FROM SARAH:

A great first novel to read aloud because the stories within are so short (and funny!).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This silly series begins with Josh McBroom getting duped into buying 80 acres of land that are all stacked on top of each other. But never fear -- it isn’t as bad as it seems. These books are laugh-out-loud funny and illustrated by Quentin Blake, who illustrated many of Roald Dahl’s books.

FROM SARAH:

This one is a rip-roaring Gold Rush adventure that is truly hilarious, perfect for readers who love survival stories with a (large) helping of humor. It's filled with historical facts and fast-paced escapades stretching all the way from Boston to California.

FROM PUBLISHER:
Jack’s aunt is in trouble. Even after she sells her beloved mansion, she still doesn’t have enough money to pay off all her debts or, more importantly, to take care of twelve-year-old Jack and his two sisters. Luckily Jack has a plan! He’s going to strike gold. Setting out from Boston with his stuffy but trusty butler, Praiseworthy, the two of them stow away on a ship bound for California—and the Gold Rush. Along the way they’ll meet sailors, miners, outlaws, and wild animals. But will it all be worth it when they strike it rich?

**Description from Amazon: In the further adventures of Josh McBroom, the crops grow so fast, you'd better step out of the way when you plant corn, red barns turn blue in the cold, and words freeze still in mid-air. "As fresh as ever."--Booklist.

**Description from Amazon: Award-winning author Sid Fleischman blends the broadly comic with the deeply compassionate in this memorable novel, winner of the Newbery Medal.