The Lawnboy by Gary Paulsen

If you've read "Hatchet" the classic Gary Paulsen book (and if you've been in sixth grade in the last decade or so, you probably have) then you might be surprised by Lawn Boy (Wendy Lamb Books, 2007). It's nothing like the survivalist tale that won Paulsen a Newbery Honor 22 years ago.

It's a simple book trying to tell a complex financial story, and it does a pretty good job. A 12-year old boy gets a ride-on lawn mower for his birthday. Through happenstance, he ends up spending the summer mowing lawns, and due to some neighborhood politics, quickly grows his business to a staggering level, makes tons of money, and learns about the beauty of a stock split.

This quick, under 100-page story gives kids a high-level idea of business (glossing over things like taxes and undocumented workers), but also has a bit of a dark side when a competitor wants to strong-arm the narrator out of his territory only to be thwarted by a professional boxer with a soft spot for his sponsor.

This leads to some fight scenes in the last sections of the book (some presented in a slapstick manner, some not) that raises the reading level for me a bit (School Library Journal lists it as Grades 4-7 which is a rather wide range if you ask me).

That said, it's an entertaining look at how a little money can make a lot of money if you know what you're doing... or if you can partner with someone who does. 3 bookmarks.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo tells stories in such a timeless, original way it's almost as if she writes from another time period. Her latest book The Magician's Elephant (Candlewick, 2009) is no exception.

With more of a Journey of Edward Tulane feel than The Tale of Desperaux (two of her previous books), The Magician's Elephant is a tale of hope, love and magic. Peter Duchene lives a miserable life with his guardian, Vilna Lutz. His father died on the battlefield, his mother in childbirth delivering Peter's sister -- who was stillborn according to Lutz. But Peter has never really believed this, due to a fleeting memory of holding his infant sister before his mother died.

A fortuneteller confirms that his sister is indeed alive -- and that an elephant of all things will lead him to her. So when a magician performing at the town's opera house that very evening accidentally magics an elephant into existence (it falls through the ceiling) Peter knows this is the sign he's been waiting for.

DiCamillo tells Peter's story with such tenderness that you can't help but love him and want his dreams to come true. Yoko Tanaka's illustrations are the perfect compliment, not too sweet but touching -- just like the story.

Heavy emotional moments may be too much for the under-kinder set, or the sensitive early elementary reader. But for DiCamillo fans, this will be another favorite in a long list of modern-day fairy tales! 4 bookmarks.