Sizable Problems

Growing up sounds cool to most kiddos, and baby bees too, but sometimes getting older, and bigger, can lead to "Sizeable Problems." That's the case for the characters in my June Picks - a granny with a pig who's too porky, a gal whose growth spurt goes haywire, and a boy who's way too big for his britches, in more ways than one.

Their escapades provide high jinks that make for entertaining reading, with some valuable life lessons thrown in for good measure.

"Granny Gomez and Jigsaw"

She might have gray hair and creak a bit in the knees, but the grandma in "Granny Gomez and Jigsaw," by Deborah Underwood is as hip as can be. Granny has lots of interests, including mountain climbing, but lately she's been a bit down.

You see Granny is lonely, so she considers a pet. Her grandson convinces her an ordinary dog or kitty is "not very special." Williams wants the best for his Granny and suggests a petite, pink piggy.

The next day Granny is bowled over when she opens her front door and finds a baby porker in a basket, compliments of William, who insists that if Granny doesn't keep the pig, it will be turned into a slab of bacon.

Granny is appalled and adopts the pig, who is good company and excellent at putting puzzles together. Life goes along swell until Jigsaw puts on the pounds and a solution must be found.

The friends' antics are cleverly depicted in illustrations by Scott Magoon that will tickle your funny bone.

"Stand Straight, Ella Kate, the True Story of a Real Giant"

A true story by Missouri author Kate Klise tackles a big subject. Young readers will be amazed at, "Stand Straight, Ella Kate, the True Story of a Real Giant," illustrated by Kate's sister, M. Sarah Klise.

Meet Ella Kate Ewing, born "just like any other baby in 1872," and raised on a farm near Rainbow, Mo. It isn't long before folks start realizing that baby Kate is in a class all her own - a super-sized class.

When she turns 7, she shoots up straight to heaven. Soon she's wearing her Pa's size 12 shoes and has to have a special desk in school. At 13 she's almost 6 feet tall, and she keeps growing until she tops out at over 8 feet.

At 18, Kate begins appearing in an exhibition in Chicago where people pay just to see her. Initially her parents don't like that, but Kate doesn't mind. She fits in with the people in the exhibition and is able to earn money.

For 20 years, Ella Kate toured the United States with traveling shows, making a name for herself and putting her size to work for her.

"Cosmic"

Get ready for the ride of your life with "Cosmic" an out-of-this-world Pick by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Meet Liam Digby, a 12-year-old from near Liverpool, England, a gaming whiz, who's so tall people mistake him for an adult.

Everyone from his mum and dad to his teachers expect a lot of him, because he's a big boy. This doesn't make any sense to Liam, but neither does the downy fuzz that's sprouting on his face, demanding that he take a razor to it - which almost ends up being a near-death experience.

Liam gets in more scrapes than you can shake a stick at. But he's not always an innocent victim. The crafty boy often uses his size to his advantage. Like the time he pretends he's old enough to drive a Porsche out of the showroom with his friend Florida at his side.

The duo are in the same acting group, and on a lark assume the role of father and daughter when they're out and about. They bite off more than they can chew when Liam enters a contest for the Best Dad in the World. The grand prize is a trip into outer space - now there's a cosmic idea!

Here's a book that will send you to the moon.

Reprinted with permission, Missourian Publishing Company. Copyright 2010.