Our #MGCarousel reading challenge this month is all about MUSIC. If you’re seeking stories with rhythm, CJ and Elza have gathered 20 Middle Grade books that feature band campers, bardic inspiration, strumming, swinging, and plenty a catchy tune!
Continue reading “#MGCarousel – 20 Middle Grade Books About Music”Tag: Author: Melanie Heuiser Hill
Genius
It was all so clever. Bach was a musical genius, but he didn’t stop with beautiful music. He had all these jokes and numerical riddles running in his notes—forward, backward, and upside down sometimes. Two of her favorite things in one package: math and music! Oh, how she loved Bach!
Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill
Bingo Squares
Looking for books that fit our current Book Bingo challenge? Here are a few recommendations to help you read for a win!
Botanical Words in the Title



- Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
- Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
- Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill
Want to play?
Read the challenge rules and download your bingo card to get started!
Can you find a book with a botanical word in the title? Share an MG read you’d add to our stack in the comments!
Something Borrowed
Read Along!
Discover more Middle Grade books about libraries during the month of January! Recommend your favorites, snap a photo, or share a quote using the hashtag #MGCarousel.
Check out our #MGCarousel Challenges page for more info.
The American Dream
Read Along!
Discover more Middle Grade books about theater during the month of May! Recommend your favorites, snap a photo, or share a quote using the hashtag #MGCarousel.
Check out our #MGCarousel Challenges page for more info.
Library Copy
Rose had her own copy of Charlotte’s Web—Gram had seen to that—but it sat unread on her bookshelf at home. It was the library copy she loved. Its corners were worn to a comfortable gray.
Giant Pumpkin Suite
Melanie Heuiser Hill
Giant Pumpkin Suite
May Day!
The first of May. It was May Day! When they were little, she and Thomas always made May baskets from construction paper and filled them with tissue-paper flowers. They’d sneak over to Mr. Pickering’s front porch, hang the baskets on his doorknob, then ring the doorbell. Before Mr. Pickering answered, they would run home. Mr. Pickering always pretended not to know who had left the surprise.
Giant Pumpkin Suite
Melanie Heuiser Hill
Signature
If you assigned a number to each letter of the alphabet—a somewhat common practice in Bach’s time, apparently—J. S. Bach’s last name added up to fourteen. B (2) + A (1) + C (3) + H (8) = 14. He used the sum of the letters in his name in creative ways in his compositions … it was Bach’s way of building in a cryptic “signature.”
Giant Pumpkin Suite
Melanie Heuiser Hill