The 156-story treehouse

Gr 3--5--Griffiths and Denton are back for a new adventure in their 156-story treehouse (13 stories have been added to the treehouse since the last book). Andy introduces readers to all the cool things inside the treehouse, including a bouldering alley, which is like bowling but with boulders; an aquarium with their pet axolotl, Quazjex; and even an enigma machine. Andy and Terry's shenanigans include elements of fairy tales; their book publisher, Mr. Big Nose; 12 Santas (created when Santa falls into the cloning machine); and Jill--who, of course, saves the day. Intricate pen illustrations add to the story on every page, and readers will be able to combine words and illustrations to create a more thorough understanding of the storylines. The vocabulary is on-point, with a few words that will add to readers' vernacular, such as "Gorgonzola" and "axolotl." Readers will laugh out loud at the jokes in this humorous story. With a tagline like Holiday Havoc, even the most reluctant reader is in for a wild ride. VERDICT Readers of the "Dogman" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series will embrace this story.--Katie Loomis