Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

4^th Grade and Up

Julia is short for her age, but by the end of the summer run of The Wizard of Oz, she’ll realize how big she is inside, where it counts. She hasn’t ever thought of herself as a performer, but when the wonderful director of Oz casts her as a Munchkin, she begins to see herself in a new way.

As Julia becomes friendly with the poised wise Olive – one of the adults with dwarfism who’ve joined the production’s crew of Munchkins – and with her deeply artistic neighbor, Mrs. Chang, Julia’s own sense of self as an artist grows. Soon, she doesn’t want to fade into the background and it’s a good thing, because her director has more big plans for Julia.

It could probably get annoying being short at times. Like not being able to get something from the top shelf or being too short to ride a roller coaster or not being able to see over the dashboard but it doesn’t seem like the worse thing in the world. But this story really isn’t about being short; it’s more of a side plot. The real story is how the theatre changes Julia’s life.

If you like this book, check out the original Netflixs series Julie’s Greenroom.

Julie’s Greenroom stars Julie Andrews who is joined by her assistant Gus and “Greenies”, a cast of original puppets built by The Jim Henson Company. Each episode features different performing arts, such as improv and writing an original song. And every episode features a gust star who teaches the puppet children about a specific area of the performing arts. 

This show is aimed at a preschool kids audience but I love this sweet little show. My favorite character is Hugo the Duck. I don’t know why they added a duck but I’m glad they did. This show is great for younger kids to adults so moms and dads can watch with their kids.

'Captain Underpants' Series by Dav Pilkey

2^nd Grade and Up

This series revolves around two 4^th graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, living in Piqua, Ohio, and Captain Underpants, a superhero from one of the boys’ homemade comic books, that accidently becomes real when George and Harold hypnotize their ill-tempered principal, Mr. Krupp.

Join the boys as they battle - talking toilets, cafeteria ladies from outer space, poorly named professors, bionic booger boys and many other hilarious creations beyond your wieldiest imagination.

I have fond memories of George, Harold and Capitan Underpants as a child. Every boy in my 2^nd grade class was reading them at the time. It’s the only thing I remember about 2^nd grade: Boys reading Captain Underpants and flipping their eyelids up and grossing out the girls.

Captain Underpants actually inspired me to start writing my own comics when I was very little. They were mostly just stick figures in capes but you have to start somewhere.

Anyone remember elementary school when they had book fairs in the library and it would be total chaos. Those book fairs were the best things ever and the one thing I miss about school. I think that’s where I got most of my Capitan Underpants books. I really need to buy the last four books.

I really loved these books and then there was the six-year gap between Book 8 and Book 9. At the time I thought Dav Pilkey, the author, had dropped off the face of the earth or something. And by the time Book 9 came out I was 18 and had lost interest. But since DreamWorks decided to make the book series into a movie, I’ve gained interest yet again.

I kind of wish someone had made this movie back when I was in elementary school, when the books where more popular. But doing it now is good too because CG movies have gotten so much better since then.

Side note: I actually saw a man cosplay as Captain Underpants at Comic Con this year. I looked for 2 seconds before turning away because…let’s just say I’m glad the movie is going to be an animated film and not live-action.