A Girl, a Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon by Karen Romano Young, 384 pages

In a slightly fantastical New York City, one very special library branch has been designated for possible closure. Bookish, socially awkward Pearl, the daughter of the librarian, can't imagine a world without the library—its books, its community of oddballs, its hominess. When the head of their Edna St. Vincent Millay statue goes missing, closure is closer than ever. But Pearl is determined to save the library. And with a ragtag neighborhood library crew—including a constantly tap-dancing girl who might just be her first friend, an older boy she has a crush on, and a pack of raccoons who can read and write—she just might be able to. 

The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop, 179 pages

This was on a list of children's classics that adults should read. It was okay, but not nearly as good as The Indian in the Cupboard. A selling point is that it's a fast read.

The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh, 213 pages

This was on a list of must read children's books. It was okay but not one I would consider a must read in today's world.

George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl, 89 pages

There is just something fun, twisted and enjoyable by anything written by Dahl. This was just a short story by him featuring a horrible grandmother.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming, 150 pages

I had recently picked up the new children's book that was a sequel to this. The movie has always been one of my favorites (because who doesn't love Dick Van Dyke) but I'd never read the book. So, I decided it was time to read this children's classic by the author of the James Bond series (yep, that Ian Fleming). Well, I hate to say it, but this was one time that I liked the movie better than the book. The candy played a very minor role, the mother was still alive, and they didn't have the toymaker or evil ruler at all in the story. The book wasn't bad by any means, it just wasn't the wonderful story that I've loved since I first saw it as a kid. But I'm glad I can now say I've read this book.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce, 216 pages

I have been a fan of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang since the first time I saw the movie. When I discovered it was actually a book written by the same person who brought us James Bond (Ian Fleming) I loved it even more. So discovering a new sequel made me hesitant, wondering how they mangled a beloved favorite. But I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this new update. The sequel has a family in England restoring an old family camper, and the father putting in an engine that turns out to be from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty takes the family across the world gathering some of it's old parts, while being chased by a nefarious figure. The illustrations in the book really added to the story. I loved how very English this was. While it can never measure up to the original movie (yes, the one time I like the movie better than the book) it was still a great read.

A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons by Cressida Cowell, 252 pages

This is a fun series. This book has Hiccup stealing a book from the Viking library and fighting for his life against the Hairy Scary Librarian.