Three children try to save life as we know it from whales on stilts with laser-beam eyes prepared to burn the world. Humor jumps out at you when you least expect it.

WHITTINGTON: Alan Armstrong. Illustrated by S.D. Schindler. Grades 4-7.

Whittington is descended from the cat in the Dick Whittington tale. A parallel story is about the relationships among the animals and the boy the cat encourages to read.

CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD: Avi. Grades 5-8.

The village priest tells a recently orphaned boy known only as Asta's son that his true name is Crispin. He then tells him to come to him in secret that night and he will tell him more, but Crispin finds the priest dead. Crispin is accused of the murder and must flee. The sequel is "Crispin: At the Edge of the World."

THE PENDERWICKS: A SUMMER TALE OF FOUR SISTERS, TWO RABBITS AND A VERY INTERESTING BOY: Jeanne Birdsall. Grades 4-8.

Enjoy a pleasant, old-fashioned story of a family that encounters fun, adventure, and a little danger during the family's August holiday in the Berkshire Mountains.

THE TEQUILA WORM: Viola Canales. Grades 5-9.

A Mexican-American girl's determination to make something of herself takes her from a barrio in a Texas border town to prestigious schools on scholarships, and back again.

COLIBRI: Ann Cameron. Grades 5-8.

Colibri is a 12-year-old Mayan girl in Guatemala in a story that has it all. The rich culture portrayed is almost as interesting as the riveting plot and collection of characters.

CHARLOTTE'S ROSE: A.E. Cannon. Grades 5-8.

Charlotte is a spunky 12-year-old crossing the prairies with Mormon immigrants. When a young mother dies after childbirth, Charlotte volunteers to carry the baby to Utah.

AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS: Gennifer Choldenko. Grades 5-8.

Moose is not happy to finish seventh grade on Alcatraz Island where his father works as an electrician/prison guard. Instead of baseball after school, he has to look after his "10-year-old" sister, Natalie. The trouble is that Natalie has been 10 for seven years.

THE LAST APPRENTICE — THE REVENGE OF THE WITCH: Joseph Delaney. Illustrations by Patrick Arrasmith. Grades 5-8.

Thomas Ward is apprenticed to the "Spook" whose job is to keep evil at bay. This is a scary book! "Book Two, Curseof the Bane" is even scarier as Tom has to fight an ancient horror while trying to avoid the Quisitor, an evil priest who will execute the Spook unless Tom can save him.

RAT BOYS: A DATING EXPERIMENT: Thom Eberhardt. Grades 5-9.