5 Questions answered about Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey by Chris Grabenstein

Chris Grabenstein's books, the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series and his many series coauthored with James Patterson like I Funny, Treasure Hunters and House of Robots, are well loved in my library

His latest book is Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey,
and I have the answers to 5 questions you may (or may not) have.

Published: May 23, 2017

1. Is Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey part of a a series?

The #2 may have given it away... Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey is the second book in the Welcome to Wonderland series. Last year Welcome to Wonderland #1: Home Sweet Motel introduced readers to P.T. Wilkie (named after P.T. Barnum) who lives at the Wonderland Motel--"a motel with a lot of wacky decorations and tons of incredible stories but not too many paying customers."

2. What if I read book #2 before reading book #1?

Book #2 is its own outrageously ridiculous story. This time P.T. and his friend Gloria have a plan to convince the Hollywood producers of Beach Party Surf Monkey to film their movie at the Wonderland Motel--a movie featuring teen celebrities and you-tube superstar, Kevin the capuchin monkey. They hope it will cement Wonderland Motel as a tourist destination and keep them from having to sell to their new neighbor Mr. Conch of Conch Reef Resort, the guy who ordered bulldozers to demolish their old neighbors, and the guy who wants to bulldoze Wonderland.

Reading #2 first will probably end up making you want to read book #1... and then you might feel like reading book #2 again, so in a way reading #2 first could maximize your reading time for outrageously ridiculous P.T. Wilkie tales.


3. Is the Welcome to Wonderland series really "outrageously ridiculous"?

Book #1 did just win the 2017 Sid Fleischman Humor Award.

Also it says it's outrageously ridiculous right in the book:

And you can see for yourself and read the first five chapters of Book #2 here:

null

null

4.  Is Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray celery flavored soda (a favorite of P.T.'s grandfather) a real thing?

Yes, it really is. 

And someone needs to update the Cel-Ray Wikipedia page to include the Welcome to Wonderland series in the "Cel-Ray was mentioned in" section. 

5. Will there be a book #3?

Yes! Banana Shack Shake Up is coming in January 2018.
This summer readers can enter the "Fun in the Sun Summer Reading Contest" to have a character in book #3 named after them and earn a chance for their school to win a virtual visit.

Have more questions? Ask Chris yourself.

Enter to win a copy of
Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey

Visit Chris Grabenstein's Web Page:

Find Welcome to Wonderland #2: 

Beach Party Surf Monkey 

on...

Thank you to Random House for sending me a copy of this book, and providing a copy to giveaway.

5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior

5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior is the beginning of an epic quest that unites three kids Oona Lee--a clumsy sand-dancer with a destiny, An Tzu--a musically magical boy from the poorest of slums who is slowly turning invisible, and Jax Amboy--a beloved Starball player with a big secret. Together they embark on a magic adventure connecting 5 worlds.

"One by one the five great beacons went dark and the Gods were gone. And none would ever again light the shining Beacons, save a Warrior of Sand, crowned with living fire..."

This series is destined to have well worn covers and never enough copies in my library. To start the word of mouth among readers in your life, hand 5 Worlds to fans of Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet or Faith Erin Hick's Nameless City.


You may know that I like to watch for 5s in kidlit and always enjoy a good #fivespotting.

So the first book in the 5 Worlds series had me intrigued right from the start with its beautiful swirly 5 on the cover.

While the 5 in 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior may have initially caught my attention, it was the following 5 things that made me a serious 5 Worlds fan:

1. Truly lucious artwork


2. Sand dancing!

3. Controlling plants with music!

4. An epic magical adventure that has already captivated the readers in my life

5. The promise of more in 5 Worlds: The Cobalt Prince

Enter to win a copy of 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior

Visit the 5 Worlds Tumblr

Find 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior on...

Megan McDonald Webcast May 3rd

Be sure to scroll down for details on the FREE webcast with Megan McDonald and enter the giveaway for a Box set of Judy Moody books!

My school considers Megan McDonald an extra special author, and we have been incredibly lucky to have visited with her in person a few times over the years.

