Reaching Reluctant Young Readers features 150 middle-grade books. Each profiled title has the potential to hook the reluctant reader and lure them to read the entire book. To specifically encourage elementary and middle-school-age reluctant children to read, there is first a pitch to get the reader’s attention. That is followed by a short reading passage to “set the hook” and encourage the young person to read the rest of the book on their own. Further, the book contains several hundred additional recommended titles. The books selected for this collection were chosen following the criteria of reluctant reader books created by the Quick Picks committee sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association. While these guidelines were designed for young adult books, they also work well for middle-grade books. The criteria include: clear writing (no convoluted long sentences with sophisticated vocabulary), high interest “hook” in the first few pages, well-defined characters, interesting plot, and familiar themes.

On the outskirts of Gordonville, deep in the heart of the burkeburke hills, lives a creature so strong, so fearsome and so meaty….Yes, that’s right meaty….that even the most fearless, tender and breaded of heroes might not be strong enough to foil him. He’s Massive Meatloaf Man. And once Fernando Goldberg gets a load of the meaty monster, he decides it may just be best to steer clear. But Dirk Hamstone has other ideas. He aims to find fame and fortune by luring the Loaf in and putting him on display. Does Dirk care that trying to tame the beefy barbarian is endangering himself, his classmates, and everyone else the maniacal meatman comes across – carnivore, vegetarian, or even vegan? Not a chance! It will take a whole lot of quick-thinking to cut the mustard—or, er, the ketchup—once this ferocious, succulent and sumptuous beast unleashes his fleshy fury onto the innocent citizens of Gordonville. Will Super Chicken Nugget Boy send the creature packing? Or will the Massive Meatloaf Man make mincemeat of the entire town?

He’s faster than fast food! Crispier than Chex Mix! He’s . . . . Super Chicken Nugget Boy! When Fern Goldberg arrived at Bert Lahr Elementary School, he was just an average kid: nearsighted, a touch on the skinny side. Then he fell into the pool of radioactive green goo behind Bogie’s Burger Barn. Now whenever his skin comes into contact with condiments, he transforms into a bona fide, deep-fried superhero who’s not afraid to take on villains great and small, from the class bully to the giant, mutated French fry who threatens to crush the whole school beneath his massive, starchy feet . . . . Villainous vegetables beware! Here comes the most formidable food fighter in history!

Invites young readers to change the tow truck's tire, turn the key to start the engine, steer the wheel, weave through a traffic jam, and hook up a stalled car.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A fascinating look at how consumers perceive logos, ads, commercials, brands, and products.”—Time How much do we know about why we buy? What truly influences our decisions in today’s message-cluttered world? In Buyology, Martin Lindstrom presents the astonishing findings from his groundbreaking three-year, seven-million-dollar neuromarketing study—a cutting-edge experiment that peered inside the brains of 2,000 volunteers from all around the world as they encountered various ads, logos, commercials, brands, and products. His startling results shatter much of what we have long believed about what captures our interest—and drives us to buy. Among the questions he explores: • Does sex actually sell? • Does subliminal advertising still surround us? • Can “cool” brands trigger our mating instincts? • Can our other senses—smell, touch, and sound—be aroused when we see a product? Buyology is a fascinating and shocking journey into the mind of today's consumer that will captivate anyone who's been seduced—or turned off—by marketers' relentless attempts to win our loyalty, our money, and our minds.

When Gordonville's most preeminent food scientist, Dr. Myron Ned-Grant, came to speak at Bert Larh Elementary, he seemed like a really nice guy--that is, until school bully Dirk Hamstone reminded him of his name's unfortunate resemblance to eggplant