Illustrated Robin Hood  By: Rob Lloyd Jones

This book retells the classic story of Robin Hood. In this version Robin steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He wins a tournament held by the sheriff and becomes the guard of the sheriff’s treasure. Robin then steals all the treasure and gives it to the village people who had all their money taken by the sheriff. The sheriff tries desperately to catch Robin Hood but every time he walks away empty handed. This book would be great for students who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books. Another great aspect of this book is the section at the end that explains the history of Robin Hood and what that time period was like.

Katie in Scotland By: James Mayhew

In this story book Katie is traveling to Scotland with her brother and grandmother. While there they meet the Loch Ness Monster and begin an adventure that takes them to many fun places. Katie and Nessie experience the Highlands, the Edinburgh Festival, Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park and Museum, Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Greyfriar’s Bobby. This story is a great way to introduce Scotland and its culture. The illustrations also offer a childlike view Scotland.

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator By: Roald Dahl

This is a sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it begins with Charlie, his family, and of course Willy Wonka blasting off to space in a giant glass elevator. While on this adventure they arrive at the new U.S. Space Hotel, get mistaken as aliens, receive an invitation to the White House personally from the President, and battle Vermicious Knids all before heading back to the factory. The story changes halfway when the whole gang arrives back at the factory. Now the focus is on Wonka-Vite. Wonka-Vite is a pill that will make whoever takes it twenty years younger. They experiment with this pill in an attempt to get Charlie’s grandparents out of bed. This sequel is fun to read and adds to the original adventures that Charlie experienced at the factory. Quentin Blake’s illustrations showcase the great humor of Roald Dahl and the carefully crafted characters.

The Gruffalo By: Julia Donaldson

In this story a mouse is walking through the woods when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. All three animals want to eat the mouse, so the mouse invents the gruffalo! The gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaw, and knobbly knees and turned out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose. All through the story the mouse uses the gruffalo to scare the others away, while he shows no fear. After all, there is no such thing as a gruffalo. But wait, at the end, the mouse encounters a real gruffalo! The mouse is quick on his feet and claims that he is the scariest animal in the woods. The gruffalo laughs but then runs away when he sees that all the other animals flee once they see the mouse. Readers know, however, that the others are not afraid of the mouse they are afraid of the gruffalo. This story uses repetitive language and rhyming. It also has great illustrations that help keep the suspense while the mouse explains what a gruffalo is.