Family Book Club: February Edition

Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy (Dork Diaries Series #11), by Rachel Renee Russell
Hot on the wish list of many readers this holiday season was this latest installment from author Rachel Renee Russell. Nikki Maxwell is heading to a different school for a student exchange week and lo and behold, it’s the home school for her arch nemesis MacKenzie Hollister. Alone for a whole week with no friends and one frenemy, Nikki must navigate the halls all on her own. Hilarity and drama will ensue, as it many times before in the series. With a readership that leans heavily towards girls, this book is great for the whole family to read. Touching on issues of bullying, friendship, and a navigating a new environment, this title offers your family the opportunity to discuss what goes on at school besides learning, lunch, and recess, and may help kids open up about issues they may be facing in school.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay, by J.K. Rowling
Any new material published by author Rowling is always heavily anticipated. This new title does not disappoint, although it is a far departure from her previous works. Rowling’s first screenwriting debut, this book makes for a wonderful, interactive reading opportunity for the family, with dialogue and staging instructions. That’s right, this is a script! When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in the Big Apple in 1926, his magical case becomes misplaced and some of his rare creatures escape. Escapades, adventures, duels, and appearances before the high court ensue. Magic has finally stepped onto American soil with this Rowling piece and makes for a great choice for film fans.

The Night Parade, by Kathryn Tanquary
A first-time author, Tanquary sweeps us away to an entirely different culture as character Saki must trade in a summer in Tokyo for a trip to her grandmother’s village. While visiting, she falls in with the wrong crowd and disrespects her family’s ancestral shrine. By doing so, she has invoked a death curse and has three nights to undo it all. Saki must engage the help of new friends and spirit guides to help her along the way. This book may help your family explore a new region, a different culture, and mythical tales, all without traveling anywhere.

The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories Series #1), by Chris Colfer
Now is the perfect time for your family to start a new series together. A New York Times bestselling book, The Land of Stories Series starts with The Wishing Spell. Twins Alex and Conner mysteriously leave their world behind and enter The Land of Stories, a world of fairy tales they grew up hearing and reading about. They encounter the Evil Queen, Hansel and Gretel, Goldilocks, and Froggy, to name a few, as they work to find their way back home. Parents will appreciate a modern retelling of popular fairy tales. And of course, you can all discuss what really happens after the happily ever after.

Rush Revere and the Presidency: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans, by Rush Limbaugh, Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
Now that our 45th president has been sworn into office, your kids may have questions about the numerous preceding presidents. This book takes your entire family on a journey to the early years of America, where they get to experience our founders making history. Join along with a crew of kid characters and their time traveling horse as they witness George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in action. A dash of fiction is mixed in with historical accuracy, as the story travels between a modern-day school election season and the early years of our nation. The stories in this series make learning history fun again and will provide the perfect refresher for parents.