In her eleventh misadventure, Judy Moody finds a lucky penny, only to lose it, recover it, and lose it again. Her good fortune comes and goes, too: she travels to Washington DC for her school's spelling bee, but misplaces a potbellied pig she's supposed to be tending. As always, newly independent readers will easily relate to Judy's charming flaws.

Judy Moody has an amazing run of good luck, perhaps due to the wonderful lucky coin she's started carrying. Imagine winning prize after prize from The Claw--a fishing-for-stuffed-animals arcade game. That's what happens to Judy with her new lucky penny. The good fortune doesn't stop there, however. She bowls a prizewinning game at a birthday party, and the tough word she's asked to spell in front of her third-grade class just happens to be posted on the bulletin board. Good luck can't last forever though; she drops her lucky penny in the toilet and then misspells the very first word during the class spelling bee. She's then asked to accompany classmate and bee winner Jessica to Washington, D.C., to babysit a pet piglet--that she accidentally almost loses. Character development is minimal but, Holy Baloney! McDonald's lively style still has lots of young-reader appeal, even after all these years and outings. Quirky black-and-white illustrations on almost every page accompany the large-font and good-humored text. Nothing truly compelling happens, but all of Judy's adventures are amusing and in sync with a third-grader's experience. The brisk pace and familiar situations are likely to keep young readers and listeners engaged. Another enjoyable outing with predictable Judy, just like a pleasant visit with an old friend. (Fiction. 6-9)

ANGLEBERGER, Tom . The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee . Bk. 3. illus. by author. 160p. (Origami Yoda Series). Abrams / Amulet . 2012. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0392-8 . LC 2012010027. Gr 3-6 BERK, Sheryl &; Carrie Berk . Recipe for Trouble . 192p. (The Cupcake Club Series). Sourcebooks / Jabberwocky . 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-6452-8 . Gr 35 BIRNEY, Betty G. Winter According to Humphrey . 144p. Putnam . 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25415-4 . Gr 24 BUCKLEY, Michael . The Villain Virus . Bk. 4. illus. by Ethen Beavers. 304p. (NERDS Series). Abrams / Amulet . 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0415-4 . Gr 57 CASCONE, Annette &; Gina Cascone . Grandpa's Monster Movies . Bk. 6. 192p. Nov. 2012. ISBN 978-0-7653-3070-3 . CASCONE, Annette &; Gina Cascone . Little Magic Shop of Horrors . Bk. 5. 224p. 2012. ISBN 978-0-7653-3075-8 . ea vol: (Deadtime Stories). Tor / Starscape . Tr $14.99. Gr 25 COVEN, Wanda . Heidi Hecklebeck Gets Glasses . Bk. 5. illus. by Priscilla Burris. 128p. (Heidi Hecklebeck Series). S &; S / Little Simon . 2012. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4171-2 . LC 2011023408. Gr 13 HENNESY, Carolyn . Pandora Gets Greedy . 304p. (Mythic Misadventures Series). Bloomsbury . 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-441-2 . LC 2011049758. Gr 47 HOLT, Kimberly Willis . Piper Reed, Forever Friend . Bk. 6. illus. by Christine Davenier. 160p. (Piper Reed Series). Holt . 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9008-6 . LC 2011033500. Gr 35 The final book in the "Piper Reed" series. KELLY, Katy . Melonhead and the Vegalicious Disaster . illus. by Gillian Johnson. 208p. Delacorte . 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74164-4 ; PLB $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99015-1 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98667-3 . Gr 25 KENDALL, Jane . Tennessee Rose . Bk. 9. illus. by Astrid Sheckels. 160p. (Horse Diaries Series). Random . 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87006-4 . LC 2011031019. Gr 24 KINSMAN, Naomi . Brilliant Hues . Bk. 4. 224p. (Faithgirlz! From Sadie's Sketchbook Series). Zonderkidz . 2012. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780310726685 . Gr 5–8 LAWRENCE, Michael . One for All and All for Lunch . 256p. Nov. 2012. ISBN 978-1-84616-956-4 . LAWRENCE, Michael . Rudie Dudie . 176p. Dec. 2012. ISBN 978-1-40830-483-9 . ea vol: (Jiggy McCue Stories). Scholastic / Orchard . pap. $8.99. Gr 5–7 LEWMAN, David . The Case of the Ruined Ram . 160p. (Club CSI Series). S &; S / Spotlight . 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4672-4 . LC 2012935962. Gr 4–7 MCDONALD, Megan . Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm . Bk. 11. illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. 176p. (Judy Moody Series). Candlewick . 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3451-3 ; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6198-4 . Gr 2–4 MONTGOMERY, Lewis B. The Case of the Crooked Campaign . Bk. 9. illus. by Amy Wummer. 112p. (Milo &; Jazz Mysteries). Kane . 2012. PLB $22.60. ISBN 978-1-57565-435-5 ; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-1-57565-436-2 . LC 2011048821. Gr 1–4 PARK, Barbara . Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff) . Bk. 28. illus. by Denise Brunkus. 144p. (Junie B., First Grader Series). Random . 2012. Tr $11.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87063-7 . LC 2011041350. Gr 1–3 SERViCE, Pamela F. The Wizards of Wyrd World . Bk. 3. illus. by Mike Gorman. 106p. (Way-Too-Real Aliens Series). Lerner / Darby Creek . 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-7920-1 ; ebook $11.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-0042-9 . LC 2011041039. Gr 4–6 SHEINMEL, Courtney . A Case of the Meanies . Bk. 4. illus. by Jennifer A. Bell. 144p. (Stella Batts Series). Sleeping Bear . 2012. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-1585361984 . Gr 3–4 SIMON, Coco . Alexis Cool as a Cupcake . Bk. 8. 133p. ISBN 978-1-4424-5080-6 ; ISBN 978-1-4424-5081-3 SIMON, Coco . Katie and the Cupcake War . Bk. 9. 160p. ISBN 978-1-4424-5373-9 ; ISBN 978-1-4424-5374-6 . LC 2012936360. ea vol: illus. by Ana Benaroya. (Cupcake Diaries Series). S &; S / Spotlight . 2012. pap. $5.99. ebook $5.99 Gr 3–5 SMITH, Roland . Shatterproof . Bk. 4. 192p. (The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers Series). Scholastic . 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-545-29842-1 . Gr 3–6 STINE, R.L. Wanted: The Haunted Mask . 240p. (Goosebumps Series). Scholastic . 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-545-41793-8 ; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-545-41518-7 . LC 2012000151. Gr 5–8 VOAKE, Steve . Daisy Dawson on the Farm . illus. by Jessica Meserve. 96p. (Daisy Dawson Series). Candlewick . 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5882-3 . Gr 2–4 WEBB, Sarah . Love and Other Drama-Ramas! Bk. 4. 256p. (Ask Amy Green Series). Candlewick . 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-763