Lights, Camera, Middle School!

The star of the Holm siblings’ Babymouse books enters middle school in this illustrated novel, first in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series. Babymouse is determined to stand out at school, but she isn’t sure how. “Goldilocks had it way easy,” she laments, trying to choose among multiple activities. “All she had to do was find the right bed!” Deciding that the Film Club might be her “chance to be Famous,” Babymouse signs up, and her grandiose vision of making an epic film lands her the roles of director and screenwriter. A comedy of fiascoes ensues: the cast and crew walk out when Babymouse gets too bossy, they regroup to illegally film scenes at a medieval fair, and they wind up with an inaudible five-hour movie. Babymouse’s bravado and wild romps of imagination (captured in boisterous comics sequences) keep the spotlight directly on her—not that she’d have it any other way. The Holms humorously tackle friendship, persistence, and cooperation; readers who have aged out of the original Babymouse books will happily join her in this new chapter. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (July)