Clubs — Kate De Goldi

Lolly Leopold, a smart, creative elementary school student, hates when it's club time at school. She doesn't quite fit with the Barbie Club or the Kitten Club; she could join the Lego Club, except they only create Lego wars, something Lolly finds too violent and dreadful; and the Harry Potter Club excludes girls. By the end of the school year, Lolly is one of only three students not in a club. When these three discover hidden similarities -- all their names have five letters, they can spell their names backwards, and they have a taste for watching grass grow -- they form their own club. The witty illustrations, sly humor, and inventive jokes that capture Lolly's worldview are insightful and entertaining.