Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies

How could a person see this book and not want to read it? Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies (due out May 2010) is a hilarious middle-grade sci-fi adventure in which twins Kevin and Joules Rockman need to save Camp Whatsitooya from sugar crazed, telepathic, man-eating rabbits from outer space.

This book literally had me laughing on every page. Occasionally the narrator laughed with me.

The story is presented in a variety of formats, moving seamlessly from traditional text to illustrated comic book style sequences, to charts of helpful information, to SPAM advertisements. My personal favorite was Kevin's Chart of Famous Last Words, compiled from his and his sister's own life experience and many many episodes of the Late, Late, Late Creepy Show for Insomniacs.

And just what does have the power to repel the Fluffs and save both Camp Whatsitooya and the world? Glitter? Junior High Musical Seven? The Plumbing Channel? SPAM? You'll have to pick this one up and find out! You won't regret it.

Zebrafish

Zebrafish, by Peter Reynolds, was the first of my ALA freebies that I sat down to read. My primary interest in picking up the title was that included in my registration materials was a coupon for a prize pack of promotional materials for the book. Once I read the blurb on the back cover, I knew I had to read it right away.

Zebrafish is about Vita, a self-declared indie girl who lives with her cancer researcher brother and wants to start a band. None of her friends have any musical talent, but with the help of a little computer animation, everyone can be in the band, named Zebrafish after the clear-skinned fish that help researchers study cancer. And what do bands do but put on concerts? In this case, a computer-animated, one song benefit concert. But instead of saving the pandas like band member Tanya wants, Vita decides to help something a little closer to home--the local hospital where her brother works and Tanya goes for chemo treatments.

The book is a fast read (it took me less than half an hour), with only 19 short chapters written in graphic novel style. The illustrations are great, and definitely suitable for middle-grade readers. And I can't think of a single middle schooler who wouldn't think a book about kids starting a band and making a difference was totally awesome.

Where this story finds its heart is in the deepening friendships between the band members and their decision to do something to help a friend in need. And the best part? This heartwarming conclusion encourages kids to think about ways in which they can make a difference. The prize pack was full of items promoting generationcures, a program based at Boston Children's Hospital.

This book is set for a release date of May 2010. I highly suggest keeping an eye out for it if you are or know anyone who enjoys entertaining and heartwarming middle-grade books.