*Book cover picture from Goodreads.com
Here is a book that is silly enough for your unique grades 3-5 kids (maybe a really strong 2nd grader, but probably better for 3rd) and that has some good vocabulary words along with it. I just loved the basic concept: a gang of animal pirates kidnaps kids but only if they do the "deed"-picking their noses and eating it. The pirates are shocked when they grab Mabel, because they are not used to a GIRL doing the deed, but Mabel begins her adventure on the pirate ship, The Feroshus Maggot. She helps the pirates in their pursuit of legendary pieces of something that was broken apart years ago because it will open a portal to send Mabel back home. She makes friends and enemies, and the book had some parts that made me laugh out loud. The narrator is one who can get silly (withholding plot information during tense moments), and that just adds to the story. You definitely have to match this one to the right kid with a quirky sense of humor, but I am sure he or she will get a kick out of it!