This is what happens when a master storyteller turns her attention to the early reader format—you get actual characters, moral complexity, and literary craft in a package that's accessible to kids just learning to read independently.

Orris is delightfully cranky (he lives alone, surrounded by his treasures and discarded book pages), and the setup—should he save his natural enemy?—gives young readers a real ethical dilemma to chew on. DiCamillo doesn't talk down to her audience; she trusts them to understand that doing the right thing can be hard and that unlikely friendships are worth the risk.

The 4.8 Amazon rating and positive reviews from Common Sense Media and The Horn Book confirm what you'd expect from a two-time Newbery winner: this is quality stuff. It's the first in a trilogy, which means if your kid falls for this odd couple, there's more to come. A strong pick for families who want early readers that don't feel like they were written by a committee.