Disclosure: I received a free book as a Disney Hyperion book tour partner. Opinions shared are mine.

If you’ve been on Twitter recently, you probably noticed #TNready trending.  We’re in the thick of things on the front lines….er, schools.  Our middle school hasn’t even been able to start testing yet!  In the meantime, my students are itching to delve into another novel.  This time, my colleague convinced me to arrange my students in literature circles.  I’m calling them Book Clubs for the sake of a fun title, and the students are beyond excited.  Always on the lookout for a great middle grades story, I was thrilled to receive a copy of A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always By The Ocean by Kir Fox and M. Shelley Coats.  This book contains secrets of Topsea, a mysterious town that is more than a little strange.

The humor in A Friendly Town is so silly.  It reminds me a little of Shel Silverstein’s imagination, and has been likened to the Wayside School series.  Underneath the ridiculous details, though, it’s delightful to find a story that many children will embrace.  The first day at a new school feels like visiting an alternate universe, and that’s exactly what authors Kir Fox and M. Shelley Coats have created.  In this strange world, seaweed ketchup is served at lunch, and “the best” lockers are submerged in a swimming pool.  New student Davy really gives it his best effort.

Kudos to the authors for immersing readers in rich vocabulary and engaging dialogue.  Sprinkled throughout the book, excerpts and memos appear with random facts.  Are you well versed on The Care and Training of Watch Hogs, for example? Illustrations also improve the reading experience.  This book is a great choice for a read aloud; kids will love these characters’ crazy antics and comments.

One of my favorite quotes in this book comes from, of course, a teacher.  Mr. Zapple kindly shares that he hardly ever has answers. Instead, he said, “I just help students answer their own questions.”  What a wonderful way to encourage inquiry and curiosity.   Since I only have one copy of this book, it’s not going in this year’s Book Club rotation. Most of my groups have 4 members.  Instead, my son and I will enjoy it together then it will be added to my classroom bookshelf.  I can already think of several students who will love it!  A Friendly Town is the type of book that students will remember for a long time.

What book do you remember from your childhood?