."
"A story full of mystery and adventure, written for children, but so delightful that adults love it too!"
"Forget any preconceived ideas you have sit back and enjoy."
"A great book for anybody between the age of 9-13."
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Best Children's Literature Collections

Aesop's Fables
In this elegantly designed volume, more than sixty of Aesop's timeless fables have been carefully selected, humorously retold, and brought gloriously to life by four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Jerry Pinkney. Aesop's wisdom spills across the pages as freely as Pinkney's glorious watercolors, alight with the many creatures who people the tales, from fiddling grasshoppers and diligent ants to wily foxes, clever crows, brave mice and grateful lions.
Reviews
"Her older sister told me she loves the stories and is very excited to have it in their bedtime stories line up."
"The book arrived quickly and was in very good condition."
"It's definitely a beautiful and well built book It's sturdy and as a hard cover will last a long time."
"Written a little above our kids level."
"Great telling of these vital tales, which are a cornerstone of our Western culture."
"Forgot what fun this book was!"
"I would give it three stars, but the sizable collection of fables pushes it closer to 3.5 stars."
"Probably totally politically incorrect, would be pulled off the shelves, but it's great."
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Best Children's Scary Stories

Titan's Curse, The (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)
When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. The droll pitch is teen-perfect, as when Apollo heats up the scene by arriving in his fire-red Maserati, wearing jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt, and loafers. All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions and a surefire read-aloud.– Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Their adventures range widely across the U.S., taking them to locales that include Washington, D.C., and the deserts of the Southwest and pitting them against the usual assortment of colorful adversaries. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is built around a terrific idea—that the half-mortal offspring of Greek gods live among us, playing out struggles of mythic scale—and Riordan takes it from strength to strength with this exciting installment, adding even more depth to the characters and story arc while retaining its predecessors' nonstop laughs and action.
Reviews
"While the second book in the series, *The Sea of Monsters*, helped to change my mind on this, it was still a bit underwhelming. The whole narrative felt like basically an endless series of cliff-hangers with little to no character development and not enough plot. Now, this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the first two volumes, but just that they didn't quite (other than some interesting stuff such as likable characters and references to myths) *do* it for me, so to speak. This third book, however, really did make me a major *Percy Jackson* fan, and was absolutely a great read. In a rescue mission to save two fellow demi-gods, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and their new friend Thalia, encounter trouble. Though they save the twin half-bloods, Annabeth goes missing, and to make matters worse, so does a powerful goddess ally, Artemis. Not only did Riordan expand on the mythology of the series, and the connections to Classical Greek myths, but the structure was different. Well, the answer is that they are a) kinda personality-driven, and this interferes with some proactiveness, as they have their own stuff to attend to and their personalities dictate this, and b) related, they are *busy*. For that matter, there is a delicate power balance that too much action on the part of *anyone* will upset."
"We also find out with why Nico is so grumpy and not very talkative with Annabeth anymore like he used to as a preteen. Leo even visited Calypso and we learned what that line in the prophecy about a promise was really Leo promising Calypso to free her from her prison so that one day they could open up a car repair garage/food place. Leo's ADHD hasn't been too bad, Piper can charmspeak things to being actual living things while also learning how to fight, and being in Tartarus both changed Percy and Annabeth while growing them more together."
"Everyone is on survival mode — Percy and Annabeth must survive Tartarus and reach the Doors of Death, as the rest of the team — Jason, Piper, Frank, Hazel, Leo, Nico, and Coach Hedge — travels on the Argo II to reach the House of Hades. The changing points of view allows the reader to keep up with the simultaneous events — sometimes jumping from one place to another at the most inopportune times, other times giving us just enough breathing room to relax for a millisecond. We follow Percy and Annabeth’s impossible and grueling journey through the most horrible of settings — in a surprising turn of events, there is more than just a horde of evil enemies down there… (a silver light as the end of this dark, dark tunnel?)."
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Best Children's Fantasy & Supernatural Mystery Books

