Fast Five Fiction: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. The ice cream Imagination Station has been a hit this summer so today's book recommendations all center around ice cream. And don't forget, next week we have our I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream program!

The Ice Cream Machine by Adam Rubin

From the wild and wonderful imagination of the author of Dragons Love Tacos comes this hilarious, irresistible debut collection of six totally different stories with the same exact name.

In these six stories, set in six distinct worlds, you'll meet a boy and his robot nanny traveling the globe in search of the world's tastiest treat, a child mechanical prodigy who invents the freshest dessert ever, and an evil ice cream truck driver who strikes fear in the heart of every kid in town.

You'll be transported to a beachside boardwalk with an ice cream stand run by a penguin, a hilltop realm ruled by a king with a sweet tooth, and a giant alien space lab with a lone human subject who longs for a taste of home.

Each story features black-and-white interior illustrations from a different artist, including Daniel Salmieri, Charles Santoso, Liniers, Emily Hughes, Nicole Miles, and Seaerra Miller, making this book unlike any you've ever seen. So grab a cup or a cone, and watch out for brain freeze! You'll definitely want to save room for this treat.

The Ice Cream Kid: Brain Freeze

When Irwin Snackcracker leaves for school in the morning all he can think about is pizza, tater-tots, and winning first place in the booger contest. He leaps down the bannister, quickly eats breakfast before brushing his teeth and dashing out the door. Little does Irwin know, this day will change his life. He is just one brain freeze away from superpowers! When Irwin unexpectedly scores the last Fudgsicle left in the ice cream cart at school, he finds out that he is no longer an ordinary fourth grader. Taking a big bite of the delicious frozen treat transforms Irwin into "The Ice Cream Kid" who, with a steady supply of ice cream, has the ability to run at lightning speed and talk to animals along the way!

 Even though Irwin isn't sure if he wants to fight crime, he puts riding bikes with his friends on hold to learn how his new powers work. With his superhero Grandpa and sarcastic side-kick, Bert the pigeon, Irwin learns to control his powers, culminating in the ultimate showdown with Sweaty Crocker, the villainous evil lunch lady, poisoner of children.

Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck's Ice Cream Wish by Viola Butler

What happens when you wish for all the ice cream you can eat? The Dairy Godmother appears to make your dairy dreams come true and to highlight dairy farming and the hard work it takes to make the popular treat.

In this fairy tale twist, Chuck gets his wish granted - poof! - by his Dairy Godmother. She transports Chuck onto his very own dairy farm - because what better way to have all the ice cream you could ever eat? With humor and heart, Chuck learns how farmers care for cows, what cows eat, and what happens to all that milk. Through his journey, Chuck gains an even deeper love and appreciation for his favorite food.

Young readers will love this "dairy tale" that details the inner workings of a dairy farm and what it takes to be a dairy farmer - and where ice cream comes from.

This book is perfect to pair with a trip to an ice cream shop, dairy farm, or to inspire kids to make their own ice cream at home.

The Giant Ice Cream Mess by Tina Kugler

When competitive fox siblings Fritz and Franny hear the ice cream truck on their street, they both imagine making the sweetest treat with different flavors and toppings. But there's just one problem: Their mom says they can only have one scoop each! Maybe Fritz and Franny need to ask Fred -- their adorable dog -- which flavor is best?Geisel Honor winner Tina Kügler's easy-to-read text and humor-filled, full-color artwork will have young readers everywhere laughing out loud!

I Love You More than Ice Cream by Becky Davies

It's time for bed, but this lucky young girl has a very special and different way to do it every night! Mommy tucks her in and says she loves her more than unicorns, chocolate fountains, doughnuts, and Ferris wheels shaped like pizzas. Grandpa loves her more than friendly aliens, and the little girl loves her grandpa more than dinosaurs in ballroom gowns on Mars. And Daddy loves her more than rainbow capes and castles made of flowers. A sweet, funny book to share with a little one at bedtime!

Happy Friday and happy reading!