top of page

Elementary and Middle Grade Novels and Stories

by Donna Jo Napoli

BibleStories
FishGirl
ArabianNights
Norse
Egyptian
Greek
Mogo
Ugly
SlyCode
SlyFood
SlySports
SlyPet
ThreeDays
LightsOnTheNile
TroubleOnTheTracks
TheBravestThing
ChangingTunes
OnGuard
WhenTheWater
Gracie
PrinceOfThePond
Jimmy
ShelleyShock
SharkShock
SoccerShock

FISH GIRL

a graphic novel

illustrated by and coauthored with David Wiesner

fish girl.jpg

THE NEW YORK TIMES:

...powerful climax ...surreal and sometimes unsettling story ... determination and bravery ... Do not hestitate to give these books to boys as well as girls...

TREASURY OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY,

CLASSIC STORIES OF GODS, GODDESSES, HEROES & MONSTERS

TREASURY OF NORSE MYTHOLOGY, STORIES OF INTRIGUE, TRICKERY, LOVE & REVENGE

greek.jpg
Norse.jpg

National Geographic Timeless Stories

illustrated by Christina Balit

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

...wise, witty, and thoroughly entrancing...lyrically written... A must-have for most collections.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: 

dramatic world of life and death...the gods are larger-than-life and not blunted to conform to modern sensibilities. VERDICT: Buy it, and if space is an issue, weed to make it fit.

TREASURY OF EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY, CLASSIC STORIES OF GODS, GODDESSES,

MONSTERS & MORTALS

Egypt.jpg

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: 

Napoli's gripping and candid prose informs while offering the immediacy of a contemporary fantasy novel... Sidebars provide additional insights into the lives of ancient Egyptians and other topics...

TREASURY OF BIBLE STORIES

bible.jpg

KIRKUS:

A worthy cultural treasury with appeal to both the faithful and irreligious. 

TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS:

STORIES OF ADVENTURE, MAGIC, LOVE, AND BETRAYAL

Arabian.jpg

THE BOOKLIST READER:

...it simply isn’t possible to beat the sheer drama of the high-stakes premise of this important literary treasure.

TREASURY OF MAGICAL TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

magic cover.jpg

KIRKUS:

...breadth and inclusivity, spanning multiple cultures spread across six continents... 

Animal Humor

-- retold fairytales--  illustrated by Lita Judge

Ugly.jpg

UGLY

KIRKUS: 

...fabulous coming-of-age story... about fitting in (or not), about the implacability of nature and weather ...

To hear the first chapter read by the author, click here.

Mogo.jpg

MOGO, THE THIRD WARTHOG

BOOKLIST:

...life-or-death adventure tale...[for] children who love animals

Sly The Sleuth Mysteries

coauthored with Robert Furrow

illustrated by Heather Maione

SLY THE SLEUTH

AND THE PET MYSTERIES

sly3.jpg

SLY THE SLEUTH

AND THE FOOD MYSTERIES

SLY THE SLEUTH

AND THE CODE MYSTERIES

sly4.jpg
sly1.jpg

SLY THE SLEUTH

AND THE SPORTS MYSTERIES

sly2.jpg

 BOOKLIST: 

... upbeat stories ... written in short sentences with basic vocabulary targeted toward newly confident readers...

Suspense

TROUBLE ON THE TRACKS

 

BOOKLIST:

...high-spirited contemporary adventure..

trouble.jpg
three days.jpg

THREE DAYS 

THE HORN BOOK:

 ...Taut and suspenseful.. you-are-there immediacy...

For an answer to the question, "Where did the idea for this story come from?" click here

lights.jpg

LIGHTS ON THE NILE

KIRKUS:

...should enthrall young fans of historical fiction.

Family Stories

THE BRAVEST THING

CHANGING TUNES

 

KIRKUS:

 ...bittersweet ... a reassuringly bewildered character...

 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

 .. Laurel's extraordinary determination seems realistic...

brave.jpg
changing.jpg

Family Humor -- novel and sequel

water.jpg

WHEN THE WATER CLOSES OVER MY HEAD

 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

...[especially for] youngsters having trouble overcoming a fear

guard.jpg

ON GUARD

 

BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS:

 ...wisdom about the perplexities and pitfalls involved in youthful alliances...

Natural Science Humor Trilogy 

based on the frog prince fairy tale

illustrated by Judith Schachner

Prince.jpg

THE PRINCE OF THE POND,

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS DE FAWG PIN

Jimmy.jpg
Gracie.jpg

KIRKUS:

...enchanting story... it [blends] gentle, offbeat humor... with... action and suspense

JIMMY,

THE PICKPOCKET OF THE PALACE

KIRKUS:

...charmingly whimsical....an astonishing amount of in-depth natural history cleverly enmeshed in its endearing, screwball charm

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

...lighthearted fantasy

GRACIE,

THE PIXIE OF THE PUDDLE

Friendship Humor Trilogy

-amazing talking freckles-

Soccer cover.jpg

SOCCER SHOCK 

shark cover.jpg

SHARK SHOCK

BOOKLIST

... A lighthearted but realistic look at the fears contemporary children encounter as they grow up...

shelley.jpg

SHELLEY SHOCK

BOOKLIST:

...humor ...believable portrayal of the complexities of sixth-grade life...

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

... fantastic twist... genuine characters ...

Magic
bottom of page