Dedication in Judy Moody Predicts the Future-
to the readers at our school
and our previous school librarian

When Judy Moody first came on the scene in her mood--not a good mood, a bad mood--our readers and teachers fell in love with the feisty and imaginative 3rd grader. 

Original artwork by Peter H. Reynolds hanging in the Parkview Library

It's been 17 years, and the Judy Moody and Stink series remain staple favorites for our reading community--well loved and well read. Rare!!

Note recently found in Judy Moody book #1

We are so excited to be able to connect with Megan McDonald through Candlewick's free webcast this spring.

Judy Moody Doll by MerryMakers

Connect your students with Megan McDonald this Spring for FREE!

Candlewick Press is hosting a free webcast to schools with author, Megan McDonald. 

The webcast will take place at 1 PM EST on May 3^rd, 2017.  

Send in questions both in advance and LIVE via Twitter on the day.

Only requirement to participate: high speed internet

 STEP 1 

Sign up for the webcast here:

REGISTER for a Megan McDonald Virtual Author Event and LIVE Webcast - Rare!!

Candlewick Press Presents An Exclusive LIVE Webcast With Beloved Children's Book Author Megan McDonald Wednesday May 3rd 1p.m. ET Author of the wildly popular Judy Moody series, the Stink books, and The Sisters Club trilogy Winner of the Children's Choice Book Award Sign up now!

(Don't see the sign up form? Click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWgJkYLClts-N-W246jqcfBQ2eNSN7oFBjC3yTuLZ-3ydkag/viewform )

 STEP 2 

Enter to win a box set of Judy Moody books for your webcast event.

Giveaway ends Wednesday April 12, 2017 at 11:59 PM

Visit the Judy Moody Website: www.judymoody.com

 Visit Stink's Website: www.stinkmoody.com

Visit Megan McDonald's Website: http://meganmcdonald.net/

A WILD Congratulations!

It's been a WILD week of celebrating the book birthday of Mr Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown!






With the help of Random.org 3 lucky winners were chosen to win a copy of Mr Tiger Goes Wild. Thank you to Little, Brown Books for providing the books!


And the winners are...

Jillian - @Heisereads

Laura - @LeulrichABC

Karyn - @Nyrak

Congratulations!

And thank you to everyone who helped celebrate the book birthday of Mr Tiger Goes Wild!

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

I am wild!

Want me to prove it?

Okay.

There was this one time when I was hiking through the forest and came across the cutest little guy... the way he squeaked just melted my heart.

So I had this WILD idea he could be my pet, and I brought him home.

My mom did not like the idea so much, she insisted that Children Make Terrible Pets.

Wait...




Um...

Yeah... no.... that wasn't me.

There was this other time though when I was really WILD...

I was exploring in the town where I live, and I found this abandoned train track.

There were these plants growing there that seemed to need some help, and I got this WILD idea that I could be a gardener.

Once I started taking care of them, the plants started taking over, spreading everywhere.

And when other people found out about it, they wanted to help me take care of my Curious Garden.

Wait...that wasn't me either, was it?




Well..

There was this WILD time I convinced everyone I was a mindreader,

and the time I designed a WILD plan to rid the world of vegetables that were terrorizing me...

Nope.

You're right. Neither of those were me either!

I guess,  the truth is... I'm really not WILD at all.

~sigh~


But I do get to go WILD in books.



That's one of the things I love about books and reading.
I get to experience life through the eyes of a character.
I get to be Lucy Bear, or Liam and see what things are like from their perspective.




In Peter Brown's new book, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, Mr. Tiger feels trapped in a life that doesn't suit him. It is grey and stiff and formal.



So Mr. Tiger has a WILD idea... he goes WILD.

 

Mr. Tiger's WILD idea is really about deciding to be true to himself.

Although I am not very WILD in real life, like Mr. Tiger I do try to be true to myself.
Sometimes that feels pretty WILD.

And just like the townsfolk in Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, when I am more myself, folks around me end up being more true to themselves too.