Titan's Curse, The (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)
When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. The droll pitch is teen-perfect, as when Apollo heats up the scene by arriving in his fire-red Maserati, wearing jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt, and loafers. All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions and a surefire read-aloud.– Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Their adventures range widely across the U.S., taking them to locales that include Washington, D.C., and the deserts of the Southwest and pitting them against the usual assortment of colorful adversaries. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is built around a terrific idea—that the half-mortal offspring of Greek gods live among us, playing out struggles of mythic scale—and Riordan takes it from strength to strength with this exciting installment, adding even more depth to the characters and story arc while retaining its predecessors' nonstop laughs and action.
Reviews
"While the second book in the series, *The Sea of Monsters*, helped to change my mind on this, it was still a bit underwhelming. The whole narrative felt like basically an endless series of cliff-hangers with little to no character development and not enough plot. Now, this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the first two volumes, but just that they didn't quite (other than some interesting stuff such as likable characters and references to myths) *do* it for me, so to speak. This third book, however, really did make me a major *Percy Jackson* fan, and was absolutely a great read. In a rescue mission to save two fellow demi-gods, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and their new friend Thalia, encounter trouble. Though they save the twin half-bloods, Annabeth goes missing, and to make matters worse, so does a powerful goddess ally, Artemis. Not only did Riordan expand on the mythology of the series, and the connections to Classical Greek myths, but the structure was different. Well, the answer is that they are a) kinda personality-driven, and this interferes with some proactiveness, as they have their own stuff to attend to and their personalities dictate this, and b) related, they are *busy*. For that matter, there is a delicate power balance that too much action on the part of *anyone* will upset."
"We also find out with why Nico is so grumpy and not very talkative with Annabeth anymore like he used to as a preteen. Leo even visited Calypso and we learned what that line in the prophecy about a promise was really Leo promising Calypso to free her from her prison so that one day they could open up a car repair garage/food place. Leo's ADHD hasn't been too bad, Piper can charmspeak things to being actual living things while also learning how to fight, and being in Tartarus both changed Percy and Annabeth while growing them more together."
"Everyone is on survival mode — Percy and Annabeth must survive Tartarus and reach the Doors of Death, as the rest of the team — Jason, Piper, Frank, Hazel, Leo, Nico, and Coach Hedge — travels on the Argo II to reach the House of Hades. The changing points of view allows the reader to keep up with the simultaneous events — sometimes jumping from one place to another at the most inopportune times, other times giving us just enough breathing room to relax for a millisecond. We follow Percy and Annabeth’s impossible and grueling journey through the most horrible of settings — in a surprising turn of events, there is more than just a horde of evil enemies down there… (a silver light as the end of this dark, dark tunnel?)."
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Best Children's Marriage & Divorce Books

Hatchet
After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the Canadian wilderness, learning to survive with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce. Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers, author of three Newbery Honor titles, Dogsong , Hatchet , and The Winter Room .
Reviews
"Daughter loves this series."
"My esl tutor recommended this book to me."
"It seems hard to find this 20th anniversary edition of Hatchet, but it is well worth the effort."
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Best Children's Family Life Books

Rosie Revere, Engineer
When her great-great-aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter) comes for a visit and mentions her one unfinished goal--to fly--Rosie sets to work building a contraption to make her aunt's dream come true. But when Great-Great Aunt Rose shows up for an extended stay sporting a red polka-dotted scarf à la Rosie the Riveter, she regales her niece with stories of her experiences building airplanes during World War II. She wistfully declares, “The only thrill left on my list is to fly!/But time never lingers as long as it seems./I'll chalk that one up to an old lady's dreams.” This is an itch that Rosie has to scratch, so she sets about designing a unique contraption to help her aunt take to the skies.
Reviews
"With an engaging story that kept her attention and illustrations you could look at over and over again, I found myself reading with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as Rosie battled her fear of failure to do great great things."
"She had fears, had setbacks, lost confidence for awhile, until someone showed her that even her so called “failures” are just opportunities to learn and do things better the next time."
"Rosie the Riveter, the original female who can get the job done and smash gender stereotype is re-introduced in a younger version of a science savvy girl who is equipped to deliver what is needed in today's world."
"And it was worth the wait- she loves this book and the others by Andrea Beaty."
"I bought this for my three year old girls and at first they weren't super interested, but they recently really took notice of all of the neat little details in the book illustrations."
"My little girl loves that the little blond looks like her and we talk about the message of the book each time we read it."
"Such a good lesson for all kids, but especially young girls, and I love that it encourages interest in science and math."
"Illustrations are great, but more importantly, I love the story/message."
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Best Children's Baseball Books

Big Book of WHO Baseball (Sports Illustrated Kids Big Books)
Featuring exciting MLB photography and the most current information about baseball’s best players, this Sports Illustrated Kids reference book for young sports fans is written in a fun and easy-to-navigate question and answer format.
Reviews
"I bought this for my husband who loves quick interesting facts."
"Got this for my son as a gift and he loves it."
"Wonderful, fun, but educational book for all ages, especially teens who are hard to buy for without electronics."
"The book looked wonderful on the outside....until I opened it and it was printed upside down and from back to front."
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