I can't wait to share Mr. Tiger with students and go WILD by being ourselves.




Find out more about Peter Brown and his fabulous books by visiting his website www.peterbrownstudio.com and following him on Twitter @itspeterbrown.



G is for Giveaway!

And G is part of a scrambled secret phrase.

To celebrate the release of Peter Brown's Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, we have a blog tour scavenger hunt for you! Visit all the blogs listed below to collect 7 letters/characters. Unscramble the letters/characters to unlock the secret phrase. Each blog is giving away three copies of Mr. Tiger Goes Wild courtesy of Little, Brown Books and Jen Vincent at Teach Mentor Texts has a Mr. Tiger Goes Wild prize pack to give away.

• Jen at Teach Mentor Texts
• Aly at Kid Lit Frenzy
• Franki at A Year of Reading
• Jen at Reederama
• Katherine at Read, Write, Reflect
• Laura at LibLaura5  <--- YOU ARE HERE!
• Colby at SharpRead 

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Happy Book Birthday to:

What it's about (in one sentence): A doll that may be haunted by the ghost of a little girl, leads three friends on a thrilling adventure.

What I love: 
Doll Bones is about three friends, now in middle school, who have played a game together since they were very young. Their game is all about creating elaborate adventure stories starring characters they based on their dolls or action figures. The three friends are all collaborative authors of an amazing story.
Suddenly one doll, a character they call The Queen, starts to communicate with them through dreams. She is an antique bone china doll that seems to be haunted by the ghost of a little girl - a ghost that needs their help.
I love the elaborate collaborative story telling of the three friends in this story. It is because of this element that you as a reader don't know for sure if The Queen really is haunted or if it is just another part of the friends' story.
I also love that the creepiness of the potentially haunted doll is thrilling without being nightmare inducing for the upper elementary/middle school set.

Did you know...

1. Holly Black has a secret library in her house. Take a tour here.

2. Puns make her go insane.

3. She loves lots of fabulous books. See a list of her favorites here.

Visit Holly Black's Website

My students and I are very excited that Holly Black will be visiting our school later this week.
To celebrate, I am giving away a signed copy of Doll Bones.

This Giveaway will run from 5/7 until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday 5/11.
You must be at least 13 to enter.
 

Giveaway: Boy + Bot by Dyckman

What it's about:

A boy and a robot meet and become friends.

What I love:

I love robots, and the illustrations of Bot are just darn cute! I also love the parallel stories of Boy's and Bot's perspectives. This book makes for a great, simple introduction to point of view for primary grades. 

I read, re-read and read aloud Boy+Bot many times before I discovered another reason I love it. My 6 year old read it to me the other night, and I discovered what an awesome book it is for early readers. 

Would I like to see the Geisel Award Committee take a look at Boy + Bot?

Affirmative!

Enter the Boy+Bot Giveaway

I am giving away a SIGNED copy of Boy + Boy by the wonderful Ame Dyckman.

Submit your email in the form below to enter the giveaway.

Rules for the Giveaway

1. The giveaway will run from June 19 to 5:55 p.m. CST on Thursday, June 21.

2. You must be at least 13 to enter.

Book Giveaway!

I'm giving away three picture books on another blog I manage for the 15 Books Student Choice Picture Book Award. 

Click through to 15 Books to enter the giveaway.

Each of these three fabulous picture books has a special connection to Minnesota, my home state.

If your home state or region of the world does not have a student choice picture book award, consider joining us at 15 Books!

Mali Under the Night Sky: a Lao Story of Home

by Youme

Mali Under the Night Sky is the true story of Lao-American artist Malichansouk Kouanchao (http://djai.net/mali) based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who walked with her family from Laos to Thailand when she was five years old.

The Princess and Her Panther 

by Wendy Orr
Illustrated by Lauren Stringer (Minnesota illustrator) 

My earlier Blog Post about Princess and Her Panther.

The Song of Middle C 

by Alison McGhee (Minnesota Author)
Illustrated by Scott Menchin